Exam 18: Corporate Taxation: Nonliquidating Distributions

Comet Company is owned equally by Pat and his sister Pam, each of whom hold 100 shares in the company. Pam wants to reduce her ownership in the company, and it was decided that the company will redeem 50 of her shares for $1,000 per share on December 31, 20X3. Pam's income tax basis in each share is $500. Comet has total E&P of $250,000. What are the tax consequences to Pam because of the stock redemption?

Which of the following payments could be treated as a constructive dividend by the IRS?

Brothers and sisters are considered "family" under the stock attribution rules that apply to stock redemptions.

Houghton Company reports negative current E&P of ($500,000) and negative accumulated E&P of ($800,000). Houghton distributed $100,000 to its sole shareholder, Blossom Applegate, on December 31, 20X3. Blossom's tax basis in her Houghton stock is $50,000. What is the tax treatment of the distribution to Blossom and what is her tax basis in Houghton stock after the distribution?

El Toro Corporation declared a common stock dividend to all shareholders of record on June 30, 20X3. Shareholders will receive 1 share of El Toro stock for each 2 shares of stock they already own. Raoul owns 300 shares of El Toro stock with a tax basis of $60 per share. The fair market value of the El Toro stock was $100 per share on June 30, 20X3. What are the tax consequences of the stock dividend to Raoul?

Montclair Corporation had current and accumulated E&P of $500,000 at December 31, 20X3. On December 31, the company made a distribution of land to its sole shareholder, Molly Pitcher. The land's fair market value was $200,000 and its tax and E&P basis to Montclair was $50,000. Molly assumed a liability of $25,000 attached to the land. The tax consequences of the distribution to Montclair in 20X3 would be:

Comet Company is owned equally by Pat and his sister Pam, each of whom hold 100 shares in the company. Comet redeems 50 of Pam's shares on December 31, 20X3, for $1,000 per share in a transaction that Pam treats as an exchange for tax purposes. Comet has total E&P of $160,000 on December 31, 20X3. What are the tax consequences to Comet because of the stock redemption?

Which of the following stock dividends would be tax-free to the shareholder?

Green Corporation has negative current earnings and profits of ($100,000) and positive accumulated earnings and profits of $200,000. A $50,000 distribution from Green to its sole shareholder will be treated as a dividend because total earnings and profits is a positive $100,000.

Diego owns 30 percent of Azul Corporation. Azul Corporation owns 50 percent of Verde Corporation. Under the attribution rules applying to stock redemptions, Diego is treated as owning 15 percent of Verde Corporation.

Which of the following factors would not be considered in determining if compensation paid to a shareholder/employee is reasonable?

Greenwich Corporation reported a net operating loss of $800,000 in 20X3, which the corporation elected to carry forward to 20X4. The computation of the loss did not include a disallowed fine of $50,000, life insurance proceeds of $500,000, and a current year charitable contribution of $10,000 that will be carried forward to 20X4. The corporation's current earnings and profits for 20X3 would be:

Orchard, Inc. reported taxable income of $800,000 in 20X3 and paid federal income taxes of $272,000. Included in the company's computation of taxable income is gain from sale of a depreciable asset of $200,000. The income tax basis of the asset was $50,000. The E&P basis of the asset using the alternative depreciation system was $75,000. Compute the company's current E&P for 20X3.

Madison Corporation reported taxable income of $400,000 in 20X3 and accrued federal income taxes of $136,000. Included in the computation of taxable income was regular depreciation of $200,000 (E&P depreciation is $60,000) and a net capital loss carryover of $20,000 from 20X2. The corporation's current earnings and profits for 20X3 would be:

Townsend Corporation declared a 1-for-1 stock split to all common stock shareholders of record on December 31, 20X3. Townsend reported current E&P of $400,000 and accumulated E&P of $1,000,000. The total fair market value of the stock distributed was $500,000. Regina Williams owned 1,000 shares of Townsend common stock with a tax basis of $200 per share ($2,000,000 total). The fair market value of the common stock was $300 per share on December 31, 20X3. What is Regina's income tax basis in the new and existing common stock she owns in Townsend, assuming the distribution is tax-free?

Crescent Corporation is owned equally by George and his daughter Olympia, each of whom own 100 shares in the company. George wants to retire from the company, and it was decided that the company will redeem all 100 of his shares for $10,000 per share on December 31, 20X3. George's income tax basis in each share is $2,000. Crescent has current E&P of $1,000,000 and accumulated E&P of $5,000,000. What must George do to ensure that the redemption will be treated as an exchange?

A distribution in partial liquidation of a corporation is always treated as a sale or exchange by an individual shareholder.

Half Moon Corporation made a distribution of $300,000 to Arnold Swartz in partial liquidation of the company on December 31, 20X3. Arnold owns 100% of Half Moon Corporation (1,200 shares). The distribution was in exchange for 50% of Arnold's stock in the company (600 shares). At the time of the distribution, the shares had a fair market value of $500 per share. Arnold's income tax basis in the shares was $250 per share. Half Moon had total E&P of $2,000,000 at the time of the distribution. What is the amount and character (capital gain or dividend) of any income or gain recognized by Arnold as a result of the partial liquidation?

Only income and deductions included on a corporation's income tax return are included in the computation of current earnings and profits.

Which of the following statements best describes the priority of the tax treatment of a distribution from a corporation to a shareholder?