Exam 1: Business Income, Deductions, and Accounting Methods

Clyde operates a sole proprietorship using the cash method. This year Clyde made the following expenditures: $480 to U.S. Bank for 12 months of interest accruing on a business loan from September 1^st of this year through August 31^st of next year. $600 for 12 months of property insurance beginning on July 1 of this year. What is the maximum amount Clyde can deduct this year?

Even a cash method taxpayer must consistently use accounting methods that "clearly reflect income" for tax purposes.

The full-inclusion method requires cash basis taxpayers to include prepayments for goods or services into realized income.

Which of the following is a true statement?

Otto operates a bakery and is on the cash method and calendar year. This year one of Otto's ovens caught fire and was partially destroyed. Otto bought it a few years ago for $20,000 and claimed depreciation of $12,000 up to the fire. Otto was charged $4,400 for repairs to the oven but the insurance company paid Otto $1,500 for the damage. What is Otto's casualty loss deduction?

Which of the following is an explanation for why insurance premiums on a key employee are not deductible?

Shadow Services uses the accrual method and reports on a calendar year. This year Shadow agreed to a uniform cleaning contract with Odie Cleaning. Under the contract Odie bills Shadow for cleaning services as the services are provided. At year end Shadow paid Odie $2,350 for the services rendered during the year. In addition, Shadow paid Odie $700 for cleaning services expected in January of next year. What amount, if any, can Shadow deduct for the cleaning services this year?

This year Clark leased a car to drive between his office and various work sites. Clark carefully recorded that he drove the car 23,000 miles this year and paid $7,200 of operating expenses ($2,700 for gas, oil, and repairs, and $4,500 for lease payments). What amount of these expenses may Clark deduct as business expenses?

Bryon operates a consulting business and he usually works alone. However, during the summer Bryon will sometimes hire undergraduate students to collect data for his projects. This past summer Bryon hired Fred, the son of a prominent businessman, for a part-time summer job. The summer job usually pays about $17,000, but Bryon paid Fred $27,000 to gain favor with Fred's father. What amount of Fred's summer wages can Bryon deduct for tax purposes? Bryon is on the cash method and calendar year.

Ajax Computer Company is an accrual method calendar year taxpayer. Ajax has never advertised in the national media prior to this year. In November of this year, however, Ajax paid $1 million for television advertising time during a "super" sporting event scheduled to take place in early February of next year. In addition, in November of this year the company paid $500,000 for advertising time during a professional golf tournament which will occur once in April of next year. What amount of these payments, if any, can Ajax deduct this year?

Rock Island Corporation generated taxable income (before the domestic production activities deduction) of $10 million this year. The total income included $4,500,000 of qualified production activities income. The company paid $500,000 in W-2 wages to generate the qualified production activity income. What is Rock Island's domestic production activities deduction for the year?

Which of the following is a true statement about the domestic production activities deduction?

Dick pays insurance premiums for his employees. What type of insurance premium is not deductible as compensation paid to the employee?

The test for whether an expenditure is reasonable in amount is whether the expenditure was for an "arm's length" amount.

Which of the following types of expenditures is not subject to capitalization under the UNICAP rules?

All taxpayers must account for taxable income using a calendar year.

Big Homes Corporation is an accrual method calendar year taxpayer that manufactures and sells modular homes. This year for the first time Big Homes was forced to offer a rebate on the purchase of new homes. At year end, Big Homes had paid $12,000 in rebates and was liable for an additional $7,500 in rebates to buyers. What amount of the rebates, if any, can Big Homes deduct this year?

According to the Internal Revenue Code §162, deductible trade or business expenses must be one of the following?

Danny owns an electronics outlet in Dallas. This year he paid $600 to register for a four-day course in management in Chicago. Danny paid $800 in airfare and $1,000 for five nights lodging. After the course, Danny spent the last day sightseeing. During the trip, Danny also paid $140 a day for meals, and $80 a day for a rental car. What amount of these travel-related expenditures may Danny deduct as business expenses?

Alvin is a self-employed sound technician who reports on the cash method and calendar year. Alvin has a shop in Austin, Texas, but he spends much of his time away from his shop traveling to and from various concerts around the country. Alvin leases a truck to move his equipment around the country and this year he spent $12,000 in lease payments and paid $18,000 for gas, oil, and repairs. Alvin keeps records of his personal use of the truck and he estimates that 6,000 of the total 36,000 miles put on the truck this year were for personal trips. What amount of these expenses may Alvin deduct as business expenses?