Exam 3: Tax Planning Strategies and Related Limitations

Assume that Jose is indifferent between investing in a corporate bond that pays 10% interest and a stock with no growth potential that pays an 8% dividend yield. Assume that the tax rate on dividends is 15%. What is Jose's marginal tax rate?

If tax rates will be higher next year, taxpayers should accelerate their deductions regardless of their after-tax rate of return.

Virtually every transaction involves the taxpayer and two other parties that have an interest in the tax ramifications of the transaction.

In general, tax planners prefer to accelerate deductions.

Which of the following increases the benefits of income deferral?

Assume that John's marginal tax rate is 40%. If a city of Austin bond pays 6% interest, what interest rate would a corporate bond have to offer for John to be indifferent between the two bonds?

If Lucy earns a 6% after-tax rate of return, $8,000 received in four years is worth how much today?

Jason's employer pays year-end bonuses each year on December 31. Jason, a cash basis taxpayer, would prefer to not pay tax on his bonus this year (and actually would prefer his daughter to pay tax on the bonus). So, he leaves town on December 31, 2014 and has his daughter, Julie, pick up his check on January 2nd, 2015. Who reports the income and when?

Rob is currently considering investing in municipal bonds that earn 4% interest or taxable bonds issued by Dell Computer that pay 6.5%. If Rob's tax rate is 20%, which bond should he choose? Which bond should he choose if his tax rate is 30%? At what tax rate would he be indifferent to the municipal bond or to the corporate bond? What strategy is this decision based upon?

The goal of tax planning is tax minimization.

If Rudy has a 25% tax rate and a 6% after-tax rate of return, a $30,000 tax deduction in four years will save how much tax in today's dollars (rounded)?

Which is not a basic tax planning strategy?

When considering cash inflows, higher present values are preferred.

Based only on the information provided for each scenario, determine whether Eddy or Scott will benefit more from using the timing strategy and why there will be a benefit to that person. a. Eddy has a 40% tax rate. Scott has a 30% tax rate. b. Eddy and Scott each have a 40% tax rate. Eddy has $10,000 of income that could be deferred; Scott has $20,000 of income that could be shifted. c. Eddy and Scott each have a 40% tax rate and $20,000 of income that could be deferred. Eddy's after-tax rate of return is 8%. Scott's after-tax rate of return is 10%. d. Eddy and Scott each have a 40% tax rate, $20,000 of income that could be deferred, and an after-tax rate of return of 10%. Eddy can defer income up to 3 years. Scott can defer income up to 2 years.

Jayzee is a single taxpayer who operates a sole proprietorship. He expects his taxable income next year to be $150,000, of which $125,000 is attributed to his sole proprietorship. Jayzee is contemplating incorporating his sole proprietorship. Using the 2014 single individual tax brackets and the corporate tax brackets, how much current tax could this strategy save Jayzee? (Ignore any Social Security, Medicare, or Self Employment Tax issues.) How much income should be retained in the corporation?

The constructive receipt doctrine:

Which of the following is an example of the timing strategy?

Luther was very excited to hear about the potential tax savings from shifting income from his corporation to him. The next day he had his corporation declare a $30,000 dividend to him. Is this an effective income shifting strategy? If so, why? If not, why not? What recommendations do you have for Luther?

Lucinda is contemplating a long range planning strategy that will allow her to defer sizable portions of her income for 10 years. What type of planning strategy is she contemplating? What are some potential risks associated with this type of strategy?

The goal of tax planning generally is to: