Exam 4: Corporations: Organization and Capital Structure

Pat, Maria, and Lynn are equal shareholders in Lime Corporation. Lime has assets with a basis of $150,000 and a fair market value of $1,200,000. In the current year, Pat lends Lime Corporation $200,000 and Maria lends it $150,000. Both notes bear interest at the rate of 8% per annum. Lime Corporation has no other debt outstanding. Lynn leases machinery to Lime Corporation for an annual rental of $16,000.

Leonard transfers equipment (basis of $40,000 and fair market value of $100,000) for additional stock in Green Corporation. After the transfer, Leonard owns 90% of the stock. Leonard had claimed depreciation of $50,000 on the equipment prior to transferring it to Green Corporation. With respect to the transfer:

Kim owns 100% of the stock of Cardinal Corporation. In the current year Kim transfers an installment obligation, tax basis of $30,000 and fair market value of $200,000, for additional stock in Cardinal worth $200,000.

Earl and Mary form Crow Corporation. Earl transfers property, basis of $200,000 and value of $1,600,000, for 50 shares in Crow Corporation. Mary transfers property, basis of $80,000 and value of $1,480,000, and agrees to serve as manager of Crow for one year; in return Mary receives 50 shares of Crow. The value of Mary's services is $120,000. With respect to the transfers:

Hunter and Warren form Tan Corporation. Hunter transfers equipment (basis of $210,000 and fair market value of $180,000) while Warren transfers land (basis of $15,000 and fair market value of $150,000) and $30,000 of cash. Each receives 50% of Tan's stock. As a result of these transfers:

Penny, Miesha, and Sabrina transfer property to Owl Corporation for 75% of its stock. Nancy, their attorney, receives 25% of the stock in Owl for legal services rendered in incorporating the business. What are the tax consequences of these transactions? How should this transaction have been handled?

Ashley, a 70% shareholder of Wren Corporation, transfers property with a basis of $250,000 and a fair market value of $900,000 to Wren Corporation for additional stock. Ashley owns 78% of Wren after the transfer. Two other shareholders in Wren transfer a nominal amount of property to Wren along with Ashley's transfer so that Ashley and the two shareholders own 90% of the Wren stock after the transfer. Does Ashley have taxable gain on the transfer?

Tom and George form Swan Corporation with the following investments: Tom transfers machinery worth $100,000 (basis of $40,000), while George transfers land worth $90,000 (basis of $20,000) and services rendered in organizing the corporation worth $10,000. Each is issued 25 shares in Swan Corporation. With respect to the transfers:

Rick transferred the following assets and liabilities to Warbler Corporation. In return, Rick received $75,000 in cash plus 90% of Warbler Corporation's only class of stock outstanding (fair market value of $225,000).

To ease a liquidity problem, all of the shareholders of Osprey Corporation contribute additional cash to its capital. Osprey has no tax consequences from the contribution.

Three individuals form Skylark Corporation with the following contributions: Cliff, cash of $50,000 for 50 shares; Brad, land (fair market value of $20,000) for 20 shares; and Ron, cattle (fair market value of $9,000) for 9 shares and services (fair market value of $21,000) for 21 shares. Section 351 will not apply in this situation because the control requirement has not been satisfied.

Stock in Merlin Corporation is held equally by Jane, Eve, and Fred. Merlin seeks additional capital to buy a valuable tract of land that will cost $6,000,000. Jane, Eve, and Fred propose to loan Merlin $2,000,000 each, taking from Merlin a $2,000,000 ten-year note with interest payable annually at five points above the prime rate. Merlin Corporation has current taxable income of $7,000,000. How are the payments on the notes treated for tax purposes?

In determining whether § 357(c) applies, assess whether the liabilities involved exceed the bases of all assets a shareholder transfers to the corporation.