Exam 22: S Corporations

Clampett, Inc. has been an S corporation since its inception. On July 15, 2017, Clampett, Inc. distributed $50,000 to J. D. His basis in his Clampett, Inc. stock on January 1, 2017, was $45,000. For 2017, J. D. was allocated $10,000 of ordinary income from Clampett, Inc. and no separately stated items. How much capital gain does J. D. recognize related to Clampett, Inc. in 2017?

SEC Corporation has been operating as a C corporation since 2013. It elected to become an S corporation, effective January 1, 2016. On December 31, 2015, SEC reported a net unrealized built in gain of $60,000. In addition to other transactions in 2016, SEC sold inventory it owned at the beginning of 2016 (it did not sell any other assets it owned at the beginning of 2016). At the beginning of the year, the inventory it sold had a fair market value of $30,000 and a FIFO tax basis of $10,000. SEC sold the inventory for $35,000. If SEC had been a C corporation in 2016, its taxable income would have been $100,000. How much built-in gains tax must SEC pay in 2016?

S corporations may have no more than 50 shareholders, but members of the same family only count as one shareholder.

S corporation allocated losses to a shareholder not deductible due to the tax basis limitation rules are carried over by the shareholder to future years for potential utilization.

S corporations are required to file Form 1120S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation, with the IRS by the fifteenth day of the fourth month after the S corporation's year end.

At the beginning of the year, Clampett, Inc. had $100,000 in its AAA, $60,000 of earnings and profits from prior C corporation years. During the year, Clampett, Inc. earned $50,000 of ordinary income and paid $200,000 in distributions to its shareholders. Assume that J. D. owns 25% of Clampett, Inc., his basis in Clampett, Inc. at the beginning of the year is $30,000, and his share of the distribution was $50,000. How much, if any, of the distribution is taxable as a dividend?

Like partnerships, S corporations determine their accounting periods and make accounting method elections at the entity level.

Jason is one of 100 shareholders in Jace Corporation. The remaining 99 shareholders are unrelated individual U.S. residents. During the year, Jason gave several of his shares in Jace Corp. to his brother as a birthday present and to his best friend Hal (unrelated to all shareholders in Jace Corp.) as a wedding present. After these gifts, Jace Corp. has 102 shareholders. Is Jace Corp. prohibited from electing to become an S corporation? Explain.

During 2016, CDE Corporation (an S corporation since its inception in 2014) liquidates this year by distributing a parcel of land to its sole shareholder Clark. The fair market value of the land at the time of the distribution was $100,000 and CDE's tax basis in the property was $130,000. Before considering the effects of the distribution, Clark's basis in his CDE stock was $40,000. What amount of loss, if any, does CDE recognize on the distribution? What amount of income, if any, does Clark recognize on the distribution and what is his basis in the land?

C corporations that elect S corporation status and use the FIFO inventory method are subject to the FIFO recapture tax.

After terminating or voluntarily revoking S corporation status, a corporation may elect it again, but it generally must wait until the beginning of the third tax year after the tax year in which it terminated the election.

XYZ was formed as a calendar-year S corporation with Xavier, Yolinda, and Zach as equal shareholders. On September 15, 2016, XYZ's S election was terminated after Zach sold his XYZ shares (one-third of all shares) to his solely owned C Corporation Zach, Inc. Absent permission from the IRS, what is the earliest date XYZ may again elect to be taxed as an S corporation?

ABC Corp. elected to be taxed as an S Corporation when it was initially formed. During its first three years of existence, it reported passive investment income in excess of 25 percent of its gross receipts. Is ABC's S election terminated under the excess passive investment income test? If so, what is the effective date of the termination? If not, why not?

Bobby T (75% owner) would like to terminate the S corporation status for DJ, Inc. Dallas (5% owner) does not want to terminate the S corporation status. Bobby T can terminate the S status for DJ, Inc. without Dallas' consent.

Suppose at the beginning of 2016, Jamaal's basis in his S corporation stock is $0, he has a $0 debt basis associated with a $10,000 loan he made to the S corporation and a $5,000 suspended loss from the S corporation. In 2016, Jamaal contributed $8,000 to the S corporation, and the S corporation had ordinary income of $4,000. Assume that Jamaal owns 40% of the S corporation. How much net income or loss does Jamaal report this year from the S corporation?

S corporations are required to recognize both gains and losses on non-liquidating distributions of property to shareholders.

An S corporation shareholder's allocable share of business income that is determined to be from a passive activity is considered net investment income for purposes of the Net Investment Income tax.

When an S corporation distributes appreciated property to its shareholders the S corporation recognizes gain as though it had sold the appreciated property for its fair market value just prior to the distribution.

Maria resides in San Antonio, Texas. She formed MZE Corporation under the state laws of Texas. Maria anticipates that she will conduct her business activities in both Mexico and the United States. Is MZE eligible to elect S corporation status? Explain.

Similar to an S corporation shareholder's stock basis, the AAA may not have a negative balance.