Exam 6: Corporations: Redemptions and Liquidations

During the current year, Ecru Corporation is liquidated and distributes its only asset, land, to Kena, the sole shareholder. On the date of distribution, the land has a basis of $250,000, a fair market value of $650,000, and is subject to a liability of $500,000. Kena, who takes the land subject to the liability, has a basis of $120,000 in the Ecru stock. With respect to the distribution of the land, which of the following statements is correct?

Section 332 can apply to a parent-subsidiary liquidation even if the subsidiary corporation is insolvent on the date of the liquidation.

For purposes of the waiver of the family attribution rules in a complete termination redemption, the former shareholder must notify the IRS within 30 days of acquiring a prohibited interest in the corporation during the 10- year period following the redemption.

As a general rule, a liquidating corporation recognizes gains but not losses on the distribution of property in complete liquidation.

Tanya is in the 33% tax bracket. She acquired 1,000 shares of stock in Swan Corporation seven years ago for $100 a share. In the current year, Swan Corporation (E & P of $1.2 million) redeems all of her shares for $160,000. What are the income tax consequences to Tanya if: a. The redemption qualifies for sale or exchange treatment, and Tanya has no other transactions in the current year involving capital assets? b. The redemption does not qualify for sale or exchange treatment?

Finch Corporation distributes property (basis of $225,000, fair market value of $300,000) to a shareholder in a distribution that is a qualifying stock redemption. The property is subject to a liability of $160,000, which the shareholder assumes. The basis of the property to the shareholder is:

Indigo has a basis of $1 million in the stock of Owl Corporation, a subsidiary in which it owns 100% of all classes of stock. Indigo purchased the stock in Owl 10 years ago. In the current year, Indigo liquidates Owl and acquires assets worth $1.2 million. At the time of its liquidation, Owl Corporation had a basis of $800,000 in the assets and E & P of $500,000. Which of the following statements is correct with respect to the liquidation?

Sparrow Corporation purchased 90% of the stock of Warbler Corporation eight years ago for $1 million. In the current year, Sparrow liquidates Warbler and acquires assets with a basis to Warbler of $850,000 (fair market value of $1.2 million). Sparrow will have a basis in the assets of $850,000 (Warbler's basis in the assets), and no recognized gain or loss.

After a complete liquidation has been adopted, Wren Corporation sells its only asset, unimproved land (basis of $200,000) held as an investment. The land is sold to Seth (an unrelated party) for $500,000. Under the terms of the sale, Wren Corporation receives cash of $50,000 and Seth's notes for the balance of $450,000. The notes are payable over the succeeding 5 years ($90,000 per year) and carry an appropriate rate of interest. Immediately after the sale, Wren Corporation distributes the cash and notes to Adam, the sole shareholder of Wren. Adam has an adjusted basis of $80,000 in the Wren stock. The installment notes have a value equal to their face amount of $450,000. a. How will Wren Corporation be taxed on the distribution? b. How will Adam be taxed on his receipt of the cash and notes?

The stock of Loon Corporation is held as follows: 85% by Duck Corporation and 15% by Gerald, an individual. Loon Corporation is liquidated in December of the current year, pursuant to a plan adopted earlier in the year. Loon Corporation distributes land with a basis of $350,000 and fair market value of $390,000 to Gerald in liquidation of his stock interest. Gerald had a basis of $200,000 in his Loon stock. How much gain will Loon Corporation recognize in this liquidating distribution?

A shareholder's basis in property acquired in a stock redemption is the property's fair market value as of the date of redemption.

Betty's adjusted gross estate is $9 million. The death taxes and funeral and administration expenses of her estate total $1.2 million. Included in Betty's gross estate is stock in Heron Corporation, valued at $3.3 million as of the date of her death. Betty had acquired the stock six years ago at a cost of $810,000. If Heron Corporation redeems $1.2 million of Heron stock from the estate, the transaction will qualify under § 303 as a redemption to pay death taxes and receive sale or exchange treatment.

In a redemption of § 306 stock, the redemption proceeds constitute dividend income to the extent of the corporation's E & P on the date of the redemption.

Do noncorporate and corporate shareholders typically have the same preference for the tax treatment of a stock redemption? Explain.

One similarity between the tax treatment accorded liquidating and nonliquidating distributions is with respect to a shareholder's basis in property received in such distributions. For each type of distribution, the shareholder's basis is the property's fair market value on the date of distribution.

Bristlebird Corporation (E & P of $700,000) has 3,000 shares of common stock outstanding. Juan owns 1,500 shares and his wife, Roberta, owns 1,500 shares. Juan and Roberta each have a basis of $90,000 in their Bristlebird stock. In the current year, Bristlebird Corporation redeems 1,000 shares from Juan for $250,000. With respect to the distribution in redemption of the Bristlebird stock:

A corporation generally will recognize gain or loss on a liquidating distribution of installment notes to its shareholders.

Purple Corporation has two equal shareholders, Joshua and Ellie, who are father and daughter. One year ago, the two shareholders transferred properties to Purple in a § 351 exchange. Joshua transferred land (basis of $600,000, fair market value of $450,000) and securities (basis of $70,000, fair market value of $250,000), while Ellie transferred equipment (basis of $420,000, fair market value of $700,000). In the current year, Purple Corporation adopts a plan of liquidation, sells all of its assets, and distributes the proceeds pro rata to Joshua and Ellie. The only loss realized upon disposition of the properties was with respect to the land that had decreased in value to $310,000 and was sold for this amount. Purple never used the land for any business purpose during the time it was owned by the corporation. What amount of loss can Purple Corporation recognize on the sale of the land?

Hannah, Greta, and Winston own the stock in Redpoll Corporation (E & P of $900,000) as follows: Hannah, 600 shares; Greta, 400 shares; and Winston, 1,000 shares. Greta is Hannah's daughter, and Winston is Hannah's brother. Redpoll Corporation redeems 400 of Hannah's shares (basis of $55,000) for $240,000. Hannah purchased the stock three years ago as an investment. With respect to the stock redemption, Hannah has:

The stock of Lavender Corporation is held as follows: 80% by Jade Corporation (basis of $400,000) and 20% by Tiffany (basis of $100,000). Lavender Corporation is liquidated in December of the current year, pursuant to a plan adopted earlier in the year. Pursuant to the liquidation, Lavender Corporation distributed Asset A (basis of $600,000, fair market value of $900,000) to Jade, and Asset B (basis of $250,000, fair market value of $225,000) to Tiffany. No election is made under § 338. With respect to the liquidation of Lavender: