Exam 4: Gross Income: Concepts and Inclusions

Terri purchased an annuity for $100,000. She was to receive $10,000 per year and her life expectancy was 20 years. She died after receiving 8 payments. Terri's final return should reflect a loss of $20,000 ($100,000 - $80,000).

Harry and Wanda were married in Texas, a community property state, but moved to Virginia, a common law state. The calculation of their income on a joint return:

On a particular Saturday, Tom had planned to paint a room in his house, but his employer gave him the opportunity to work that day. If Tom works, he must hire a painter for $120. For Tom to have a positive cash flow from working and hiring the painter:

If the employer provides all employees with group term life insurance equal to twice the employee's annual salary, an employee with a salary of $50,000 has no gross income from the life insurance protection provided by the employer.

Jake is the sole shareholder of an S corporation that earned $60,000 in 2018. The corporation was short on cash and therefore distributed only $15,000 to Jake in 2018. Jake is required to recognize $60,000 of income from the S corporation in 2018.

Fred is a full-time teacher. He has written a book and receives royalties from it. Fred's mother, Mabel, is age 65 and lives on her Social Security benefits and gifts from her son, Fred. This year Fred directed the publisher to make the royalty check payable to Mabel because she needs the money for support. Fred must include the amount of the royalty check in his gross income.

Ted was shopping for a new automobile. He found one that met his needs and agreed to purchase it for $23,000. He had shopped around and concluded that he could not get a better price from another dealer. After he had paid for the automobile, the dealer called to notify Ted that he was entitled to a manufacturer's rebate of $1,500. The next week he received a $1,500 check from the manufacturer. How much should Ted include in gross income?

In the case of a zero interest below-market loan by a corporation to a shareholder-employee, what difference does it make to the corporation and the shareholder whether the loan is characterized as a corporation's loan to its shareholder or a corporation's loan to its employee?

Maroon Corporation expects the employees' income tax rates to increase next year. The employees use the cash method. The company presently pays on the last day of each month. The company is considering changing its policy so that the December salaries will be paid on the first day of the following year. What would be the effect on an employee of the proposed change in company policy for paying its salaries beginning December 2018?

Mark a calendar year taxpayer, purchased an annuity for $50,000 in 2016. The annuity was to pay him $3,000 on the first day of each year, beginning in 2016, for the remainder of his life. Mark's life expectancy at the time he purchased the annuity was 20 years. In 2018 Mark developed a deadly disease, and doctors estimated that he would live for no more than 24 months.

Tim and Janet were divorced in 2018. Their only marital property was a personal residence with a value of $120,000 and cost of $50,000. Under the terms of the divorce agreement, Janet would receive the house and Janet would pay Tim $15,000 each year for 5 years, or until Tim's death, whichever should occur first. Tim and Janet lived apart when the payments were made to Tim. The divorce agreement did not contain the word "alimony."

On January 5, 2018, Tim purchased a bond paying interest at 6% for $30,000. On March 31, 2018, he gave the bond to Jane. The bond pays $1,800 interest on December 31. Tim and Jane are cash basis taxpayers. When Jane collects the interest in December 2018:

In December 2017, Mary collected the December 2017 and January 2018 rent from a tenant. Mary is a cash basis taxpayer. The amount collected in December 2017 for the 2018 rent should be included in her 2018 gross income.

In 2018, Juan, a cash basis taxpayer, was offered $3 million for signing a professional baseball contract. He counter offered that he would receive $900,000 per year for 4 years beginning in 2019. The team accepted the counteroffer. Juan constructively received $3 million in 2018.

If the alimony recapture rules apply, the recipient of the alimony decreases his or her AGI by a portion of the amount included in gross income as alimony in a prior year or years.

George and Erin divorced in 2019, and George is required to pay Erin $20,000 of alimony each year. George earns $75,000 a year. Erin is required to include the alimony payments in gross income although George earned the income.

Father made an interest-free loan of $25,000 to Son who used the money to buy an SUV. Son had $1,600 interest income from a certificate of deposit for the year. Father is not required to impute interest income.

Mark is a cash basis taxpayer. He is a partner in the M&M partnership, and his share of the partnership's profits for 2018 is $90,000. Only $40,000 was distributed to him in January 2018, and this was his share of the 2017 partnership profits. None of the 2018 profits were distributed. Mark's gross income from the partnership for 2018 is $40,000.

As a general rule: I. Income from property is taxed to the person who owns the property. II. Income from services is taxed to the person who earns the income. III. The assignee of income from property must pay tax on the income. IV) The person who receives the benefit of the income must pay the tax on the income.

Nicholas owned stock that decreased in value by $20,000 during the year, but he did not sell the stock. He earned $45,000 salary, but received only $34,000 because $11,000 in taxes were withheld. Nicholas saved $10,000 of his salary and used the remainder for personal living expenses. Nicholas's economic income for the year exceeded his gross income for tax purposes.