memo to: | Mr. & Mrs. John smith | from: | carol johnson | subject: | tax issues | date: | September 29, 2012 | | | | |
Dear Mr. & Mrs. John Smith:
After carefully evaluating your tax issues my staff and I have come to the following conclusions on the questions you presented us.
1. John Smith tax issues:
a. How is the $300,000 treated for purposes of federal tax income?
The $300,000 you earned is considered earned income; therefore, it should be reported as gross income on either a Schedule C of your individual income tax return or if you have reported your company as being a LLC, you can file a LLC return.
b. How is the $25,000 treated for purposes of federal tax income?
The $25,000 would not be
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There are no tax benefits to John's income, but Jane's could use the $15,000 for purchase of equipment which could produce tax benefits that would become part of their joint return. If she left them in her business bank account, there would be no benefit to either of them.
f. Can Jane depreciate her vehicle or jewelry-making equipment? How? She can use the standard mileage rate based on business miles. An alternative method would be to depreciate her vehicle and declare that depreciation plus all auto expenses to the extent of business use, based on mileage. If business miles amount to 60% of total miles, for example, then 60% of all expenses including depreciation would be allowable (IRS , 2012). Either method requires Jane to track her business mileage.
The equipment can be depreciated by one of two methods: Section 179 allows for a full write off in the year of acquisition (subject to certain limits). MACRS depreciation allows a systematic write off of equipment based on the type of asset. More business assets are either 5 year or 7 year property (CompleteTax, 2012).
3. John and Jane Smith tax issue:
a. Should John and Jane file separate or joint tax returns? Typically, married individuals more tax benefits by filing jointly. Filing a separate return provides relief from joint liability for taxes. However, married taxpayers who file separately are not eligible for many tax deductions and credits, and
ASC 360-10 provides guidance on accounting for property, plant, and equipment, and the related accumulated depreciation on those assets. This Subtopic also includes guidance on the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. ASC 360-10 notes that long-lived tangible assets include land and land improvements, buildings, machinery and equipment, and furniture and fixtures.
e) Yes, there may be an indirect benefit to John if he makes a $15,000 investment into Jane's business if John and Jane file “Married filing jointly tax return”. Jane must use the $15,000 for business deductible purchases. If the money sits in the bank it will not provide a tax benefit.
The single student could use the 1040EZ form. That form is meant for someone who has an uncomplicated tax return to file. The student who is married should use the 1040A form because they do not
| In Year 1, depreciation is $5,000 plus 15% of the asset’s outlayFrom Year 2, depreciation is either * 30% of the asset’s book value; or * if the asset’s book value is less than $6,500, depreciation is the asset’s book value (i.e. asset is depreciated to zero once book value < $6,500)
The most advantageous filing status for spouse A and spouse B to use is married filing jointly.
The filing statuses available to the taxpayer couple are married filing jointly, and married filing separately. The best filing status for Spouse A and B is married; filing jointly. Both spouse A and B have separate income for the year and so could file separate returns but they would also have to file at a higher tax rate schedule because their income is not combined. They would be required to claim any exemptions, deductions, and credits available separately. The couple is also precluded from filing a dependent twice so if A were to file for one of their 3 dependents then B could not claim
The reason that using the married filing jointly status is more advantageous for the couple is that taxes will be lower than if they filed as married filing separately. Filing jointly provides more tax benefits and the tax rate is generally lower.
The joint liability could cause issues for both parties if there were more tax liabilities or an audit was found in the IRS’s favor. When a joint return is filed personal exemptions are allowed for both spouses and exemptions for dependents can be claimed for all dependents.
CONCLUSION: Jackie’s Social Security benefits must be reported as taxable income to the IRS, and the treatment heavily depends on her filing status. If Jackie files a joint return to
Conclusion: The $300,000 will be treated as self- employed income. Generally you are self-employed if you carry on a trade or business as a sole proprietor, independent contractor, or if you are a member of a partnership. Self-employed individuals are required to file an annual return, and pay estimated tax quarterly.
The type of depreciation method the Target Corporation uses is a straight-line method. Property and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives or lease terms if shorter. “Target amortizes leasehold improvements purchased after the beginning of the initial lease term over the shorter of the assets' useful lives or a term that includes the original lease term, plus any renewals that are reasonably assured at the date the leasehold improvements are acquired” (Stock Analysis, n.d.).
The authoritative guidance for asset impairment is to ensure that impairment is recorded and dealt with as depreciation. The scope of the standard is writing off of assets and depreciation. According to the guidance of 360-10-35, it address how long-lived assets that are intended to be held and used in an entity’s business shall be reviewed for impairment. The impairment loss can only be recognized if the carrying amount of a long-lived assets is not recoverable and
Second, Scott should consider that he should take the salary and record it as salary expense or pay himself a dividend for that missing cash portion of $45,000. The tax implication is under personal tax for salary but dividend would be the combination of personal and corporation tax. Under salary, he is able to get employment tax credit, and eligible to purchase RRSP 18% of gross income, and purchase spousal RRSP using Allison’s RRSP limit.
Depreciation is the reduction in the value of certain fixed assets. It is a periodic reduction of fixed assets, usually done every year. Fixed assets are assets that add value to the company. Examples of fixed assets that can be depreciated are vehicles, buildings, machinery, equipment and fixture and fittings. The only fixed asset that is not depreciated is land, because it is not worn-out overtime, unless natural resources are being exploited. When a company buys a new fixed asset it doesn’t account for the full cost of it as one single large expense, instead the expense is spread over the life time of the asset. This is done by depreciating the asset. For example a company purchases a CNC router for €50,000 and will be used for five year. If they pay the full amount in the
Depreciation is the process of allocating the cost of an asset to expense over its useful life. It is an annual allowance for the wear and tear, deterioration or obsolescence of the property. According to the IRS, “in order for a taxpayer to be allowed a depreciation deduction for a property, the taxpayer must own the property” (IRS 2015). Therefore, the supervisor’s claim that the depreciation thing does not matter since the equipment is paid is inaccurate. We own the property; therefore, the recalculation can occur in the following circumstances: