3 - ntice Hall, Inc. Determining Gross Income Chapter 3
Dec 23, 2015
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DeterminingGross Income
Chapter 3
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What is Gross Income?
Code Section 61(a) defines gross income as
“except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, gross income means all income from whatever source derived...”
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What is Income?
Gross income is realized income that is not excluded
Taxable income is gross income less all deductions
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Tax vs. Financial Accounting
The goals of financial accounting are not the same as those for tax reporting Financial accounting seeks to provide
information that decision makers find useful Tax reporting seeks to collect revenue
equitably Differences fall into two categories
Temporary or timing differences Permanent differences
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Temporary Differences
Arise when income is taxed either before or after it is accrued for accounting purposes Example: prepaid rent generally is taxable
when received but it is included in financial accounting income only as it is earned
Are accounted for as either a deferred tax asset or deferred tax liability on financial statements
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Permanent Differences
Income that is not taxed but is reported for financial accounting purposes Example: municipal bond interest
generally is not taxed but is recorded as income in financial accounting records
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Return of Capital Principle
Basis = amount invested in an asset Basis can be recovered tax-free
If the taxpayer’s return is more than basis, the taxpayer has a gain
If taxpayer’s return is less than basis, the taxpayer has a loss
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Investment Alternatives
Investments yielding appreciation Tax deferred until gain is recognized Gain is frequently taxed at lower capital gains
rates Investments yielding annual income
Interest income is taxed annually at the marginal tax rate for ordinary income; dividends taxed annually but at lower capital gains rates generally
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The Tax Year
Calendar year Individuals S corporations and partnerships have
restrictions on allowable tax years, so usually use a calendar year
Fiscal year – 12-month period ending on month other than December 52-to-53 week year (ends on same day) Corporations freely select tax year
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Short Tax Year
A short-year tax return reports less than 12 months of operating results
Income must be annualized (adjusted to reflect 12 months of operations to calculate tax) Required by businesses that change their tax
year Not required in year entity begins or ends
business
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Accounting Methods
Taxpayers can use different methods for financial accounting and tax Cash method: receipt of cash or cash
equivalents determine income/expense recognition
Accrual method: the all-events test determines income/expense recognition
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Cash Method
Income is recognized when cash or cash equivalents received Cash equivalents broadly defined to include
property and services Cash equivalents included at fair market value
A cash-basis taxpayer must recognize income when an amount is Credited to the taxpayer’s account Set apart for the taxpayer, or Made available in some other way to the taxpayer
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Constructive Receipt Doctrine
Constructive receipt is a modification that prevents cash basis taxpayers from “turning their backs” on income
Income is not constructively received if The taxpayer is not entitled to the income The payor has insufficient funds from which to
make payment There are substantial limitations or restrictions
placed on actual receipt
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Limits on Cash Method
Businesses that carry inventory and sell merchandise to customers generally must use the accrual method to account for sales and purchases
Hybrid method – accrual for sales of inventory & cost of goods sold; cash method for other income and expenses
Large corporations (gross receipts of more than $5 million) cannot use cash method
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Accrual Method
Income is recognized when “all events test” is met All events have occurred that establish the
right to the income and The income amount can be determined with
reasonable accuracy If liability is in dispute, the all events test is
not satisfied until dispute is resolved
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Claim of Right Doctrine
Claim of right doctrine modifies the normal recognition rules for accrual basis taxpayers
Applies whenever the taxpayer receives income but there is a dispute regarding the taxpayer’s right to keep some or all of the income
Taxpayer must recognize income even though some of the income may have to be repaid later
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Prepaid Income
Prepaid Income is another exception to the accrual method of accounting
Based on “wherewithal to pay concept” income must be reported when received Examples: rent, interest, and royalty
payments Refundable deposits are not prepaid income
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Installment Method
Gain is recognized as proceeds from sale are received
Use severely restricted – generally available for casual sales only (excludes sales of inventory and securities)
May not want to use if Marginal tax rate is expected to increase Unused losses are expiring
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Long-Term Contracts
Completed Contract Method—no income is recognized and no deductions taken until contract completion
Percentage-of-Completion Method—income is recognized as contract progresses based on an estimate of actual costs incurred to total projected costs for contract
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Assignment of Income Doctrine
A taxpayer cannot assign earned income to a third party to escape taxation
Earned income must be taxed to the taxpayer rendering the services Community property states (Arizona,
California, Idaho. Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin) allocate half of income to each spouse
Income from property is taxed to taxpayer who owns the property
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Interest Income
Interest income from savings accounts, certificates of deposit, corporate bonds, and Treasury bills is included in gross income
Interest on state and local (municipal) bonds is excluded from gross income High income taxpayers may have a higher
after-tax return on municipal bonds than taxable bonds offering a higher interest tax
Gain on the sale of tax-exempt securities must be included gross income
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Original Issue Discount
Some debt instruments are issued at prices below their maturity values
This original issue discount (OID) is effectively interest paid at maturity rather than periodically over the debt instrument’s life
Both cash and accrual basis taxpayers recognize OID income as it accrues Exception: Series EE bonds
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Market Discount
Bonds purchased after issue in the open or secondary market at a price below maturity value Excess of redemption proceeds over cost is
recognized as ordinary income in year of redemption
Electively, market discount can be accrued as interest income over life of bond
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Below-Market-Rate Loans
Certain loans between related parties (family members) may be made at low interest rates (or even interest free)
On other loans, interest income that is not actually received or accrued may be imputed (treated as received or accrued and taxed) at the applicable federal rate of interest
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Gift Loan Exceptions
Any gift loan of $10,000 or less is exempt from the imputed interest rules
For gift loans of $100,000 or less Imputed interest cannot exceed the borrower’s
net investment income for the year If borrower’s net investment income is no
more than $1,000, imputed interest is zero
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Other Loans
Loan to employee – imputed exchange of cash is treated as taxable compensation (income to employee and deduction for employer)
Loan to shareholder – imputed exchange of cash is treated as a dividend (taxable income to shareholder, no deduction for corporation)
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Dividend Income
Cash and FMV of other assets distributed by a corporation from earnings and profits (E&P) are treated as dividends includable in the shareholder’s income 2003 Tax Act reduced tax rate to the 15% rate
applicable to long-term capital gains (5% rate for individuals in 10% or 15% tax bracket)
Distributions in excess of E&P are nontaxable return of capital (reducing stock basis)
Distributions in excess of stock basis are taxed as capital gain (as if stock if sold)
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Mutual Fund Dividends
May pay dividends from gains they realize on the sale of investment assets
These dividends are actually net long-term capital gains and are called capital gains distributions
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Dividend Reinvestment Plans
Treated as if the shareholder receives the cash and then purchases additional shares of stock with the dividend income. Value of dividend included in income.
It is important for each shareholder to keep track of basis for all shares
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Stock Dividends
Stock dividends are distributions of a corporation’s own stock to its shareholder (stock splits)
Usually stock dividends are not taxable to the shareholder (unless shareholder has option of receiving cash)
Shareholders simply own a greater number of shares and the basis in their original holdings is divided among all shares of stock now held
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Annuity Income
Usually consists of a taxable and nontaxable amounts Nontaxable amount represents a return of capital Nontaxable amount of a payment is equal to the
Investment in annuity / expected return from annuity x annuity payment received
If the amounts invested in the annuity were all made by the employer (or by the employee using pre-tax dollars), then the employee’s investment is treated as zero
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Prizes and Awards
Prizes, awards, gambling winnings, and treasure finds are taxable
The fair market value of goods or services received is included in gross income
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Government Transfer Payments
Need-based payments, such as welfare payments, school lunches & food stamps, are excluded from income
Unemployment compensation is taxable because it is a substitute for wages that would be taxable
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Social Security Benefits
Government devised a complex formula that can result in the taxation of up to 85% of social security benefits for taxpayers who have significant other income while leaving benefits completely tax free for those who have little other income
MAGI = AGI before any social security benefits + exempt interest income + ½ of social security benefits
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Social Security Benefits
If MAGI is less than $25,000 for single individuals or $32,000 for married couples, then none of the social security benefits received are taxable
Single taxpayers with MAGI above $34,000 and married taxpayers with income above $44,000 can be taxed on up to 85% of their benefits
Taxpayers between the above thresholds can be taxed on up to 50% of their social security benefits
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Damage Awards
Damages for physical injuries are not taxed (under the return of capital doctrine)
Damages for all other awards are taxed (because they are viewed as substitute for what would otherwise be taxable income)
Punitive damages are taxable
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Divorce-Related Payments A property settlement is simply a division of
assets (no income, no deduction) Alimony is a legal shifting of income so it is
taxable income to the person receiving it and deductible by the person who pays it First year’s alimony should not exceed average of
2nd and 3rd year payments by more than $15,000 Child support fulfills a legal obligation to
support a child (no income, no deduction) Both parties may benefit by negotiating an
increase in payment if it qualifies as alimony
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Discharge of Debt
If a legal obligation is satisfied for less than the outstanding debt, the amount of debt forgiven represents an increase in the taxpayer’s wealth and is subject to taxation Exceptions are provided for debtors who are
bankrupt or insolvent
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Tax Benefit Rule
If a taxpayer deducted an expense or loss in one year but recovers the amount deducted in a subsequent year, all or a portion of the amount recovered may have to be included in the gross income in the year it is recovered
Amount included in income is limited to the extent of tax benefit received by the tax deduction Example: bad debt recovery or refund of taxes
previously deducted
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Exclusions
Gifts Inheritances Life Insurance
Proceeds received are tax-free but any interest income on proceeds is taxable
Inside buildup (increase in cash surrender value) is not taxable income unless policy is liquidated for more than premiums paid
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Accident & Health Insurance
Accident & health insurance proceeds from are tax-free to extent they pay qualified medical or dental expenses; excess benefits taxable if employer provided policy
Disability insurance—substitute for lost pay If premiums for disability insurance paid by
employer, then benefits received are taxable If premiums paid by employee, exception
allows benefits to be tax free
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Scholarships
Qualified scholarships are excluded from gross income “Scholarship” includes only tuition, fees,
books, supplies, equipment, and related expenses required for courses
Amounts designated or spent for room, board, and laundry are included in income and are taxable
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Scholarships
Any grant received in return for past, present, or future services must be included in gross income Funds received by students in return for
teaching or research services are taxable When taxable portion cannot be determined
until end of academic year, taxable income can be deferred until the taxable year in which the academic year ends
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Other Exclusions
Improvements made on leased property are excluded from landlord’s income unless improvements made in lieu of paying rent
Fringe benefits discussed in next chapter Exclusion of gain on sale of home
$250,000 if single, $500,000 if married and both spouses qualify
Must have owned and lived in home as principal residence for at least 2 of previous 5 years
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International Issues
Source principal - countries tax income earned within their borders but exclude income from activities sourced in other countries Applies to foreign persons and foreign
corporations Residency principle – countries tax worldwide
income Applies to resident citizens and corporations
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Tax Treaty
An agreement between two countries that explains how a taxpayer of one country is taxed when conducting business in a second country
Objective is to minimize double taxation
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International Taxation
A business is usually only taxed in country of residence unless it maintains a permanent establishment (e.g. office) in another country
Source country can tax income earned within it’s borders when a permanent establishment exists
Resident country allows taxpayer a foreign tax credit up to tax paid in source country
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Taxpayers Subject to U.S. Tax
U.S. citizens, resident aliens, and U.S. corporations are subject to U.S. tax on their worldwide income
Resident alien – individual who is not a U.S. citizen who has a legal residence in U.S. established through Green card or Substantial presence test (183 days)
Nonresident alien – individual who is not U.S. citizen and does not satisfy test to be resident alien
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Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Corporations
Effectively connected income – U.S. business income subject to U.S. income tax
Non-U.S. business income – not subject to U.S. income tax
U.S. investment income – taxed at flat 30% (or treaty rate if lower)
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State and Local Taxation
Most states (and some local governments) impose both corporate and individual income taxes on both residents and nonresidents
Nonresidents can only be taxed on Income derived from business activity within
that state and Income from property in that state
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State Tax Issues
Nexis is the type and degree of connection between a business and a state necessary for the state to have the right to impose a tax
Multi-state businesses may be able to reduce their overall tax cost by shifting income from a high-tax state to a low-tax state
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Total Effective Tax Rate
For federal tax purposes, state income tax is deductible in computing taxable income
Tax savings from this federal deduction reduces the cost of the state income tax
When a taxpayer pays income tax at both the federal and state levels, it increases the total effective tax rate and decreases the after-tax cash flow
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The End