Exam 9: Business Income, Deductions, and Accounting Methods

Gabby operates a pizza delivery service. This year she paid delivery personnel $18,000 in salary. She carefully documented the business use of the auto (11,700 miles this year) and her $7,350 of vehicle expenses (for gas, oil, repairs, and auto lease payments). What amount of these expenses may Gabby deduct as business expenses? Gabby is on the cash method and calendar year.

Which of the following is a True statement?

Which of the following is an explanation for why insurance premiums on a key employee are not deductible?

Which of the following expenditures is most likely to be deductible for a construction business?

Don operates a taxi business, and this year one of his taxis was damaged in a traffic accident. The taxi was originally purchased for $32,000 and the adjusted basis was $2,000 at the time of the accident. The taxi was repaired at a cost of $2,500 and insurance reimbursed Don $700 of this cost. What is the amount of Don's casualty loss deduction?

Illegal bribes and kickbacks are not deductible as business expenses but fines imposed by a governmental unit are deductible as long as the fines are incurred in the ordinary course of business.

Which of the following expenditures is NOT likely to be allowed as a current deduction for a landscaping and nursery business?

Ralph borrowed $4 million and used the proceeds in his internet business. The interest on this debt is not subject to an interest limitation if Ralph's business has average annual gross receipts of $25 million or less for the prior three taxable years.

Dick pays insurance premiums for his employees. What type of insurance premium is not deductible as compensation paid to the employee?

Werner is the president and CEO of Acme, Inc. and this year he took a prospective client to dinner. During the dinner the President and the client discussed a proposed contract for over $6 million and personal matters. After dinner the CEO took the client to a football game and no business was discussed. The CEO paid $1,220 for an expensive dinner and spent $600 for tickets to the game. What is the deductible amount of these expenses?

Alvin is a self-employed sound technician who reports on the cash method and calendar year. Alvin has a shop in Austin, Texas, but he spends much of his time away from his shop traveling to and from various concerts around the country. Alvin leases a truck to move his equipment around the country and this year he spent $12,000 in lease payments and paid $18,000 for gas, oil, and repairs. Alvin keeps records of his personal use of the truck and he estimates that 6,000 of the total 36,000 miles put on the truck this year were for personal trips. What amount of these expenses may Alvin deduct as business expenses? 

Which of the following cannot be selected as a valid tax year end?

Which of the following is a True statement?

Bryon operates a consulting business and he usually works alone. However, during the summer Bryon will sometimes hire undergraduate students to collect data for his projects. This past summer Bryon hired Fred, the son of a prominent businessman, for a part-time summer job. The summer job usually pays about $17,000, but Bryon paid Fred $27,000 to gain favor with Fred's father. What amount of Fred's summer wages can Bryon deduct for tax purposes? Bryon is on the cash method and calendar year.

Joe is a self-employed electrician who operates his business on the accrual method. This year Joe purchased a shop for his business, and for the first time at year-end he received a bill for $4,500 of property taxes on his shop. Joe didn't pay the taxes until after year-end but prior to filing his tax return. Which of the following is a True statement?

Which of the following is a True statement about the limitation on business interest deductions?

Holly took a prospective client to dinner, and after agreeing to a business deal, they went to the theater. Holly paid $290 for the meal and $250 for the theatre tickets, amounts that were reasonable under the circumstances. What amount of these expenditures can Holly deduct as a business expense?

Taxpayers must maintain written contemporaneous records of business purpose when traveling in order to claim a deduction for the expenditures.

Brad operates a storage business on the accrual method. On July 1 Brad paid $48,000 for rent on his storage warehouse and $18,000 for insurance on the contents of the warehouse. The rent and insurance covers the next 12 months. What is Brad's deduction for the rent and insurance?