Exam 9: Business Income, Deductions, and Accounting Methods

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?

Mike operates a fishing outfitter as an accrual-method sole proprietorship. On March 1^st of this year Mike received $15,000 for three outfitting trips. This is the first time Mike agreed to such a payment and he is obligated to outfit one trip per year for the next three summers beginning this year. How much income must Mike recognize in each of the next three years if he is attempting to minimize his tax burden?

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?

The phase "ordinary and necessary" has been defined to mean that an expense must be essential and indispensable to the conduct of a business.

Marilyn operates a day care center as a cash-method sole proprietorship. On August 1^st of this year Marilyn received a prepayment of $4,000 for child care services to be rendered evenly over the next 20 months. How much income must Marilyn recognize this year if she is attempting to minimize her tax burden?

Which of the following cannot be selected as a valid tax year end?

Illegal bribes and kickbacks are not deductible as business expenses but fines imposed by a governmental unit are deductible as long as the fines are incurred in the ordinary course of business.

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

Which of the following is NOT considered a related party for the purpose of limitation on accruals to related parties?

Crystal operates a business that provides typing and delivery services. This year Crystal spent $2,500 to purchase special shirts that identify her employees and provide some notoriety for her business. The shirts are especially colorful and include logos on the front pocket and back. Besides salary payments, Crystal also compensates her employees by offering to pay whole life insurance premiums for any that want to provide insurance coverage for their beneficiaries. This year Crystal paid $5,000 in life insurance premiums. What amount of these payments can Crystal deduct? Crystal is on the cash method and calendar year.

Employees cannot deduct the cost of uniforms if the uniforms are also appropriate for normal wear.

Brad operates a storage business on the accrual method. On July 1 Brad paid $48,000 for rent on his storage warehouse and $18,000 for insurance on the contents of the warehouse. The rent and insurance covers the next 12 months. What is Brad's deduction for the rent and insurance?

Paris operates a talent agency as a sole proprietorship, and this year she incurred the following expenses in operating her talent agency. What is the total deductible amount of these expenditures? $1,000 dinner with a film producer where no business was discussed $500 lunch with sister Nicky where no business was discussed $700 business dinner with a client but Paris forgot to keep any records (oops!) $900 tickets to the opera with a client following a business meeting

In order to deduct a portion of the cost of a business meal which of the following conditions must be met?

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?

Smith operates a roof repair business. This year Smith's business generated cash receipts of $32,000 and Smith made the following expenditures associated with his business: The education expense was for a two-week, nighttime course in business management. Smith believes the expenditure should qualify as an ordinary and necessary business expense. What net income should Smith report from his business? Smith is on the cash method and calendar year.

The 12-month rule allows taxpayers to deduct the entire amount of certain prepaid business expenses.

Although expenses associated with illegal activities are not deductible, political contributions can be deducted as long as the donation is not made to a candidate for public office.

Bob operates a clothing business using the accrual method over a calendar year. In October of last year, Bob contracted with his father, Tim, for consulting advice. Tim is a cash basis calendar year taxpayer and he billed Bob for $6,000 of consulting fees. This amount was comparable to amounts charged by other consultants (a reasonable amount). Bob paid $2,500 of the consulting fee by December 31^st of last year, but the remaining $3,500 was not paid until January of this year. When can Bob deduct the consulting fee?

Which of the following expenditures is most likely to be deductible for a construction business?