BUSINESS - CRAM SESSION TOPICS Flashcards
What is the earliest date that a business can be treated as a corporation without regard to the election relief rules, if they file Form 8832 by March 15 of any given year.
The earliest date is: January 1 of the year the Form 8832 is filed.
This is so because, an eligible entity may elect an alternative treatment no more than two months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year the election is to take effect, or anytime in the preceding tax year.
What is the rule concerning an LLC changing its Tax Classification.
Once the LLC entity makes an election to change its taxation classification, the entity generally cannot change its classification by election again for 60 months (5 YEARS) after the effective date.
It can be changed with IRS permission, but that is not the norm.
When must an entity elect to become a Corporation for the current tax year?
They must elect an alternative tax treatment for their company no more than 2 months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year the election is to take effect.
That, or any time in the preceding tax year.
So MARCH 15th is the last day if you want your entity to have the new election on Jan 1 of that year.
The amortization of a bond premium should be calculated using the CONSTANT YIELD TO MATURITY METHOD, and can be used as an offset to interest income.
Using the Constant yield method:
Purchase Price x Yield To Maturity (YTM) at issuance - Subtract the Coupon Interest.
As the bond reaches maturity, the premium with be amortized over time, eventually reaching $0 on the exact date of maturity.
(Good to know. Not core test material)
Intangibles (including purchased goodwill) are amortized over 15 years.
True or False?
True.
Note: Anti-churning rules prevent you from amortizing most section 197 intangibles if the transaction in which you acquired them didn’t result in a significant change in ownership or use.
(Good to know. Not core test material)
A corporation has two choices with qualifying research and development (R&D) expenditures.
- Deduct the expenses, or
- Elect to capitalize the expenditures and amortize ratably over a five-year period.
(Good to know. Not core test material)
What are 2 types of Capital Expenses that CANNOT be Amortized
- Costs for issuing stock, securities, or partnership interests, such as commissions, professional fees, and printing costs.
- Costs associated with the transfer of assets to the business.
Start Up Costs Examples (S&W, A, A, T)
Salaries & Wages - Employees, Execs, Consultants
Analysis of Markets
Advertising
Travel
Most states do not restrict ownership, and so Corporation MEMBERS may include
- Individuals,
- Corporations,
- Other LLCs, and
- Foreign entities.
There is no maximum number of members, or an LLC can simply be one individual.
S CORP NOTE:
Most entities including business trusts, partnerships, and corporations are prohibited from holding stock in S Corps. That and Non-Resident Aliens.
Section 263A
UNICAP “Uniform Capitalization Rules”
They capitalize the direct cost and part of the direct costs for production or resale activities.
Beginning in 2018 under the TCJA, any producer that meets the “Gross Receipts Test” (under $26 Million for 2019) is EXEMPTED from the application of Section 263A.
Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction
Health Insurance Premiums are deductible provided the TP is:
- Self-Employed with a net profit reported on Sch C or Sch F if farming.
- A partner with net earnings from SE reported on Sch K-1
- A shareholder owning more than 2% of outstanding stock of an S Corp with wages from the Corp reported on Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.
The TP MUST establish the insurance plan under the TP’s business, however the plan may either be in the name of the business or the individual.
Describe the AUTHORIZATION OF CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS process and provide the date the payment must be made.
Contributions that are authorized by the board of directors during a tax year are assumed to have been paid in that tax year if payment is made by the 15th day of the 3rd month (March 15) of the following tax year.
At the end of 20X1, if the board authorizes a contribution, it must be paid out by March 15.
START UP AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEDUCTIONS
A corporation can elect to deduct up to $5,000 of business start-up and up to $5,000 of organizational costs paid.
Any remaining costs must be amortized over a period of 15 years.
The company may start expensing or amortizing these costs from the date that the business started operations.
For each category, the $5,000 initial deduction is reduced by the amount of total costs that exceed $50,000. $1 reduction for every $1 of excess costs.
If the total costs are $55,000 or more, the initial deduction is reduced to zero. $55,000 – $50,000 = $5,000 excess.
Generally, you must file Form 1095-C by ___________ if filing on paper.
February 28th
Capital Losses
What is the Carryback and Carryforward?
Does FIFO apply?
Corporate capital losses may NOT be used to offset ordinary income.
Capital losses that are not used to offset capital gains in the current period may be carried back for three periods or forward for five years to offset capital gains in those periods.
Capital losses are used on a FIFO basis.
Capitol Losses - Example
Polina Corp. had a $10,000 short-term capital gain and a $23,000 long-term capital loss in 20X7. The resulting net capital loss of $13,000 is NOT deductible in the current year. Instead, the loss is carried back to 20X4 and may be used to offset capital gains in 20X4. If there are no capital gains in 20X4, it may be used in 20X5 or 20X6.
If there are no capital gains in the previous three years, it may be carried forward for up to five years.
When it is used, it will be treated as a SHORT-TERM capital loss, even though a long-term loss created the original carryback.
ORGANIZATIONAL COSTS
Include any costs of creating a corporation that are INCURED BEFORE the end of the first tax year.
The costs of TEMP DIRECTORS
The costs of ORG MEETINGS,
State INCORPORATION FEES, and
The cost of LEGAL SERVICES related to starting the business.
____________________
NOTE: The cost of issuing and selling stock is an example of what is NOT an organizational cost that can be amortized
START UP COSTS defined
Costs related to creating an active trade or business, or investigating the creation or acquisition of an active trade or business.
An ANALYSIS or survey of potential markets, products, labor supply, transportation facilities, etc.,
ADVERTISMENTS for the opening of the business,
SALARIES and WAGES for employees who are being trained and their instructors,
TRAVEL and other necessary costs for securing prospective distributors, suppliers or customers,
SALARIES and FEES for executives and consultants, or for similar professional services.
START UP DEDUCTIONS - Example 03
Polina opened a bakery on October 22, 20X6. Polina incurred $53,000 of start-up expenses before the bakery opened.
What can she deduct from her start-up costs?
Because the expenses exceed $50,000, Polina must reduce the initial year $5,000 deduction by $1 for every $1 of start-up costs over $50,000. Thus, the $5,000 amount is reduced to $2,000. Polina will amortize the remaining $51,000 ($53,000 - $2,000) over 180 months. The monthly amortization amount is $283 ($51,000/180).
In Polina’s first year, the amount of start-up costs expensed is $2,850. This is the $2,000 of expensed costs and 3 months of amortization.
Earlier Net Operating Losses - Prior to 2018 TCJA ammendments
NOLs arising in taxable years beginning before 2018 remain subject to prior law.
Not subject to the 80-percent limitation and are able to be carried back for a period of two years, or carried forward for up to 20 years.
Calculating NOL
The net operating loss is essentially the net loss for the company.
CASUALTY OR THEFT LOSSES may be included as part of the net operating loss.
The DIVIDENDS RECEIVED DEDUCTION is calculated without the limitations to a percent of taxable income.
The corporation may NOT deduct any carryovers from other years.
CAPITAL LOSS CARRYOVERS may NOT be used in year with a net operating loss.
The same is true of CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS CARRYOVERS.
Normally no deduction for charitable contributions is allowed in a loss year because charitable contributions are limited to a percentage of net income.
NET OPERATING LOSS - Example
In 2019, Marcus Corp. had $250,000 of gross income from business operations and $310,000 of allowable business expenses. Marcus Corp. also received $100,000 in dividends from a U.S. corporation. Marcus Corp. is able to take a 65% dividend received deduction, which would normally be limited to 65% of its taxable income before the deduction.
Marcus Corp. calculates its NOL as follows:
Gross Income = $350K (Business Income + Dividends)
Minus Expenses ($310K)
Minus Dividend Rec’d Deduction ($65K) - there is no limitation for the NOL calculation
= NOL ($25K)
Threshold Amount in relationship to NOL
The Maximum Net Loss a TP, other than a Corp, may deduct is $255,000 ($510,000 for MFJ).
And this Excess Business Loss is NOT ALLOWED for the taxable year.
Net Operating Loss - Rules of the Road
Corporations may use a net operating loss to offset taxable income in future periods.
Carry forward indefinitely.
Deduction limited to 80% of taxable income. (2018 and later)