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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Chapter 2
Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
SOLUTIONS MANUAL
Discussion Questions
1.
[LO 1] Explain why certain long-lived assets are capitalized and recovered over time
rather than immediately expensed.
Assets with an expected life of more than one year are capitalized and
recovered through depreciation, amortization, or depletion deductionsโ
depending on the type of underlying asset. The policy attempts to match the
revenues and expenses for these assets because the assets have a useful life
of more than one year.
2.
[LO 1] Explain the differences and similarities between personal property, real
property, intangible property, and natural resources. Also, provide an example of
each type of asset.
Personal property, real property, and natural resources are all tangible
property than can be seen and touched. Natural resources are assets that
occur naturally (e.g. timber or coal). Real property is land and all property
that is attached to land (e.g. buildings). Personal property is all tangible
property that is not a natural resource or real property. Intangibles are all
intellectual property rights (e.g. patents and copyrights) and any other value
not assigned as a tangible asset during a purchase (e.g. goodwill). Each of
these has an expected useful life of more than one year.
Asset Type
Personal property
Real property
Intangibles
Natural Resources
3.
Examples
Automobiles, equipment, furniture, and
machinery
Land and items attached to land such as buildings
(warehouse, office building, and residential
dwellings)
Start-up and organizational costs, copyrights,
patents, covenants not to compete and goodwill
Commodities such as oil, coal, copper, timber,
and gold
[LO 1] Explain the similarities and dissimilarities between depreciation,
amortization, and depletion. Describe the cost recovery method used for each of the
four asset types (personal property, real property, intangible property, and natural
resources).
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
There are three types of cost recovery: depreciation, amortization, and
depletion. Each is similar in that they recover the cost basis of long-lived
assets. Depreciation for real property, amortization, and cost depletion are
on a straight-line basis. (Taxpayers may elect straight-line on tangible
personal property as well.) The primary difference is that they are used for
property with unique characteristics. Depreciation of tangible personal
property is done on an accelerated (most often double-declining balance)
method. Percentage depletion assigns a statutory rate that may recover more
than the original cost of the asset.
Asset Type
Personal property
Real property
Intangibles
Natural Resources
4.
Cost Recovery Type, Characteristics
MACRS depreciation, characterized by double
declining balance method (although 150% DB or
straight-line may be elected), half-year convention
(although mid-quarter may be required), and
shorter recovery periods.
MACRS depreciation, characterized by straightline method, mid-month convention, and longer
recovery periods.
Amortization, characterized by straight-line
method, full-month convention, various recovery
periods (usually not based on actual life)
depending on intangible type.
Depletion (cost or percentage), cost depletion
allocates the cost of a natural resource based on
resource estimates (tons, ounces, barrels, etc.),
straight-line method, based on actual extraction
quantities, percentage depletion allocates a
statutory expense (depending on resource type)
based on gross income, but limited to 50% (100%
for oil and gas property) of net income, and is the
only cost recovery method that allows a taxpayer
to recover more than the original basis of an asset.
[LO 1] Is an assetโs initial or cost basis simply its purchase price? Explain.
The initial basis of any purchased business asset is historical cost. This is
generally the purchase price, plus any other expenses (e.g. sales tax and
installation costs) incurred to get the asset in working condition. This does
not include costs which constitute a betterment, restoration, or adaptation to
a new or different use for an asset such as a building addition.
5.
[LO 1] Compare and contrast the basis of property acquired via purchase, conversion
from personal use to business or rental use, a tax-deferred exchange, gift, and
inheritance.
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
The basis of purchased assets is historical cost. The basis rules for other
acquisitions depend on whether the transaction was taxable or not. For
taxable transactions there is usually a step-up in basis to fair market value.
For non-taxable transactions, there is usually a carryover basis. Conversion
of assets from personal use gets the lesser of the two values. The specific
rules are as follows:
Acquisition Type
Purchase
Conversion from
personal use
Non-taxable
exchange
Gift
Inheritance
6.
Basis Rules
The initial basis is historical cost plus all costs
incurred to get the asset to its destination and in
working order.
The depreciable basis would be the lesser of the
fair market value of the asset on the date of
conversion or the adjusted basis of the transferor.
The basis is a carryover basis of the transferor
since there is no recognition of gain or loss on the
transfer (not a taxable transaction).
The basis is generally a carryover basis, because
these transactions usually arenโt taxable. If gift tax
is paid, the basis may be increased by a portion of
the gift tax paid.
The basis is the fair market value on the date of
death or the alternate valuation date six months
later (if elected by the estate). The fair market
value is used because the transfer arises from a
taxable transaction.
[LO 1] Explain why the expenses incurred to get an asset in place and operable
should be included in the assetโs basis.
Additional expenses, including sales tax, shipping, installation costs, and the
like are capitalized into an assetโs basis because all costs required to place
an asset into service are required to be included into its basis. That is,
without these costs, the taxpayer would not be able to place in service or use
the asset in a business.
7.
[LO 1] Graber Corporation runs a long-haul trucking business. Graber incurs the
following expenses: replacement tires, oil changes, and a transmission overhaul.
Which of these expenditures may be deducted currently and which must be
capitalized? Explain.
An expense that results in a betterment, restoration, or adaptation for a new
or different use for the property will be capitalized as a new assetโ
depreciated over the same MACRS recovery period of the original asset
rather than the remaining life of the existing asset. Alternatively, expenses
that constitute routine maintenance or meet the other safe harbor rules
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
should be expensed immediately. An engine overhaul is likely to be a
capitalized expense as a restoration. Tires and oil changes are likely to be
expensed currently. However, all expenses are subject to a facts and
circumstances test.
8.
[LO 2] MACRS depreciation requires the use of a recovery period, method, and
convention to depreciate tangible personal property assets. Briefly explain why each
is important to the calculation.
MACRS depreciation calculations are straightforward once you know the
recovery period (life), method, and convention for the asset. Recovery period
is the statutory life or the period over which a taxpayer will allocate the
depreciation deduction. Profitable taxpayers prefer the recovery period to be
as short as possible so that they may recoup the basis as quickly as possible.
The method is generally the double-declining (200% DB) method. However,
taxpayers may elect to use either the 150% DB method (useful if they are
subject to AMT, to avoid calculating both regular and AMT depreciation) or
straight-line method (to lengthen depreciation deduction for taxpayers in an
expiring NOL situation). The convention determines how much depreciation
is taken in both the year of acquisition and the year of disposition. The halfyear convention is used to simplify calculating depreciation based on the
number of days an asset was owned during the year, but the mid-quarter
convention is required if more than 40 percent of the tangible personal
property placed in service during the year was placed in service during the
fourth quarter.
9.
[LO 2] Can a taxpayer with very little current-year income choose to not claim any
depreciation deduction for the current year and thus save depreciation deductions for
the future when the taxpayer expects to be more profitable?
Taxpayers must reduce the basis of depreciable property by the depreciation
allowed or allowable (ยง1011). Therefore, taxpayers must reduce their basis
whether or not they claim the depreciation deduction. As a result, taxpayers
are better off taking the depreciation deduction even if it creates a net
operating loss or is taxed at a relatively low marginal tax rate. However,
taxpayers may elect out of bonus depreciation and may choose not to take
ยง179 expense which would reduce the current depreciation deduction
otherwise available.
10. [LO 2] [Planning] What depreciation methods are available for tangible personal
property? Explain the characteristics of a business likely to adopt each method.
Taxpayers may elect to use the 200% DB, 150% DB, or the straight-line
method for tangible personal property. It is important to note that all three
methods allow the same depreciation deduction over the same recovery
period. Nevertheless, profitable taxpayers will elect to use the 200% DB
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
method because it minimizes the after-tax cost of the asset by maximizing the
present value of the depreciation deductionsโthrough accelerating the
depreciation deductions. Taxpayers traditionally subject to the AMT may
elect to use the 150% DB method because it saves them the administrative
inconvenience of calculating depreciation under two separate methods.
Taxpayers may elect to use the straight-line method if they want to slow
down depreciationโwhich is counterintuitive but often occurs for companies
that regularly incur NOLs and would like to preserve these losses for a time
when they expect profitability or will be acquired by another taxpayer that
may be able to utilize the NOLs.
11. [LO 2] If a business places several different assets in service during the year, must it
use the same depreciation method for all assets? If not, what restrictions apply to
the businessโs choices of depreciation methods?
Taxpayers may generally choose the depreciation method used for assets
placed in service. The MACRS general depreciation system generally uses
the 200% DB method for tangible personal property and the straight-line
method for real property. However, taxpayers may elect either the 150% DB
or straight-line method for tangible personal property on a property class by
property class basis (ยง168(g)(7)). For example, if a taxpayer places in
service a computer (5-year property), a delivery truck (5-year property), and
machinery (7-year property) an election could be made to use the straightline method for all 5-year property and continue to use the 200% DB method
for the 7-year property. Alternatively, an election could be made to use the
straight-line method for only the 7-year property or all tangible personal
property placed in service during the year. Once made, the method choice is
an accounting method election and is irrevocable.
12. [LO 2] Describe how you would determine the MACRS recovery period for an asset
if you did not already know it.
Rev. Proc. 87-56 is the definitive authority for determining the recovery
period of all assets under MACRS. This guidance divides assets into asset
classes (groups of similar property) upon which the recovery period is
determined as the midpoint of the asset depreciation range (ADR) (the
system developed by the IRS for pre-ACRS property). However, the โ87โ in
the citation indicates that the Rev. Proc. was issued in 1987. As a result,
taxpayers, or their advisors, must verify that the guidance is still valid. For
example, motorsports entertainment complexes and qualified Alaska natural
gas pipeline are examples of assets to which Congress has given preferential
recovery periods since 1987 (ยง168(e)(3)(C)).
13. [LO 2] [Research] Compare and contrast the recovery periods used by MACRS and
those used under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Rev. Proc. 87-56 is the definitive authority for determining the recovery
period of all assets under MACRS. However, Congress in ยง168 has recently
modified the recovery period of some assets. Financial accounting rules are
vague at best. FASB Concept Statement 5 indicates that assets should be
recognized over the accounting period of their life. FASB Concept Statement
6 defines an asset as a probable future benefit. ASC 360-10-35 indicates that
the cost should be spread over the assetโs useful life in a systematic and
rational manner. In addition, it requires companies, through financial
statement disclosure, to disclose to investors current depreciation deduction,
depreciation method, and recovery period used for assets. As a result,
companies could use any rational recovery period for financial accounting
purposes.
14. [LO 2] What are the two depreciation conventions that apply to tangible personal
property under MACRS? Explain why Congress provides two methods.
The two depreciation conventions that apply to tangible personal property
under MACRS are the half-year convention and the mid-quarter convention.
MACRS uses a simplifying half-year convention. The half-year convention
allows one-half of a full yearโs depreciation in the year the asset is placed in
service, regardless of when it was actually placed in service. For example,
when the half-year convention applies, an asset placed in service on either
January 30 or December 17 is treated as though it was placed in service on
July 1 which is the middle of the calendar year. The original ACRS system
included only the half-year convention; however, Congress felt that some
taxpayers were abusing the system by purposely acquiring assets at the end
of the year that they otherwise would have acquired at the beginning of the
next taxable year (allowable tax planning under ACRS). In 1987, as part of
MACRS, the mid-quarter convention was implemented. The mid-quarter
convention treats assets as though they were placed in service during the
middle of the quarter in which the business actually placed the asset into
service. For example, when the mid-quarter convention applies, if a business
places an asset in service on December 1 (in the fourth quarter) it must treat
the asset as though it was placed in service on November 15, which is the
middle of the fourth quarter.
15. [LO 2] A business buys two identical tangible personal property assets for the same
price. It buys one at the beginning of the year and one at the end of year. Under what
conditions would the taxpayerโs depreciation on each asset be exactly the same?
Under what conditions would it be different?
MACRS has two conventions: half-year and mid-quarter conventions. The
half-year convention is the general rule and simplifies the depreciation
process by allowing one half year of depreciation taken on all assets placed
in service during the year. The mid-quarter convention is required if more
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
than 40 percent of a taxpayerโs tangible personal property is placed in
service during the fourth quarter of the year. The depreciation on the two
assets would be the same if the taxpayer was using the half-year
conventionโwhich would apply if the taxpayer purchased and placed in
service other assets during the year so that the 40 percent placed in service
fourth quarter test is failed. The depreciation on the two assets would be
different if the two assets were the only assets placed in service during the
yearโso that 50 percent was placed in service during the 4th quarter and the
mid-quarter convention was required to be used.
16. [LO 2] AAA Inc., acquired a machine in year 1. In May of year 3, it sold the asset.
Can AAA find its year 3 depreciation percentage for the machine on the MACRS
table? If not, what adjustment must AAA make to its full-year depreciation
percentage to determine its year 3 depreciation?
The applicable depreciation convention applies in the year of disposal as
well as the year of acquisition. The MACRS tables cannot anticipate an
assetโs disposal and therefore assume the asset was used in a trade or
business for the entire year. As a result, AAA must apply the applicable
convention to the table percentage upon disposal to arrive at the correct
percentage. For instance, for assets under the half-year convention,
multiplying the MACRS table full year depreciation by 50 percent (one-half
of a yearโs depreciation) provides the correct percentage.
17. [LO 2] There are two recovery period classifications for real property. What reasons
might Congress have to allow residential real estate a shorter recovery period than
nonresidential real property?
Non-residential property currently has a recovery period of 39 years while
residential property has a recovery period of 27.5 years. Non-residential has
longer lives because the construction methods are more substantial which
results in longer lives. For example, non-residential often uses steel frame
with concrete and/or block floors and walls. In contrast, residential uses
balloon construction using 2×4 timbers for structure. The non-residential
components often are built with more substantial materials as well. Some
argue that residential property receives higher use percentages and is
subject to more wear and tear. In addition, some political arguments
suggest that the faster recovery period for residential suggests that Congress
wants to encourage construction of housing, which in turn would make
rental properties more affordable.
18. [LO 2] Discuss why Congress has instructed taxpayers to depreciate real property
using the mid-month convention as opposed to the half-year convention used for
tangible personal property.
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The purpose of MACRS conventions is to simplify the calculation of
depreciation. Real property is characterized by higher basis and less
frequent acquisition than tangible personal property. These two reasons
suggest that mid-month convention approximates actual wear and tear on
real property better than the half-year and mid-quarter conventions would.
For example, if a building was purchased in January or December it would
be entitled to .5 or 11.5 months, respectively, of depreciation under the midmonth convention–which is close to the actual time the asset was placed in
service. This contrasts with the half-year convention that would allow 6
months or the mid-quarter convention that would allow 10.5 or 1.5 months,
respectively, of depreciation.
19. [LO 2] [Research] If a taxpayer has owned a building for 10 years and decides that it
should make significant improvements to the building, what is the recovery period
for the improvements?
MACRS generally classifies additions to property as a new asset placed in
service subject to the same depreciable life as the original asset. For
example, if a $2,000,000 addition is made to an office building (nonresidential property) then the assetโs basis is $2,000,000 and its recovery
period is 39 years. However, if the improvements are in the form of minor
repairs that simply maintain the integrity of the structure they would be
expensed.
20. [LO 2] Compare and contrast computing the depreciation deduction for tangible
personal property versus computing the depreciation deduction for real property
under both the regular tax and alternative tax systems.
MACRS allows the 200% DB method to be used whereas AMT requires the
150% DB method to be used for tangible personal property. Both MACRS
and AMT require the straight-line method for real property. Therefore, the
AMT adjustment for tangible personal property is the difference between
depreciation calculated under the 200% DB and the 150% DB methods.
There is no AMT adjustment required for real property. For taxpayers that
elect either the 150% DB or straight-line method for tangible personal
property there is no AMT adjustment required with respect to that property.
21. [LO 3] Discuss how the property limitation restricts large businesses from taking
the ยง179 expense.
The tax law allows for expensing of tangible personal property for certain
businesses. However, the deduction is phased out for taxpayers that place
more than a certain amount of tangible personal property in service during
the year (the property limitation). Since many large businesses place more
than the limit of property in service, they are ineligible for the ยง179
deduction.
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
22. [LO 3] Explain the two limitations placed on the ยง179 deduction. How are they
similar? How are they different?
The ยง179 deduction has two limitations: the property placed in service and
the taxable income limitation. The property limitation phases out the
maximum deduction amount dollar for dollar for property placed in service
over the $2,550,000 limit (up from $2,500,000 in 2018). After being limited
by the property placed in service limitation, the ยง179 deduction is further
limited to the taxpayerโs taxable income after regular MACRS depreciation
but before deducting any ยง179 expense. The two limitations are similar in
that they both limit the ยง179 deduction. However, the first limitation was
designed to limit the amount of property that can be expensed as a means of
defining small businesses while the second limitation prevents the expense
from creating or enhancing a loss for the taxable year.
23. [LO 3] Compare and contrast the types of businesses that would and would not
benefit from the ยง179 expense.
The availability of the ยง179 expense is limited by the property placed in
service and income limitations. The property placed in service limitation
phases out the ยง179 expense ($1,020,000 in 2019) dollar for dollar for
tangible personal property placed in service over the 2019 $2,550,000
threshold. Thus, firms that place $3,570,000 or more of property in service
during the year are ineligible to deduct any ยง179 expense. As a result, firms
that place in service smaller amounts of property are eligible for the
expensing election while those that place large amounts of property in
service are ineligible. The second limitation is that firms can only currently
expense assets up to taxable income (before the ยง179 expense, but after
bonus and regular MACRS depreciation deduction). As a result, profitable
firms are eligible for the ยง179 expense while firms in a loss position are
currently ineligible but may carry the amount forward. Consequently,
profitable firms that place a relatively small amount of property in service
are able to elect the ยง179 expense. In contrast, firms that place in service too
much property or are unprofitable are unable to currently expense property
under ยง 179.
24. [LO 3] What strategies will help a business maximize its current depreciation
deductions (including ยง179)? Why might a taxpayer choose not to maximize its
current depreciation deductions?
There are several planning strategies that will help a taxpayer maximize its
current depreciation deductions. For example, if a taxpayer is close to
exceeding the 4th quarter placed in service limitation, which would require
the mid-quarter convention resulting in less depreciation, the taxpayer could
put off purchases to the beginning of the next taxable year. A taxpayer can
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elect to expense under ยง179 assets that are 7-year assets rather than 5-year
assets because the first-year depreciation percentage is lower for 7-year
assets (14.29% versus 20%). As another example, a taxpayer otherwise
eligible for ยง179 expensing can elect to expense assets placed in service
during the 4th quarter because expensed assets are not included in the midquarter test. Taxpayers may want to take less than the maximum
depreciation otherwise allowed because they do not want to create a larger
tax loss for the current year or because they are in a lower marginal tax
bracket in the current year than they anticipate being in for future years.
25. [LO 3] Why might a business elect to claim a reduced ยง179 expense amount in the
current year rather than claiming the maximum amount?
Businesses can elect to expense ยง179 currently, and carry over the expense
to future years if they meet the placed-in-service limitation but do not have
sufficient income to expense the assets currently. However, a business may
elect to expense only the amount it can currently deduct if it believes that
maximizes the present value of current and future depreciation deductions.
This may occur because carryovers of ยง179 expense are subject to future
placed-in-service and income limitations. For example, a business could
elect the expense in the current year (which reduces current and future
MACRS depreciation deductions) and not be able to deduct the expense
under ยง179 because the business is also limited in future yearsโso
businesses that are generally limited would be wise not to make the election.
Additionally, if taxpayers typically elect the maximum ยง179 expense
annually, the amount would be suspended anyway.
26. [LO3] Describe assets that are considered to be listed property. Why do you think
Congress requires them to be โlistedโ?
Listed property comprises business assets that taxpayers may wish to use for
both business and personal purposes. For example, automobiles, planes,
boats, and recreation vehicles are considered to be listed property. The IRS
wants to track both the personal and business use of these assets to limit
depreciation to the business use portion. Additionally, if the business use
portion dips below 50 percent, then taxpayers must use the straight-line
method and potentially recapture excess depreciation deductions.
27. [LO 3] Are taxpayers allowed to claim depreciation on assets they use for both
business and personal purposes? What are the tax consequences if the business use
drops from above 50 percent in one year to below 50 percent in the next?
Yes, taxpayers may depreciate mixed use assets (those used for both
business and personal use). However, the otherwise allowable depreciation
is reduced by the non-business use, so that depreciation is only allowed to
the extent of the business use. If the business use falls below 50 percent in
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any subsequent year, then the taxpayer must re-compute depreciation for all
prior years as if it had been using the straight-line method over the ADS
recovery period. If the prior depreciation deductions exceed both the prior
depreciation deductions and the current year expense then the taxpayer
must recapture the difference into income during the current year.
28. [LO 3] Discuss why Congress limits the amount of depreciation deduction
businesses may claim on certain automobiles.
Automobiles have historically been the most abused, as well as expensive,
type of listed property. To prevent subsidizing business ownersโ automobiles
through deductible depreciation, Congress decided to place a maximum
allowable depreciation amount on them. One exception to this rule is bonus
depreciation. Congress allows an additional expense of $8,000 in the first
year for automobiles placed into service. However, one important exception
from the luxury auto rules are that vehicles weighing more than 6,000
pounds are not subject to the limit, and are allowed to expense up to $25,500
during the first year under ยง179 and may qualify for bonus depreciation.
29. [LO 3] Compare and contrast how a Land Rover SUV and a Mercedes-Benz sedan
are treated under the luxury auto rules. Also include a discussion of the similarities
and differences in available ยง179 expense.
A Mercedes-Benz sedan is less than 6,000 pounds and qualifies as a luxury
automobile. This limits depreciation to the restrictive luxury auto amounts.
In contrast, the Land Rover is more than 6,000 pounds and escapes the
luxury auto rules. This is advantageous for three reasons: (1) the buyer may
currently expense $25,500 under ยง179, (2) the property is not subject to the
luxury auto limits, and (3) qualifies for 100 percent bonus depreciation.
30. [LO 4] What is a ยง197 intangible? How do taxpayers recover the costs of these
intangibles? How do taxpayers recover the cost of a ยง197 intangible that expires
(such as a covenant not to compete)?
A ยง197 intangible is a purchased intangible including: goodwill, going
concern value, workforce in place, patents, customer lists, and similar
assets. ยง197 intangibles are amortized over 180 months (15 years) using the
straight-line method, and the full-month convention. To prevent gameplaying among the basis allocations of various ยง197 intangibles acquired
together, no loss is allowed on a ยง197 intangible until the last intangible
purchased together is disposed of. For example, in the past, taxpayers would
allocate substantial basis to a 3-year covenant not to compete or some other
short-lived intangible rather than goodwill (with a longer recovery period).
If a ยง197 intangible expires or is disposed of before the 180-month
amortization period expires any remaining basis of the disposed intangible is
allocated among the remaining intangibles purchased at the same time.
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31. [LO 4] Compare and contrast the tax and financial accounting treatment of goodwill.
Are taxpayers allowed to deduct amounts associated with self-created goodwill?
US GAAP requires goodwill to be capitalized and tested annually for
impairment. If and when the goodwill is impaired, the difference between
the book value and the new fair value will be expensed. For tax purposes,
goodwill is treated like any other ยง197 intangible. ยง197 intangibles are
amortized over 180 months (15 years) using the straight-line method, and
the full-month convention.
With respect to self-created assets taxpayers must amortize any capitalized
costs (any unamortized research and experimentation expenses and with
fees necessary to create the asset) over the life of the asset. For financial
accounting these costs are normally expensed.
32. [LO 4] Compare and contrast the similarities and differences between organizational
expenditures and start-up costs for tax purposes.
Organizational expenditures and start-up costs are sometimes confused
because both expense types are similar in that they are both incurred about
the time the business begins. However, the expenses relate to different
concerns. Start-up costs are costs that would be deductible as ordinary
trade or business expense under ยง162, except for the fact that the trade or
business had not started. An example of start-up costs is employee wages
incurred before actual production begins at the factory. Alternatively,
organizational expenditures relate to professional fees related to creating
the entity. An example of organizational expenditures is attorney fees
incurred for preparation of the corporate charter or partnership agreement.
Additionally, all businesses can deduct start-up costs, but only corporations
and partnerships can deduct organizational expenditures.
33. [LO 4] Discuss the method used to determine the amount of organizational
expenditures or start-up costs that may be immediately expensed in the year a
taxpayer begins business.
Start-up costs can be expensed up to $5,000 and organizational
expenditures can each be expensed, up to $5,000, in the year the business
begins. However, the current expense is reduced dollar for dollar if the
expenses exceed a threshold amount. The threshold for both start-up costs
and organizational expenditures is $50,000. Any remaining expenses can be
amortized over 15 years (180 months) for both types of costs. For example,
if a taxpayer incurs $23,000 of organizational costs, it may currently
expense $5,000โsince the total expense is less than the $50,000 threshold.
The remaining $18,000 ($23,000 – $5,000 expense) may be amortized at a
rate of $100 per month ($18,000 / 180 months).
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
34. [LO 4] Explain the amortization convention applicable to intangible assets.
MACRS uses the half-year, mid-quarter, and mid-month conventions. These
simplifying conventions assume that the asset was placed in service during
the middle of the year, quarter, or month, respectively. Intangibles are
amortized using the full-month convention. This convention allows a full or
entire month of amortization in each month the asset is ownedโbeginning
with the month the intangible is placed in service.
35. [LO 4] Compare and contrast the recovery periods of ยง197 intangibles,
organizational expenditures, start-up costs, and research and experimentation
expenses.
All intangibles are amortized using the full-month convention over the
applicable recovery period. ยง197 assets must be amortized over a 15-year
recovery period. Organizational expenditures and start-up costs are eligible
for up to $5,000 of expensing in the year the business begins. This expense
is reduced dollar for dollar over a $50,000 threshold. The remaining
expenses are amortized over a 15-year recovery period. Research and
experimentation expenses may be capitalized or amortized over the
determinable useful life, or if no determinable life, not less than 60 months.
Any unamortized expense that is allocable to a self-created intangible such
as a patent is amortized over the intangibleโs life.
36. [LO 5] Compare and contrast the cost and percentage depletion methods for
recovering the costs of natural resources. What are the similarities and differences
between the two methods?
Both cost and percentage depletion methods are used to recoup the cost of
natural resources. A taxpayer is allowed to deduct the depletion method that
results in the largest deduction in the current year. Cost depletion is a cost
recovery method based on the amount of the estimated raw materials used
during the year. The basic premise is that a business ratably recovers the
cost basis of the resource as it is used up. Cost depletion is taken until the
basis of the asset is recovered. If the natural resource is exhausted before
the basis is recovered then the remaining basis is expensed. In contrast,
percentage depletion is a statutory method that allows an expense based on
the lesser of 50 percent of net income from the activity or a percentage
(statutorily determined) of the gross receipts from the business during the
current year. Percentage depletion is allowed to continue even after the
assetโs basis has been fully recovered.
37. [LO 5] Explain why percentage depletion has been referred to as a government
subsidy.
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Percentage depletion is often referred to as a government subsidy because it
is an expense designed to encourage production of specific resources. For
example, oil and gas, coal, and many other natural resources are assigned
specific percentage depletion rates (between 5 percent and 22 percent),
while timber is excluded from resources applicable to the method. To
encourage development of a certain resource, Congress can simply raise the
statutory percentage for the resource type. In addition, percentage depletion
expense can transcend reality. How many expenses are allowed to exceed
the taxpayerโs basis in an asset? Very few expenses, if any are allowed in
excess of basis. Savvy taxpayers can underestimate the estimate of a natural
resource, accelerate its cost recovery through cost depletion, and then
continue to receive depletion benefits through percentage depletion. For
these reasons, percentage depletion is referred to as a subsidy.
Problems
38. [LO 1] Jose purchased a delivery van for his business through an online auction. His
winning bid for the van was $24,500. In addition, Jose incurred the following
expenses before using the van: shipping costs of $650; paint to match the other fleet
vehicles at a cost of $1,000; registration costs of $3,200 which included $3,000 of
sales tax and a registration fee of $200; wash and detailing for $50; and an engine
tune-up for $250. What is Joseโs cost basis for the delivery van?
$29,150, cost basis in the delivery van, computed as follows:
Amount
Explanation*
Description
Purchase price
$24,500
Shipping costs
650
Business preparation cost
Paint
1,000
Business preparation cost
Sales tax
3,000
Business preparation cost
Total cost basis
$29,150
*Note that the registration fee, washing and detailing, and engine tune-up are costs for
repairs and maintenance that are not required to be capitalized.
39. [LO 1]{Research} Emily purchased a building to store inventory for her business.
The purchase price was $760,000. Emily also paid legal fees of $300 to acquire the
building. In March, Emily incurred $2,000 to repair minor leaks in the roof (from
storm damage earlier in the month) and $5,000 to make the interior suitable for her
finished goods. What is Emilyโs cost basis in the new building?
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
$765,300 cost basis, computed as follows:
Amount
Explanation
Description
Purchase price
$760,000
Improvements
5,000
Business preparation costs
300
Business preparation costs
Legal fees
Cost basis in building
$765,300*
*Note that the $2,000 repair for the roof was not capitalized. The repair is likely a
routine maintenance expenditure rather than a capitalized cost under Reg. 1.263(a)-3.
The roof repair is reasonably expected to occur more than once in a 10-year period.
However, if the expense resulted in a betterment, restoration or adaptation to new or
different use, it would be capitalized. The legal fees would be capitalized as expenses to
purchase the building and the costs to modify the interior would be capitalized as
improvement costs.
40. [LO 1]{Research} In January, Prahbu purchased a new machine for use in an existing
production line of his manufacturing business for $90,000. Assume that the machine
is a unit of property and is not a material or supply. Prahbu pays $2,500 to install the
machine, and after the machine is installed, he pays $1,300 to perform a critical test
on the machine to ensure that it will operate in accordance with quality standards. On
November 1, the critical test is complete, and Prahbu places the machine in service on
the production line. On December 3, Prahbu pays another $3,300 to perform periodic
quality control testing after the machine is placed in service. How much will Prahbu
be required to capitalize as the cost of the machine?
$93,800 cost basis, computed as follows:
Description
Purchase price
Installation costs
Critical test costs
Cost basis in machine
Amount
Explanation
$90,000
2,500 Business preparation costs
1,300 Business preparation costs
$93,800
Under Reg. ยง1.263(a)-2(d)(1) Prahbu must capitalize amounts paid to acquire or
produce a unit of personal property machinery and equipment. Amounts paid to
acquire or produce a unit of personal property include the invoice price, transaction
costs, and costs for work performed prior to the date that the unit of property is
placed in service by the taxpayer. The amounts paid for the installation and the
critical test performed before the machine is placed in service must be capitalized as
amounts to acquire the machine. However, the $3,300 paid for periodic quality
control testing after Prahbu placed the machine in service is not required to be
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
capitalized as amounts paid to acquire the machine. This amount is expensed as
routine maintenance under Reg ยง1.263(a)-3(i).
41. [LO 1] Dennis contributed business assets to a new business in exchange for stock in
the company. The exchange did not qualify as a tax-deferred exchange. The fair
market value of these assets was $287,000 on the contribution date. Dennisโs original
basis in the assets he contributed was $143,000, and the accumulated depreciation on
the assets was $78,000.
a. What is the businessโs basis in the assets it received from Dennis?
b. What would be the businessโs basis if the transaction qualified as a taxdeferred exchange?
a. Because this exchange is a fully taxable transaction, the businessโs basis in Dennisโs
assets is the $287,000 fair market value of the assets.
b. If the transaction qualified as a tax-deferred exchange, the business would take the
same adjusted basis in the assets that Dennis had. That is, the business will receive
an exchanged basis of $65,000 ($143,000 original basis minus accumulated
depreciation of $78,000) in the assets.
42. [LO 1] Brittany started a law practice as a sole proprietor. She owned a computer,
printer, desk, and file cabinet she purchased during law school (several years ago)
that she is planning to use in her business. What is the depreciable basis that Brittany
should use in her business for each asset, given the following information?
Asset
Purchase Price
Computer
Printer
Desk
File cabinet
$5,500
$3,300
$4,200
$3,200
FMV at Time
Converted to Business
use
$3,800
$3,150
$4,000
$3,225
The basis of assets converted from personal use to business use is the lesser of (1) fair
market value on date of conversion or (2) basis on the date of conversion. The
depreciable basis of each asset is as follows:
(1)
FMV
(2)
Basis on Date of
Conversion
Depreciable Basis
$3,800
$3,150
$4,000
$3,225
$5,500
$3,300
$4,200
$3,200
$3,800
$3,150
$4,000
$3,200
Asset
Computer
Printer
Desk
File cabinet
Lesser of
(1) or (2)
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
43. [LO 1] Meg OโBrien received a gift of some small-scale jewelry manufacturing
equipment that her father had used for personal purposes for many years. Her father
originally purchased the equipment for $1,500. Because the equipment is out of
production and no longer available, the property is currently worth $4,000. Meg has
decided to begin a new jewelry manufacturing trade or business. What is her
depreciable basis for depreciating the equipment?
The basis of a gift is a carryover basis from the donor; therefore, Megโs
depreciable basis in the property is $1,500.
44. [LO 1] Gary inherited a Maine summer cabin on 10 acres from his grandmother. His
grandparents originally purchased the property for $500 in 1950 and built the cabin
at a cost of $10,000 in 1965. His grandfather died in 1980 and when his
grandmother recently passed away, the property was appraised at $500,000 for the
land and $700,000 for the cabin. Since Gary doesnโt currently live in New England,
he decided that it would be best to put the property to use as a rental. What is Garyโs
basis in the land and in the cabin?
The basis of inherited property is the fair market value on the date of death or, if
elected by the estate, the alternate valuation date if less. Consequently, Garyโs
basis will be $500,000 in the land and $700,000 for the cabin.
45. [LO 1] Wanting to finalize a sale before year-end, on December 29, WR Outfitters
sold to Bob a warehouse and the land for $125,000. The appraised fair market value
of the warehouse was $75,000, and the appraised value of the land was $100,000.
a. What is Bobโs basis in the warehouse and in the land?
b. What would be Bobโs basis in the warehouse and in the land if the
appraised value of the warehouse is $50,000 and the appraised value of the
land is $125,000?
c. Which appraisal would Bob likely prefer?
NOTE: This is a bargain purchase. The sales price is less than the
appraised value. This solution uses the relative appraised values of the
land and the warehouse to allocate the purchase price between these two
assets.
a. Bobโs cost basis in the land is $71,429. Because the purchase price is
less than the appraised values for the land and the warehouse, the
purchase price must be allocated between the land and the warehouse.
The $71,429 basis for the land is the amount of the $125,000 purchase
price that is allocated to the land based on the relative value of the land
($100,000) to the value of the land ($100,000) plus the value of the
warehouse ($75,000) based on the appraisal. The formula used to
determine the basis allocated to the land is $125,000 (purchase price) x
$100,000/($100,000 + 75,000).
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Use the same process to determine that Bobโs basis in the warehouse is
$53,571 [125,00 x $75,000/(100,000 + $75,0000].
b. Bobโs cost basis for the land is $89,286. Because the purchase price is
less than the appraised values for the land and the warehouse, the
purchase price must be allocated between the land and the warehouse.
The $89,286 basis for the land is the amount of the $125,000 purchase
price that is allocated to the land based on the relative value of the land
($125,000) to the value of the land ($125,000) plus the value of the
warehouse ($50,000) based on the appraisal. The formula used to
determine the basis allocated to the land is $125,000 (purchase price) x
$125,000/($50,000 + 125,000).
Use the same process to determine that Bobโs basis in the warehouse is
$35,714 [$125,000 x $50,000/($50,000 + $125,000)].
c. Bob would likely prefer the appraisal from part (a), because the
appraisal allows him to allocate more basis to the warehouse, which is
depreciable.c
46. [LO 2] At the beginning of the year, Poplock began a calendar-year dog boarding
business called Griffโs Palace. Poplock bought and placed in service the following
assets during the year:
Asset
Computer equipment
Dog grooming furniture
Pickup truck
Commercial building
Land (one acre)
Date Acquired
3/23
5/12
9/17
10/11
10/11
Cost Basis
$5,000
$7,000
$10,000
$270,000
$80,000
Assuming Poplock does not elect ยง179 expensing and elects not to use bonus
depreciation, answer the following questions:
a. What is Poplockโs year 1 depreciation deduction for each asset?
b. What is Poplockโs year 2 depreciation deduction for each asset?
Asset
a. $5,445, under the half-year convention for personal property, calculated as
follows:
(1)
Purchase Quarter Recovery Original
(2)
(1) x (2)
Date
period
Basis
Rate Depreciation
Computer
equipment
Dog grooming
furniture
Pickup truck
Building
23-Mar
1st
5 years
$5,000
20.00%
$1,000
12-May
17-Sep
11-Oct
2nd
3rd
4th
7 years
5 years
39 years
$7,000
$10,000
$270,000
14.29%
20.00%
0.535%
$1,000
$2,000
$1,445
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$5,445
b. $13,437, calculated as follows:
Asset
Computer
equipment
Dog grooming
furniture
Pickup truck
Building
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
Purchase
Date
Quarter
Recovery
period
23-Mar
1st
5 years
$5,000
32.00%
$1,600
12-May
17-Sep
11-Oct
2nd
3rd
4th
7 years
5 years
39 years
$7,000
$10,000
$270,000
24.49%
32.00%
2.564%
$1,714
$3,200
$6,923
$13,437
47. [LO 2] DLW Corporation acquired and placed in service the following assets during
the year:
Asset
Computer equipment
Furniture
Commercial building
Date Acquired
2/17
5/12
11/1
Cost Basis
$10,000
$17,000
$270,000
Assuming DLW does not elect ยง179 expensing and elects not to use bonus
depreciation, answer the following questions:
a. What is DLWโs year 1 cost recovery for each asset?
b. What is DLWโs year 3 cost recovery for each asset if DLW sells all of
these assets on 1/23 of year 3?
Asset
a. $5,296, under the half-year convention for personal property, calculated as
follows:
(1)
Purchase Quarter Recovery Original
(2)
(1) x (2)
Date
period
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
Computer
equipment
Furniture
Building
17-Feb
12-May
1-Nov
1st
2nd
4th
5 years
7 years
39 years
$10,000
$17,000
$270,000
20.00%
14.29%
0.321%
$2,000
$2,429
$867
$5,296
b. $2,735, under the half-year convention for personal property, calculated as
follows:
Asset
Computer
equipment
Furniture
Building
Original
Basis
Recovery
period
Rate
Portion of
Year
Depreciation
Expense
$10,000
$17,000
$270,000
5 years
7 years
39 years
19.2%
17.49%
2.564%
50.00%
50.00%
4.17%
$960
$1,487
$288
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$2,735
Total Depreciation Deduction
48. [LO 2] At the beginning of the year, Anna began a calendar-year business and
placed in service the following assets during the year:
Asset
Computers
Office desks
Machinery
Office building
Date Acquired
1/30
2/15
7/25
8/13
Cost Basis
$28,000
$32,000
$75,000
$400,000
Assuming Anna does not elect ยง179 expensing and elects not to use bonus
depreciation, answer the following questions:
a. What is Annaโs year 1 cost recovery for each asset?
b. What is Annaโs year 2 cost recovery for each asset?
a. $24,743, using the half-year convention for personal property, as
calculated below.
Asset
Computers
Office desks
Machinery
Office building
Purchase
Date
Recovery
period
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
30-Jan
15-Feb
25-Jul
13-Aug
5 years
7 years
7 years
39 years
$28,000
32,000
75,000
400,000
20.00%
14.29%
14.29%
0.963%
(1) x (2)
Cost
Recovery
$5,600
4,573
10,718
3,852
$24,743
b. $45,421, using the half-year convention for personal property, calculated
as follows:
(1)
(2)
(1) x (2)
Purchase Recovery Original
Cost
Asset
Date
period
Basis
Rate
Recovery
Computers
Office desks
Machinery
Office building
30-Jan
15-Feb
25-Jul
13-Aug
5 years
7 years
7 years
39 years
$28,000
32,000
75,000
400,000
32.00%
24.49%
24.49%
2.564%
$8,960
7,837
18,368
10,256
$45,421
49. [LO 2] {Planning} Parley needs a new truck to help him expand Parleyโs Plumbing
Palace. Business has been booming and Parley would like to accelerate his tax
deductions as much as possible (ignore ยง179 expense and bonus depreciation for this
problem). On April 1, Parley purchased a new delivery van for $25,000. It is now
September 26 and Parley, already in need of another vehicle, has found a deal on
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buying a truck for $22,000 (all fees included). The dealer tells him if he doesnโt buy
the truck (Option 1), it will be gone tomorrow. There is an auction (Option 2)
scheduled for October 5 where Parley believes he can get a similar truck for
$21,500, but there is also a $500 auction fee. Parley makes no other asset
acquisitions during the year.
a. Which option allows Parley to generate more depreciation deductions this
year (the vehicles are not considered to be luxury autos)?
b. Assume the original facts except that the delivery van was placed in
service one day earlier on March 31 rather than April 1. Which option
generates more depreciation deduction?
a. Option 1 generates more depreciation. Option 1 generates $9,400 of depreciation
and Option 2 generates $7,350.
Option 1: Half-year convention applies
Asset
Delivery Van
Option 1
Total
Date Placed
in Service
April 1
September 26
(1)
Original
Basis
$25,000
$22,000
(2)
(1) x (2)
Rate
Depreciation
20.00%
$5,000
20.00%
$4,400
$9,400
Option 2: Mid-quarter convention applies
Asset
Delivery Van
Option 2
Total
Date Placed
in Service
April 1
October 5
Quarter
2nd
4th
(1)
Original
Basis
$25,000
$22,000
(2)
(1) x (2)
Rate
Depreciation
25.00%
$6,250
5.00%
$1,100
$7,350
b. Option 2 generates more depreciation ($9,850 vs. 9,400).
Under Option 1, because the half-year convention applies, the depreciation
deduction is $9,400, the same as it is in part (a).
Under Option 2, because the mid-quarter convention applies and the Delivery Van
was placed in service in the first quarter (on March 31), Parley is allowed to
deduct more depreciation overall. The depreciation under Option 2 in this
scenario is $9,850, computed as follows:
Option 2: Mid-quarter convention applies
Asset
Date Placed
in Service
Quarter
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
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Delivery van
Option 2
Total
1st
4th
March 31
October 5
$25,000
$22,000
35.00%
5.00%
$8,750
$1,100
$9,850
50. [LO 2] Way Corporation disposed of the following tangible personal property assets
in the current year. Assume that the delivery truck is not a luxury auto. Calculate
Way Corporationโs 2019 depreciation deduction (ignore ยง179 expense and bonus
depreciation for this problem).
Asset
Furniture (7 year)
Machinery (7 year)
Delivery truck (5 year)*
Machinery (7 year)
Computer (5 year)
Date acquired
5/12/15
3/23/16
9/17/17
10/11/18
10/11/19
Date sold
7/15/19
3/15/19
3/13/19
8/11/19
12/15/19
Convention
HY
MQ
HY
MQ
HY
Original
Basis
$55,000
$72,000
$20,000
$270,000
$80,000
Depreciation is $51,851, calculated as follows:
Asset
Furniture
Machinery
Delivery truck
Machinery
Computer
Original
Basis
$55,000
$72,000
$20,000
$270,000
$80,000
Total Depreciation
Quarter
If mid
quarter
n/a
1st
n/a
4th
n/a
Rate
Portion of
Year
Depreciation
Deduction
8.93%
10.93%
19.20%
27.55%
0.00%
50.00%
12.50%
50.00%
62.50%
50.00%
$2,456
$984
$1,920
$46,491
$0**
$51,851
*Used 100 percent for business.
**No depreciation for assets acquired and disposed of in the same year.
51. [LO 2] On November 10 of year 1 Javier purchased a building, including the land
it was on, to assemble his new equipment. The total cost of the purchase was
$1,200,000; $300,000 was allocated to the basis of the land and the remaining
$900,000 was allocated to the basis of the building.
a. Using MACRS, what is Javierโs depreciation deduction on the building for
years 1 through 3?
b. What would be the year 3 depreciation deduction if the building was sold
on August 1 of year 3?
c. Answer the question in part (a), except assume the building was purchased
and placed in service on March 3 instead of November 10.
d. Answer the question in part (a), except assume that the building is
residential property.
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e. What would be the depreciation for 2019, 2020, and 2021 if the property
were nonresidential property purchased and placed in service November
10, 2002 (assume the same original basis)?
a. The depreciation for the 3 years is computed as follows:
Year
1
2
3
Method
SL
Recovery
Period
39
Date
Placed in
Service
Nov. 10
(1)
(2)
(1) x (2)
Original
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
$900,000 0.321%
$2,889
$900,000 2.564%
$23,076
$900,000 2.564%
$23,076
b. The depreciation for year 3 would be $14,423 and is computed as
follows (The building is sold in month 8 so depreciation for the year is for
8 minus one-half month =7.5 months.):
Recovery
Period
39
Date
Placed in
Service
Nov. 10
(1)
(2)
(1) x (2)
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
$900,000 2.564%
$23,076
Partial year
x 7.5/12
$14,423
Year
3
Method
SL
Year
1
2
3
c. The depreciation for years 1 โ 3 is computed as follows (note that years
2 and 3 are the same):
Date
(1)
(2)
(1) x (2)
Recovery Placed in
Original
Method
Period
Service
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
SL
39
March 3
$900,000 2.033%
$18,297
$900,000 2.564%
$23,076
$900,000 2.564%
$23,076
Year
1
2
3
d. If the property was residential real property, the building is depreciated
over 27.5 years instead of 39 years. The depreciation for years 1 – 3 is
computed as follows:
Date
(1)
(2)
(1) x (2)
Recovery Placed in
Original
Method
Period
Service
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
SL
27.5
Nov. 10
$900,000 0.455%
$4,095
$900,000 3.636%
$32,724
$900,000 3.636%
$32,724
e. If the property was nonresidential real property purchased in 2002, the
depreciation for the 3 years is computed as follows for years 2019, 2020,
and 2021 in the depreciation table:
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Year
2019
2020
2021
Method
SL
Recovery
Period
39
Date
Placed in
Service
2002
(1)
(2)
(1) x (2)
Original
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
$900,000 2.564%
$23,076
$900,000 2.564%
$23,076
$900,000 2.564%
$23,076
52. [LO 2] Carl purchased an apartment complex for $1.1 million on March 17 of
year 1. Of the purchase price, $300,000 was attributable to the land the complex
sits on. He also installed new furniture into half of the units at a cost of $60,000.
a. What is Carlโs allowable depreciation deduction for his real property for
years 1 and 2?
b. What is Carlโs allowable depreciation deduction for year 3 if the real
property is sold on January 2 of year 3?
Year
1
2
a. The depreciation on the real property for the 2 years is computed as
follows:
Date
(1)
(2)
(1) x (2)
Recovery Placed in
Original
Method
Period
Service
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
SL
27.5
March 17
$800,000 2.879%
$23,032
$800,000 3.636%
$29,088
Note that the furniture is depreciable personal property.
b. The depreciation for year 3 is computed as follows:
Date
Placed in
Service
March 17
(1)
(1) x (2)
Recovery
Original
Year
Method
Period
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
3
SL
27.5
$800,000 3.636%
$29,088
Partial year*
x .5/12
$1,212
*mid- month convention applies to real property in year of acquisition and year of
disposition.
53. [LO 2, LO 3] Evergreen Corporation (calendar-year-end) acquired the following
assets during the current year:
Asset
Machinery
Computer equipment
Used delivery truck*
Furniture
Placed in
Service Date
October 25
February 3
August 17
April 22
Original
Basis
$70,000
$10,000
$23,000
$150,000
*The delivery truck is not a luxury automobile.
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
a. What is the allowable MACRS depreciation on Evergreenโs property in
the current year assuming Evergreen does not elect ยง179 expense and
elects out of bonus depreciation?
b. What is the allowable MACRS depreciation on Evergreenโs property in
the current year if Evergreen does not elect out of bonus depreciation?
a. $38,038, under the half-year convention, calculated as follows:
Asset
Computer equipment (5 year)
Furniture (7 year)
Used delivery truck (5 year)
Machinery (7 year)
Total
Placed in
Service
February 3
April 22
August 17
October 25
(1)
Original
Basis
$10,000
$150,000
$23,000
$70,000
$253,000
(2)
(1) x (2)
Rate
Depreciation
20.00%
$2,000
14.29%
$21,435
20.00%
$4,600
14.29%
$10,003
$38,038
b. $253,000, using 100 percent bonus depreciation. All of Evergreenโs assets placed
in service during the year are eligible for bonus depreciation.
Asset
Computer equipment (5 year)
Furniture (7 year)
Used delivery truck (5 year)
Machinery (7 year)
Total
Placed in Service
February 3
April 22
August 17
October 25
Quarter
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
(1)
Original
Basis
$10,000
$150,000
$23,000
$70,000
$253,000
(2)
Rate
100%
100%
100%
100%
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
$10,000
$150,000
$23,000
$70,000
$253,000
54. [LO 2, LO 3] Convers Corporation (calendar year-end) acquired the following
assets during the current tax year:
Asset
Machinery
Computer Equipment
Used Delivery Truck*
Furniture
Total
Placed in
Service Date
October 25
February 3
March 17
April 22
Original
Basis
$70,000
$10,000
$23,000
$150,000
$253,000
*The delivery truck is not a luxury automobile.
In addition to these assets, Convers installed new flooring (qualified
improvement property) to its office building on May 12 at a cost of $300,000.
a. What is the allowable MACRS depreciation on Conversโs property in the
current year assuming Convers does not elect ยง179 expense and elects out of
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
bonus depreciation?
b. What is the allowable MACRS depreciation on Conversโs property in the
current year assuming Convers does not elect out of bonus depreciation (but
does not take ยง179 expense)?
a. $42,853, under the half-year convention, as computed below:
Asset
Machinery (7 year)
Computer Equipment (5 year)
Used delivery truck (5 year)
Furniture (7 year)
Qualified improvement
property (39-year)
Total
Placed in Service
October 25
February 3
March 17
April 22
May 12
(1)
Original
Basis
$70,000
10,000
$23,000
150,000
300,000
$553,000
(2)
(1) ร (2)
Rate
14.29%
20.00%
20.00%
14.29%
Depreciation
$10,003
2,000
4,600
21,435
1.605%
4,815
$42,853
b. $257,815, under the half-year convention, as computed below. Note that the
qualified improvement property does not qualify for bonus depreciation and
must be depreciated over a 39-year period.
Asset
Machinery (7 year)
Computer Equipment (5 year)
Used delivery truck (5 year)
Furniture (7 year)
Qualified improvement
property (39-year)
Total
Placed in Service
October 25
February 3
March 17
April 22
May 12
(1)
Original
Basis
$70,000
10,000
$23,000
150,000
300,000
$553,000
(2)
(1) ร (2)
Rate
100%
100%
100%
100%
Depreciation
$70,000
10,000
23,000
150,000
1.605%
4,815
$257,815
55. [LO 2, LO 3] Harris Corp. is a technology start-up and is in its second year of
operations. The company didnโt purchase any assets this year but purchased the
following assets in the prior year:
Asset
Placed in Service Basis
Office Equipment
August 14
$10,000
Manufacturing Equipment
April 15
68,000
Computer System
June 1
16,000
Total
$94.000
Harris did not know depreciation was tax deductible until it hired an accountant this
year and didnโt claim any depreciation deduction in its first year of operation.
a) What is the maximum amount of depreciation deduction Harris Corp. can
deduct in its second year of operation?
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
b) What is the basis of the office equipment at the end of the second year?
a) $-0-. Harris is limited to the regular MACRS depreciation using the secondyear depreciation rates. However, in the prior year, Harris did not file an
election out of bonus depreciation. As a result, the depreciation allowable in the
prior year would be 100 percent of the depreciable basis (cost) under the bonus
depreciation rules. After reducing the basis by the bonus depreciation, no basis
remains for depreciation in year 2.
b) $-0-. The basis of the office equipment at the end of the second year is
calculated by subtracting the depreciation allowable from the original basis. In
this case, Harris must reduce the basis by the first yearโs depreciation that was
not taken but was allowable of $10,000, leaving no remaining basis at the end
of year 1 and year 2.
56. [LO 2, LO 3] Assume AMP Corporation (calendar-year-end) has 2019 taxable
income of $1,900,000 for purposes of computing the ยง179 expense. During 2019,
AMP acquired the following assets:
Asset
Machinery
Computer Equipment
Office Building
Total
Placed in
Service
September 12
February 10
April 2
Basis
$1,550,000
365,000
480,000
$2,395,000
a) What is the maximum amount of ยง179 expense AMP may deduct for 2019?
b) What is the maximum total depreciation, including ยง179 expense, that AMP
may deduct in 2019 on the assets it placed in service in 2019, assuming no
bonus depreciation?
a. The maximum ยง179 expense is $1,020,000.
Description
(1) Property placed in service in 2019
Amount
Explanation
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out
$1,915,000 Total ยง179 qualified
property
(2,550,000) 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(2)]
$-0- (1) โ (2) (permanently
disallowed), not less
than $0.
$1,020,000 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(1)]
(5) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
Maximum ยง179 expense after phase-out
$-0- From (3)
$1,020,000 (4) โ (5)
(2) Threshold for ยง179 phase-out
(3) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
b. The maximum depreciation deduction is $1,177,468 (half-year convention).
Depreciation is maximized by applying the ยง179 expense against 7-year rather than 5year property.
Asset
Machinery (7-year)
Computer Equipment (5year)
Office building (39 year)
Original
Basis
ยง179
Expense
Remaining
Basis
$1,550,000
$1,020,000
$365,000
$480,000
Depreciation
Deduction
Rate
$530,000
14.29%
$75,737
$365,000
$480,000
20.00%
1.819%
$73,000
$8,731
$1,020,000
$1,177,468
ยง179 Expense
Total cost recovery
57. [LO 2, LO 3] Assume TDW Corporationโs (calendar-year-end) has 2019 taxable
income of $650,000 for purposes of computing the ยง179 expense. The company
acquired the following assets during 2019:
Asset
Machinery
Computer Equipment
Furniture
Total
Placed in
Service
September 12
February 10
April 2
Basis
$2,270,000
263,000
880,000
$3,413,000
a) What is the maximum amount of ยง179 expense TDW may deduct for
2019?
b) What is the maximum total depreciation, including ยง179 expense, that
TDW may deduct in 2019 on the assets it placed in service in 2019, assuming
no bonus depreciation?
a. The maximum ยง179 expense is $157,000.
Description
(1) Property placed in service in 2019
(2) Threshold for ยง179 phase-out
(3) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out
(5) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
(6) Maximum ยง179 expense after phase-out
Amount
Explanation
$3,413,000 Total qualified property
(2,550,000) 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(2)]
$863,000 (1) โ (2) (permanently
disallowed)
$1,020,000 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(1)]
$863,000 From (3)
$157,000 (4) โ (5)
b. The maximum depreciation deduction is $637,300.
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Depreciation is maximized by applying the ยง179 expense against 7-year rather than 5year property, and in this case, depreciation is maximized by applying the ยง179 expense
against the machinery.
Asset
Machinery (7-year)
Computer Equipment
(5- year)
Furniture (7 year)
Original
Basis
ยง179
Expense
Remaining
Basis
Rate
$2,270,000
$157,000
$2,113,000
14.29%
$301,948
$263,000
$880,000
20.00%
14.29%
52,600
125,752
157,000
$637,300
$263,000
$880,000
ยง179 Expense
Total cost recovery
Depreciation
Deduction
58. [LO 2, LO 3] Assume Timberline Corporationโs 2019 taxable income of $240,000
for purposes of computing the ยง179 expense. It acquired the following assets in
2019:
Asset
Furniture (7-year)
Computer Equipment (5-year)
Copier (5-year)
Machinery (7-year)
Total
Purchase
Date
December 1
February 28
July 15
May 22
Basis
$450,000
90,000
30,000
480,000
$1,050,000
a) What is the maximum amount of ยง179 expense Timberline may deduct for
2019? What is Timberlineโs ยง179 carryforward to 2020, if any?
b) What would Timberlineโs maximum depreciation deduction be for 2019
assuming no bonus depreciation?
c) What would Timberlineโs maximum depreciation deduction be for 2019 if
the machinery cost $3,000,000 instead of $480,000 and assuming no bonus
depreciation?
a) The maximum ยง179 expense would be $240,000 and the carryforward to 2020 would
be $780,000.
Description
(1) Property placed in service
(2) Threshold for ยง179 phase-out
(3) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out
Amount
Explanation
$1,050,000 Total qualified assets
(2,550,000) 2019 amount (ยง179(b)(2))
$0 (1) โ (2) (permanently
disallowed), not less
than $0.
$1,020,000 2019 amount (ยง179(b)(1))
(5) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
(6) Maximum ยง179 expense after phase-out
$0 From (3)
$1,020,000 (4) โ (5)
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
(7) Taxable income before ยง179 deduction
(8) ยง179 expense after taxable income
limitation.
ยง179 carryforward to next year
$240,000 Given in problem
$240,000 Lesser of (6) and (7)
$780,000 (6) โ (8)
b) The half-year convention applies because none of its personal property was placed in
service in the 4th quarter assuming Timberline applied the ยง179 expense to the furniture
acquired in December. After the ยง179 election, the remaining $30,000 of property is all
placed in service prior to the fourth quarter. (Because the mid-quarter test is applied
after taking ยง179 expense, it is optimal to take the ยง179 expense against qualified
property placed into service during the fourth quarter.)
Timberlineโs depreciation deduction is $362,601 computed as follows:
Original
Asset
Basis
Furniture
$450,000
Computer Equipment
$90,000
Copier
$30,000
Machinery
$480,000
ยง179 Expense
Total Depreciation Deduction*
ยง179
Expense
$240,000
Remaining
Basis
$210,000
$90,000
$30,000
$480,000
Rate
14.29%
20.00%
20.00%
14.29%
Depreciation
Deduction
$30,009
$18,000
$6,000
$68,592
$240,000
$362,601
*Depreciation is maximized by applying the ยง179 expense against 7-year instead of 5year property.
c) The maximum ยง179 expense would be $0, computed as follows:
Description
Amount
Explanation
(1) Property placed in service
$3,570,000 Total of qualifying assets
(2) Threshold for ยง179 phase-out
(2,550,000) 2019 amount (ยง179(b)(2))
(3) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
$1,020,000 (1) โ (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase$1,020,000 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(1)]
out
(5) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
$1,020,000 From (3)
Maximum ยง179 expense after phase-out
$0 (4) โ (5), but not below 0
The maximum depreciation deduction for 2019 using the half-year convention would be
$517,005, computed as follows:
Asset
Furniture
Computer
Equipment
Copier
Original
Basis
$450,000
$90,000
$30,000
ยง179
Expense
Remaining
Basis
$450,000
Rate
14.29%
Depreciation
Deduction
$64,305
$90,000
$30,000
20.00%
20.00%
18,000
6,000
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Machinery
$3,000,000
ยง179 Expense
Total Depreciation Deduction
$3,000,000
14.29%
428,700
-0$517,005
59. [LO 2, LO 3] {Planning} Dainโs Diamond Bit Drilling purchased the following
assets this year. Assume its taxable income was $53,000 for purposes of
computing the ยง179 expense (assume no bonus depreciation).
Asset
Drill Bits (5-year)
Drill Bits (5-year)
Commercial Building
Purchase
Date
January 25
July 25
April 22
Original
Basis
$90,000
95,000
220,000
a) What is the maximum amount of ยง179 expense Dainโs may deduct for the year?
b) What is Dainโs maximum depreciation deduction for the year (including ยง179
expense)?
c) If the January drill bitsโ original basis was $2,875,000, what is the maximum
amount of ยง179 expense Dainโs may deduct for the year?
d) If the January drill bitsโ basis was $3,875,000, what is the maximum amount of
ยง179 expense Dain may deduct for the year?
a) The maximum ยง179 expense is $53,000, computed as follows:
Description
Amount
Explanation
(1) Property placed in service this year
$185,000 Total of qualifying
assets
(2) Threshold for ยง179 phase-out
(2,550,000) 2019 amount (ยง179(b)(2))
(3) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
$0 (1) โ (2) (permanently
disallowed), not less
than $0
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out
$1,020,000 2019 amount (ยง179(b)(1))
(5) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
$0 From (3)
(6) Maximum ยง179 expense after phase-out
$1,020,000 (4) โ (5)
(7) Taxable income before ยง179 deduction
$53,000 Assumed in problem
ยง179 expense deductible after taxable income
$53,000 Lesser of (6) and (7)
limitation.
b) Dainโs depreciation deduction would be $83,402, calculated as follows:
Asset
Drill Bits (5 year)
Drill Bits (5 year)
Commercial Building (39 year)
Original
Basis
$90,000
$95,000
$220,000
ยง179 Expense
Total Depreciation Deduction
ยง179
Expense
$53,000
Remaining
Basis
$37,000
$95,000
$220,000
Rate
20.00%
20.00%
1.819%
Depreciation
Deduction
$7,400
$19,000
$4,002
$53,000
$83,402
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Note that in order to maximize the current yearโs total depreciation deduction, Dain
would only elect ยง179 expense equal to the taxable income limitation.
c) The maximum section 179 expense would be $53,000:
Description
Amount
Explanation
(1) Property placed in service
$2,970,000 Total of qualifying
assets
(2) Threshold for ยง179 phase-out
(2,550,000) 2019 amount (ยง179(b)(2))
(3) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
$420,000 (1) โ (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out
$1,020,000 2019 amount (ยง179(b)(1))
(5) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
(6) Maximum ยง179 expense after phase-out
(7) Taxable income before ยง179 deduction
Maximum ยง179 expense after taxable
income limitation.
$420,000
$600,000
$53,000
$53,000
From (3)
(4) โ (5)
Assumed in problem
Lesser of (6) and (7)
d) The maximum section 179 expense would be $0:
Description
Amount
Explanation
(1) Property placed in service
$3,970,000 Total of qualifying
assets
(2) Threshold for ยง179 phase-out
(2,550,000) 2019 amount (ยง179(b)(2))
(3) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
$1,420,000 (1) โ (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out
$1,020,000 2019 amount (ยง179(b)(1))
(5) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
$1,420,000 From (3)
(6) Maximum ยง179 expense after phase-out
$0 (4) โ (5) , not less than
$0
(7) Taxable income before ยง179 deduction
$53,000 Assumed in problem
Maximum ยง179 expense after taxable
$0 Lesser of (6) and (7)
income limitation.
60. [LO 2, LO 3] {Research} Assume that ACW Corporation has 2019 taxable
income of $1,500,000 for purposes of computing the ยง179 expense. The company
acquired the following assets during 2019 (assume no bonus depreciation):
Asset
Machinery
Computer equipment
Delivery truck
Qualified improvement property
Total
Placed in Service
September 12
February 10
August 21
April 2
Basis
$470,000
70,000
93,000
1,380,000
$2,013,000
a) What is the maximum amount of ยง179 expense ACW may deduct for 2019?
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
b) What is the maximum total depreciation deduction that ACW may deduct in 2019
on the assets it placed in service in 2019?
a. The maximum ยง179 expense is $1,020,000.
Description
Amount
(1) Qualifying property placed in service
during year
(2) Threshold for ยง179 phase-out
(3) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
Explanation
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out
$2,013,000 Total of qualifying
assets
(2,550,000) 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(2)]
$-0- (1) โ (2) (permanently
disallowed), not less
than $0
$1,020,000 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(1)]
(5) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
Maximum ยง179 expense after phase-out
$-0- From (3)
$1,020,000 (4) โ (5)
b. The maximum depreciation deduction is $1,126,311 (half year convention).
Depreciation is maximized by applying the ยง179 expense against the qualified
improvement property up to its maximum amount. The remaining basis in the
qualified improvement property is then depreciated over 39 years.
Asset
Machinery (7-year)
Computers (5- year)
Delivery Truck (5-year)
Qualified improvement
property (39-year)
Original
Basis
ยง179
Expense
Remaining
Basis*
Rate
Depreciation
Deduction
$470,000
$470,000
14.29%
$67,163
$70,000
$93,000
$70,000
$93,000
20.00%
20.00%
$14,000
$18,600
$360,000
1.819%
6,548
$1,020,000
$1,126,311
$1,380,000
1,020,000
ยง179 Expense
Total Depreciation Deduction
61. (LO2, LO3) Chaz Corporation has taxable income in 2019 of $312,000 for purposes
of computing the ยง179 expense and acquired the following assets during the year:
Asset
Office furniture
Computer equipment
Delivery truck
Qualified improvement property
Total
Placed in
Service
September 12
February 10
August 21
September 30
Basis
$780,000
930,000
68,000
1,500,000
$3,278,000
What is the maximum total depreciation that Chaz may deduct in 2019?
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
The maximum depreciation deduction is $2,079,048 determined as follows:
Description
Amount
(1) Property placed in service
(2) Threshold for ยง179 phase-out
(3) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out
Explanation
$3,278,000 Total of qualifying
assets
(2,550,000) 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(2)]
$728,000 (1) โ (2) (permanently
disallowed)
$1,020,000 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(1)]
(5) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
Maximum ยง179 expense after phase-out
728,000 From (3)
$ 292,000 (4) โ (5), not limited by
taxable income
Chaz will receive the most benefit by applying the ยง179 amount to the qualified
improvement property. The remaining basis is recovered through regular MACRS.
The furniture, computers, and delivery truck are recovered using bonus depreciation.
Asset
Furniture
(7-year)
Computers
(5- year)
Delivery truck
(5 year)
Qualified
improvement
property (39-year)
Original
Basis
Remaining
Basis
Bonus
Depreciation
Remaining
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
Deduction
$780,000
$780,000
780,000
-0-
14.29%
$0
930,000
930,000
930,000
-0-
20.00%
0
68,000
68,000
68,000
-0-
20.00%
0
1,208,000
n/a
1,278,000
0.749%
9,048
$1,500,000
ยง179
Expense
$292,000
ยง179 Expense
$292,000
Bonus depreciation
$1,778,000
$1,778,000
Total Depreciation Deduction
$2,079,048
62. (LO2, LO3) {Planning} {Research} Woolard Supplies (a sole proprietorship) has
taxable income in 2019 of $240,000 before any depreciation deductions (ยง179,
bonus, or MACRS) and placed some office furniture into service during the year.
The furniture had been used previously by Liz Woolard (the owner of the
business) before it was placed in service by the business.
Placed in
Asset
Service
Office furniture (used) March 20
Basis
$1,200,000
a. If Woolard elects $50,000 of ยง179, what is Woolardโs total depreciation
deduction for the year?
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
b. If Woolard elects the maximum amount of ยง179 for the year, what is the amount
of deductible ยง179 expense for the year? What is the total depreciation that
Woolard may deduct in 2019? What is Woolardโs ยง179 carryforward to next
year, if any?
c. Woolard is concerned about future limitations on its ยง179 expense. How much
ยง179 expense should Woolard expense this year if it wants to maximize its
depreciation this year and to avoid any carryover to future years?
a.
Woolardโs total deductible depreciation is $214,335 calculated as follows:
Description
Amount
Explanation
(1) Property placed in service
(2) Elected ยง179 amount
(3) Remaining asset basis
(4) MACRS depreciation rate
(5) MACRS depreciation
(6) Taxable income limitation for ยง179
(7) Deductible ยง179
(7) Total deductible depreciation
$1,200,000 Total of qualifying
assets
(50,000) Given in problem
$1,150,000 (1) โ (2)
14.29% 7-yr, half-year
convention
$164,335 (3) x (4)
75,665 $240,000 โ (5);
50,000 Lesser of elected
amount or (6)
$214,335 (5) + (7)
a. Woolard deducts $214,278 of ยง179. Woolard carries forward ยง179 expense of
$805,722 to next year. The total deductible depreciation is $240,000 determined
as follows:
Description
(1) Property placed in service
(2) Threshold for ยง179 phase-out
(3) Phase-out of maximum ยง179
expense
(4) Maximum 179 expense before
phase-out
(5) Phase-out of maximum ยง179
expense
(6) Maximum ยง179 expense after
phase-out
(7) Remaining basis in furniture
(8) MACRS depreciation rate
Amount
Explanation
$1,200,000 Total of qualifying assets
(2,550,000) 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(2)]
0 (1) โ (2) (permanently
disallowed), not less than $0
$1,020,000 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(1)]
0 From (3)
$1,020,000 (4) โ (5), limited to amount of
qualifying property placed in
service. This is the amount
Woolard elects for the year.
180,000 (1) โ (6)
14.29% 7-year, half-year convention
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
(9) MACRS depreciation
(10) ยง179 taxable income
limitation
(11) Maximum deductible ยง179
expense after taxable income
limitation.
Excess ยง179 expense carried
forward
Woolardโs total depreciation
deduction
25,722 (7) x (8)
$214,278 $240,000 โ (9)
$214,278 Lesser of (6) or (10)
$805,722 (6) โ (11)
$240,000 (9) + (11)
Woolard elects the maximum allowed for the year and must reduce the assetsโ bases
by this amount. The remaining basis is subject to regular MACRS depreciation. The
ยง179 taxable income limitation is taxable income after regular depreciation
deductions but before the ยง179 expense. Woolardโs ยง179 deduction is limited to this
taxable income amount. The remaining ยง179 amount that Woolard elected but is not
allowed to deduct this year can be carried over to future years.
b. Woolard should elect to expense $79,944 of ยง179 to maximize its depreciation
this year and to avoid any carryover determined as follows:
Description
(1) Property placed in service
(2) Threshold for ยง179 phase-out
(3) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out
(5) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
(6) Maximum ยง179 expense after phase-out
(7) ยง179 amount Woolard elects to maximize
the current year total depreciation deduction
(8) Remaining basis in furniture
(9) MACRS depreciation rate
(10) MACRS depreciation
(11) ยง179 taxable income limitation
(12) Maximum ยง179 expense after taxable
income limitation.
Excess ยง179 expense
Woolardโs total depreciation deduction
Amount
Explanation
$1,200,000 Total of qualifying assets
(2,550,000) 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(2)]
0 (1) โ (2) (permanently
disallowed)
$1,020,000 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(1)]
0 From (3)
$1,020,000 (4) โ (5)
$79,944 See discussion below
1,120,056 (1) โ (7)
14.29% 7-year, half-year
convention
160,056 (9) x (8)
$79,944 $240,000 โ (10)
$79,944 Lesser of (6) or (11). This
is the amount Woolard
elects for the year.
$-0- (7) โ (12)
$240,000 (10) + (12)
Woolard must determine the maximum ยง179 amount allowed for the year without
being limited by the taxable income limitation. To do this, Woolard determines the
ยง179 amount as follows:
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
ยง179 amount = Taxable income before any depreciation minus regular MACRS
depreciation.
The MACRS depreciation amount is determined after the ยง179 elected amount
because the depreciable basis is reduced by the elected ยง179 amount and would be
determined as follows:
MACRS depreciation = Depreciation rate x (asset cost minus elected ยง179)
To solve this, assume the following labels:
I = taxable income before any depreciation
R = MACRS depreciation rate
C = asset cost
S = ยง179 expense
The elected ยง179 amount will equal:
S = I โ R(C โ S)
Rearranging and solving for S:
S = (I โ RxC)/(1 โ R)
Substituting in Woolardโs facts:
S = ($240,000 โ 14.29% x $1,200,000)/(1 โ 14.29%)
S = $79,944.
This amount of ยง179 minimizes Woolardโs required basis reduction of its assets and
produces the most depreciation Woolard is eligible to take this year.
63. [LO 2, LO 3] {Planning} Assume that Sivart Corporation has 2019 taxable
income of $1,750,000 for purposes of computing the ยง179 expense and acquired
several assets during the year. Assume the delivery truck does not qualify for
bonus depreciation.
Asset
Machinery
Computer equipment
Delivery truck
Furniture
Total
Placed in
Service
June 12
February 10
August 21
April 2
Basis
$1,440,000
70,000
93,000
310,000
$1,913,000
a) What is the maximum amount of ยง179 expense Sivart may deduct for 2019?
b) What is the maximum total depreciation (ยง179, bonus, MACRS) that Sivart may
deduct in 2019 on the assets it placed in service in 2019?
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
a. The maximum ยง179 expense is $1,020,000.
Description
Amount
(1) Property placed in service during year
(2) Threshold for ยง179 phase-out
(3) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
(4) Maximum ยง179 expense before phase-out
(5) Phase-out of maximum ยง179 expense
(6) Maximum ยง179 expense after phase-out
Explanation
$1,913,000 Total of tangible assets
2,550,000 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(2)]
$0 (1) โ (2) (permanently
disallowed), not less
than $0
$1,020,000 2019 amount [ยง179(b)(1)]
$0 From (3)
$1,020,000 (4) โ (5), not limited by
taxable income
b. The maximum depreciation deduction is $1,913,000. Depreciation is maximized by
(1) applying the ยง179 expense against delivery truck first because the truck is not
eligible for bonus depreciation. Sivart would then apply the remaining ยง179 amount
to 7-year rather than 5-year property. As a general rule, the taxpayer will maximize
current year depreciation deduction by applying the ยง179 expense against the asset
with the lowest depreciation percentage. The remaining assets are eligible for 100
percent bonus. Alternatively, Sivart could elect only $93,000 of ยง179 expense and
take bonus on the remaining assets with the same outcome.
Asset
Machinery
(7-year)
Computer
equipment
(5- year)
Delivery Truck
(5 year)
Furniture
(7 year)
Original
Basis
ยง179
Expense
Remainin
g
Basis
Bonus
Depreciation
Remaining
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
Deduction
$1,440,000
$927,000
$513,000
$513,000
$0
14.29%
$0
70,000
70,000
0
20.00%
0
20.00%
0
70,000
93,000
93,000
310,000
_________
ยง179 Expense
310,000
310,000
0
14.29%
0
$1,020,000
Bonus depreciation
$1,020,000
$893,000
$893,000
Total Depreciation Deduction
$1,913,000
64. [LO 2, LO 3] {Planning} Acorn Construction (calendar-year-end C corporation)
has had rapid expansion during the last half of the current year due to the housing
marketโs recovery. The company has record income and would like to maximize
its cost recovery deduction for the current year. Acorn provided the following
information:
Assets
Placed in Service
Basis
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
New Equipment and Tools
Used Light Duty Trucks
Used Machinery
Total
August 20
January 17
February 6
$1,800,000
1,500,000
525,000
$3,825,000
The used assets had been contributed to the business by its owner in a taxdeferred transaction.
a) What is Acornโs maximum cost recovery expense in the current year?
b) What planning strategies would you advise Acorn to consider?
a) a) Acorn is not eligible for ยง179 expensing because its new assets exceed the
$2,550,000 threshold by more than $1,020,000; therefore, its maximum ยง179 amount
is reduced to zero. Acorn is eligible to take bonus depreciation (100 percent) on its
new assets. The used assets are not eligible for bonus depreciation because they had
been previously used by the taxpayer. In addition, because Acorn places more than
40 percent of its assets into service in the last quarter of the year, it must use the midmonth convention to determine depreciation. Acornโs maximum cost recovery is
$1,893,743, calculated as follows:
Asset
New Equipment and Tools
(7-year)
Used Light Duty Trucks
(5- year)
Used Machinery (7-year)
Bonus depreciation
Total
Original
Basis
Bonus
Depr
$1,800,000
1,500,000
525,000
3,825,000
Remaining
Basis
MACRS
Rate
Depreciation
Deduction
$1,800,000
0
10.71%
$0
-0-0-
1,500,000
525,000
5.00%
3.57%
75,000
18,743
1,800,000
$1,893,743
b) Acorn may want to consider the timing of its asset contributions. It may want to spread
the contributions out over two years to reduce the ยง179 expense limitation on these
assets.
b) Acorn may want to consider the timing of its asset contributions. It may want to
spread the contributions out over two years to reduce the ยง179 expense limitation on
these assets.
65. [LO 3] Phil owns a ranch business and uses four-wheelers to do much of his
work. Occasionally, though, he and his boys will go for a ride together as a family
activity. During year 1, Phil put 765 miles on the four-wheeler that he bought on
January 15 for $6,500. Of the miles driven, only 175 miles were for personal use.
Assume four-wheelers qualify to be depreciated according to the 5-Year MACRS
schedule and the four-wheeler was the only asset Phil purchased this year.
a. Calculate the allowable depreciation for year 1 (ignore the ยง179 expense
and bonus depreciation).
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
b. Calculate the allowable depreciation for year 2 if total miles were 930 and
personal-use miles were 400 (ignore the ยง179 expense and bonus
depreciation).
a) The depreciation deduction will be $1,003 in year 1, calculated as follows:
Description
(1) Original basis of 4-wheeler
(2) MACRS depreciation rate
(3) Full MACRS depreciation
(4) Business use percentage
Depreciation deduction for year
`
Amount
Explanation
$6,500 Assumed in problem
20% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ยฝ yr. convention.
$1,300 (1) x (2)
77.12% 590 miles/765 miles
$1,003 (3) x (4)
b) The depreciation deduction will be $1,185 in year 2, calculated as follows:
Description
(1) Original basis of 4-wheeler
(2) MACRS depreciation rate
(3) Full MACRS depreciation
(4) Business use percentage
Depreciation deduction for year
Amount
Explanation
$6,500 Assumed in problem
32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ยฝ yr. convention.
$2,080 (1) x (2)
56.99% 530 miles/930 miles
$1,185 (3) x (4)
66. [LO 3] Assume that Ernesto purchased a digital camera on July 10 of year 1 for
$3,000. In year 1, 80 percent of his camera usage was for his business and 20
percent was for his personal photography activities. This was the only asset he
placed in service during year 1. Ignoring any potential ยง179 expense and bonus
depreciation, answer the questions for each of the following alternative scenarios:
a. What is Ernestoโs depreciation deduction for the camera in year 1?
b. What would be Ernestoโs depreciation deduction for the camera in year 2 if
his year 2 usage were 75 percent business and 25 percent for personal use?
c. What would be Ernestoโs depreciation deduction for the camera in year 2 if
his year 2 usage were 45 percent business and 55 percent for personal use?
d. What would be Ernestoโs depreciation deduction for the camera in year 2 if
his year 2 usage were 30 percent business and 70 percent for personal use?
a) The depreciation deduction will be $480 in year 1, calculated as follows:
Description
(1) Original basis of camera
(2) MACRS depreciation rate
Amount
Explanation
$3,000 Assumed in problem
20% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ยฝ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation
(4) Business use percentage
$600 (1) x (2)
80% Assumed in the problem
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Depreciation deduction for year
$480 (3) x (4)
b) The depreciation deduction will be $720 in year 2, calculated as follows:
Description
(1) Original basis of camera
(2) MACRS depreciation rate
Amount
Explanation
$3,000 Assumed in problem
32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ยฝ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation
(4) Business use percentage
Depreciation deduction for year
$960 (1) x (2)
75% Assumed in the problem
$720 (3) x (4)
c) $30. Because his business usage is below 50 percent, Ernesto must use the
straight-line method to determine depreciation. Using this method, his
depreciation deduction for year 2 is $270. However, because his business
usage dropped from above to below 50 percent, he must also recalculate prior
year depreciation using the straight-line method. Any accelerated
depreciation that he claimed in the prior year in excess of the straight-line
amount for that prior year reduces the $270 of depreciation deduction for
year 2. In this case, the excess $240 depreciation reduces the $270, leaving
$30 of depreciation deduction as computed below.
Description
Amount
Explanation
(1) Straight-line depreciation in current
$270 $3,000/5 years x 45%
year
business
(2) Prior year straight-line depreciation
$240 $3,000/5 x ยฝ year convention x
80% business use percentage
(3) Prior year accelerated depreciation
(4) Excess accelerated depreciation
$480 From part โaโ above
$240 (3) โ (2)
Current year depreciation deduction
$30 (1) โ (4).
d) Income of $60 (no depreciation deduction). Because his business usage in
year 2 is below 50 percent, Ernesto must use the straight-line method to
determine depreciation. Using this method, his depreciation deduction is $180
in year 2 because his business use is 30%. Moreover, because the camera is
listed property and fell below 50 percent business use, depreciation for year 1
must be recalculated using the straight-line method and any excess
depreciation reduces the year 2 depreciation amount. In this case, the excess
depreciation of $240 is $60 greater than the $180 straight line depreciation so
Ernesto does not get to deduct depreciation deduction in year 2, but instead
he must recognize ordinary income of $60. The $60 of income is computed as
follows:
Description
Amount
Explanation
(1) Straight-line depreciation in current
$180 $3,000/5 years x 30%
year
business
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
(2) Prior year straight-line depreciation
$240 $3,000/5 x ยฝ year convention x
(3) Prior year accelerated depreciation
(4) Excess accelerated depreciation
$480 From part โaโ above
$240 (3) โ (2)
Current year income
($60) (1) โ (4).
80% business use percentage
67. [LO 3] Lina purchased a new car for use in her business during 2019. The auto
was the only business asset she purchased during the year and her business was
extremely profitable. Calculate her maximum depreciation deductions (including
ยง179 expense unless stated otherwise) for the automobile in 2019 and 2020 (Lina
doesnโt want to take bonus depreciation for 2019 or 2020) in the following
alternative scenarios (assuming half-year convention for all):
a.
b.
c.
d.
The vehicle cost $35,000 and business use is 100 percent (ignore ยง179 expense).
The vehicle cost $80,000, and business use is 100 percent.
The vehicle cost $80,000, and she used it 80 percent for business.
The vehicle cost $80,000, and she used it 80 percent for business. She sold it on
March 1 of year 2.
e. The vehicle cost $80,000, and she used it 20 percent for business.
f. The vehicle cost $80,000 and is an SUV that weighed 6,500 pounds. Business use
was 100 percent.
a. The depreciation deduction is $7,000 in 2019 and $11,200 in 2020, calculated
as follows:
2019
2020
Description
Amount
Amount
Explanation
(1) Original basis of auto
$35,000
$35,000 Given in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate
20%
32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ยฝ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation
$7,000
$11,200 (1) x (2)
(4) Maximum auto depreciation
$10,000
$16,000 Luxury auto limits
Depreciation deduction for year
$7,000
$11,200 Lesser of (3) or (4))
b. The depreciation deduction is $10,000 in 2019 and $16,000 in 2020, calculated
as follows:
2019
2020
Description
Amount
Amount
Explanation
(1) Original basis of auto
$80,000
$80,000 Given in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate
20%
32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ยฝ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation
$16,000
$25,600 (1) x (2)
(4) Maximum auto depreciation
$10,000
$16,000 Luxury auto limits
Depreciation deduction for year
$10,000
$16,000 Lesser of (3) or (4)
Note that when the depreciation is limited by the automobile limitations, ยง179
expense will not provide any additional benefit, so it does not make sense to elect
ยง179.
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
c. The depreciation deduction will be $8,000 in 2019 and $12,800 in 2020,
calculated as follows:
2019
2020
Description
Amount
Amount
Explanation
(1) Original basis of auto
$80,000
$80,000 Given in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate
20%
32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ยฝ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation
$16,000
$25,600 (1) x (2)
(4) Maximum auto depreciation
$10,000
$16,000 Luxury auto limits
(5) Depreciation deduction for year
based on 100% business use
$10,000
$16,000 Lesser of (3) or (4)
(6) Business use percentage
80%
80% Assumed in problem
Depreciation deduction for year
$8,000
$12,800 (5) x (6)
d. The depreciation deduction will be $8,000 in 2019 (as calculated in part c
above). The depreciation deduction will be $6,400 in 2020, calculated as follows:
2020
Description
Amount
Explanation
(1) Original basis of auto
$80,000 Given in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate
32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ยฝ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation
(4) Maximum auto depreciation
(5) Depreciation for entire year
(6) Partial year
(7) Depreciation deduction for year
(8) Business use percentage
Depreciation deduction for year
$25,600 (1) x (2)
$16,000 Luxury auto limit year 2
$16,000 Lesser of (3) or (4)
Half year of depreciation
50% (half-year convention)
$8,000
80% Assumed in problem
$6,400 (7) x (8)
e. The depreciation deduction will be $1,600 in 2019 and $3,200 in 2020,
calculated as follows:
2019
2020
Description
Amount
Amount
Explanation
(1) Original basis of auto
$80,000
$80,000 Given in problem
(2) MACRS (Straight-line)
5-yr straight-line, ยฝ yr.
depreciation rate
10%
20% convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation
$8,000
$16,000 (1) x (2)
(4) Maximum auto depreciation
$10,000
$16,000 Luxury auto limits
(5) Depreciation deduction for year
based on 100% business use
$8,000
$16,000 Lesser of (3) or (4)
(6) Business use percentage
20%
20% Assumed in problem
Depreciation deduction for year
$1,600
$3,200 (5) x (6)
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
f. The depreciation deduction will be $36,400 in 2019 and $17,600 in 2020,
calculated as follows:
Description
2019
2020
Explanation
Amount
Amount
(1) Original basis of auto
$80,000
N/A Given in problem
Maximum ยง179
(2) Section 179 expense
$25,500
N/A expense for SUV
(3) Depreciable basis
$54,500
$55,000 (1) โ (2)
5-yr prop, yr. 1, ยฝ yr.
(4) MACRS depreciation rate
20%
32% convention.
(5) Full MACRS depreciation
$10,900
$17,600 (3) x (4)
Depreciation deduction in including
ยง179 expense for year
$36,400
$17,600 (2) + (5)
The depreciation deduction on the SUV is not restricted by the automobile limitations
because the vehicle weighs more than 6,000 pounds and therefore is excluded from these
limitations.
Note that the depreciation is maximized in b โ e even without the ยง179 expense.
68. [LO 2, LO 3] Tater Meer purchased a new car for use in her business during 2019
for $75,000. The auto was the only business asset she purchased during the year
and her business was very profitable. Calculate Taterโs maximum depreciation
deductions for the automobile in 2019 and 2020 under the following scenarios:
a. Tater does not want to take ยง179 expense and she elects out of bonus
depreciation.
b. Tater wants to maximize her 2019 depreciation using bonus depreciation.
a. The depreciation deduction is $10,000 in 2019 and $16,000 in 2020, calculated
as follows:
2019
2020
Description
Amount
Amount
Explanation
(1) Original basis of auto
$75,000
$75,000 Given in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate
20%
32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ยฝ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation
$15,000
$24,000 (1) x (2)
(4) Maximum auto depreciation
$10,000
$16,000 Luxury auto limits
Depreciation deduction for year
$10,000
$16,000 Lesser of (3) or (4)
b. The depreciation deduction is $18,000 in 2019 and $16,000 in 2020, calculated
as follows:
Description
(1) Automobile
(2) Bonus percentage
(3) MACRS depreciation
Amount
$75,000
100%
$75,000
Explanation
Given in problem
ยง168(k)(1) and ยง168(k)(6)(A)(i)
(1) x (2)
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
(4) Luxury car limitation
18,000
Depreciation deduction for 2019
$18,000
Description
(1) Year 1 depreciation
(2) Adjusted depreciable basis
(3) Depreciation rate
(4) Year 2 calculated depreciation
before limitation
(4) Depreciation deduction for 2020
Luxury car limitation [$10,000
(ยง280F(a)(1)) + $8,000
(ยง168(k)(2)(F))]
Lesser of (3) or (4)
Amount
Explanation
$18,000 Calculated above
57,000 Adjusted depreciable basis is initial
basis less depreciation taken in the first
year ($18,000)
32% From Appendix Table 1 (5-year
property, year 2 MACRS percentage)
18,240 (2) x (3)
$ 16,000 Lesser of (4) or $16,000 (Year 2
limitation)
69. [LO 2, LO 3] Burbank Corporation (calendar-year end) acquired the following
property this year:
Placed in
Asset
Service
Basis
Used copier
November 12
$7,800
New computer equipment
June 6
14,000
Furniture
July 15
32,000
New delivery truck
October 28
19,000
Luxury auto
January 31
70,000
Total
$142,800
Burbank acquired the copier in a tax-deferred transaction when the shareholder
contributed the copier to the business in exchange for stock.
a) Assuming no bonus or ยง179 expense, what is Burbankโs maximum cost
recovery for this year?
b) Assuming Burbank would like to maximize its cost recovery by electing
bonus and ยง179 expense, which assets should Burbank immediately expense?
c) What is Burbankโs maximum cost recovery this year assuming it elects ยง179
expense and claims bonus depreciation?
a) Burbank Corporation uses the half-year convention to determine its cost recovery
and the cost recovery on the luxury auto is limited to the maximum $10,000 for the
year. Burbankโs cost recovery is $22,733, calculated as follows:
Asset
Used Copier (5 yr)
Original
Depreciation
Basis
Rate
Deduction
$7,800 20.00%
$1,560
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
New Computer Equipment (5 yr)
Furniture (7 yr)
New Delivery Truck (5 yr)
Luxury Auto (5 yr โ limited)
Total
14,000
32,000
19,000
70,000
20.00%
14.29%
20.00%
–
2,800
4,573
3,800
10,000
$22,733
b) Burbank is not subject to the ยง179 property limitation ($2,550,000) and may expense
all of its assets using ยง179 expense except the used copier and the luxury auto. The
copier is not eligible for either ยง179 or bonus depreciation because the taxpayer had
prior use of the copier. The depreciation on the copier remains at $1,560 as in part
(a). The luxury auto depreciation will be limited to $18,000 using ยง179 expense and
bonus depreciation.
c) Burbankโs maximum cost recovery assuming it elects bonus and ยง179 expense is
$84,560. Burbank cannot use ยง179 expense or bonus depreciation for the copier
because it is ineligible (acquired in a tax-deferred transaction). The depreciation for
the other assets will be the same under either ยง179 or bonus depreciation except for
the luxury auto. Burbank should use bonus depreciation to recover the luxury auto to
increase the automobile depreciation limitation by $8,000 this year.
Asset
Copier
(5-year)
Computer Eq
(5- year)
Furniture (7-year)
Delivery Truck
(5 year)
Luxury Auto (5-year)
Original
Basis
ยง179
Expense
Remaining
Basis
Bonus
Depreciation
Depreciation
Deduction
$7,800
$0
$7,800
$-0-
$1,560
14,000
32,000
14,000
32,000
-0-0-
-0-0-
-0-0-
19,000
$70,000
19,000
0
-070,000
-08,000
-010,000
ยง179 Expense
$65,000
Bonus depreciation
$8,000
Total Cost Recovery
$8,000
$84,560
70. [LO 3] [Research] Paul Vote purchased the following assets this year (ignore
ยง179 expensing and bonus depreciation when answering the questions below):
Asset
Machinery
Computers
Warehouse
Purchase Date
May 12
August 13
December 13
Basis
$23,500
$20,000
$180,000
a. What is Paulโs allowable MACRS depreciation for the property?
b. What is Paulโs allowable alternative minimum tax (AMT) depreciation for
the property? You will need to find the AMT depreciation tables to
compute the depreciation.
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
a. $7,551, under the half-year convention, calculated as follows:
Original
Basis
Asset
Depreciation
Deduction
Rate
Machinery
$23,500
Computers
$20,000
Nonresidential building
$180,000
Total Depreciation Deduction
14.29%
20.00%
0.107%
$3,358
$4,000
$193
$7,551
b. $5,710, using the AMT table and the half-year convention, calculated as
follows:
Asset
Machinery (7-year 150% DB)
Computers (5-year 150% DB)
Nonresidential building (39-year
straight-line)
Total Depreciation Deduction
Original
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
Deduction
$23,500 10.71%
$20,000 15.00%
$2,517
$3,000
$180,000 0.107%
$193
$5,710
71. [LO 4] After several profitable years running her business, Ingrid decided to
acquire the assets of a small competing business. On May 1 of year 1, Ingrid
acquired the competing business for $300,000. Ingrid allocated $50,000 of the
purchase price to goodwill. Ingridโs business reports its taxable income on a
calendar-year basis.
a.
b.
How much amortization expense on the goodwill can Ingrid deduct in
year 1, year 2, and year 3?
In lieu of the original facts, assume that Ingrid purchased only a phone
list with a useful life of 5 years for $10,000. How much amortization
expense on the phone list can Ingrid deduct in year 1, year 2, and year 3?
a. Ingrid could deduct $2,222 amortization expense on the goodwill in year 1 and
$3,333 of amortization expense on the goodwill in years 2 and 3, computed as
follows:
Description
Amount
Explanation
(1) Basis of Goodwill
$50,000 Provided
(2) Recovery period
180 15 years
(3) Monthly amortization
$277.78 (1) / (2)
(4) Months in year 1
x 8 May through December
(5) Year 1 straight-line amortization
$2,222 (3) x (4)
(6) Months in years 2 and 3
x 12 January through December
(7) Years 2 and 3, annual straight-line
amortization
$3,333 (3) x (6)
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
b. Ingridโs amortization for the phone list for year 1 is $444, years 2 and 3 is $667,
computed as follows:
Description
Phone List
(1) Basis of phone list
$10,000
(2) Recovery period in months
180
(3) Monthly amortization
$55.55
(4) Months in year 1
x 8
(5) Year 1 straight-line amortization
$444
(6) Months in years 2 and 3
x 12
(7) Years 2 and 3, annual straight-line
$667
amortization
Although Ingrid purchased only the phone list, it is still considered a ยง197 intangible and
will be amortized over 180 months (see ยง197).
72. [LO 4] Juliette formed a new business to sell sporting goods this year. The
business opened its doors to customers on June 1. Determine the amount of startup costs Juliette can immediately expense (not including the portion of the
expenditures that are amortized over 180 months) this year in the following
alternative scenarios.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
She incurred start-up costs of $2,000.
She incurred start-up costs of $45,000.
She incurred start-up costs of $53,500.
She incurred start-up costs of $63,000.
How would you answer parts (a) through (d) if she formed a partnership or
a corporation and she incurred the same amount of organizational
expenditures rather than start-up costs (how much of the organizational
expenditures would be immediately deductible)?
a. $2,000, computed as follows:
Start-up Expenses
Description
Amount
Explanation
(1) Maximum immediate expense
$5,000
(2) Total start-up costs
$2,000 Given in problem
(3) Phase-out threshold
50,000
(4) Immediate expense phase-out
Allowable immediate expense
$0 (2) โ (3)
Lesser of (2) or [(1)
$2,000 minus โ (4)]
b. $5,000, computed as follows:
Start-up Expenses
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Description
(1) Maximum immediate expense
(2) Total start-up costs
(3) Phase-out threshold
Amount
Explanation
$5,000
$45,000 Given in problem
50,000
$0 (2) โ (3), not less than $0
Lesser of (2) or [(1)
$5,000 minus โ (4)]
(4) Immediate expense phase-out
Allowable immediate expense
c. $1,500, computed as follows:
Description
(1) Maximum immediate expense
(2) Total start-up costs
(3) Phase-out threshold
Start-up Expenses
Amount
Explanation
$5,000
$53,500 Given in problem
50,000
(4) Immediate expense phase-out
Allowable immediate expense
$3,500 (2) โ (3), not less than $0
Lesser of (2) or [(1)
$1,500 minus โ (4)]
d. $0, computed as follows:
Organizational Expenditures
Description
Amount
Explanation
(1) Maximum immediate expense
$5,000
(2) Total start-up costs
$63,000 Given in problem
(3) Phase-out threshold
50,000
(4) Immediate expense phase-out
Allowable immediate expense
$13,000 (2) โ (3)
Lesser of (2) or [(1)
minus โ (4)] (not less
$0 than $0)
e. The answers would be the same if these were organizational expenditures instead of
start-up costs. Note, however, that organizational expenditures only apply to
corporations and partnerships and do not apply to businesses organized as sole
proprietorships.
73. [LO 4] Nicole organized a new corporation. The corporation began business on
April 1 of year 1. She made the following expenditures associated with getting the
corporation started:
Expense
Attorney fees for articles of
incorporation
March 1 โ March 30 wages
Date
Amount
February 10
March 30
$32,000
$4,500
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
March 1 โ March 30 rent
Stock issuance costs
April 1 โ May 30 wages
March 30
April 1
May 30
$2,000
$20,000
$12,000
a. What is the total amount of the start-up costs and organizational
expenditures for Nicoleโs corporation?
b. What amount of the start-up costs and organizational expenditures may the
corporation immediately expense in year 1 (excluding the portion of the
expenditures that are amortized over 180 months)?
c. What amount can the corporation deduct as amortization expense for the
organizational expenditures and for the start-up costs for year 1 (not
including the amount determined in part [b])?
d. What would be the total allowable organizational expenditures if Nicole
started a sole proprietorship instead of a corporation?
a. The only qualifying organizational expenditure is the $32,000 of attorney fees
related to the drafting articles of incorporation. The start-up costs are the wages
($4,500) and rent ($2,000) before business began. Therefore, total start-up costs
are $6,500.
b. The corporation may immediately expense $5,000 of the organizational
expenditure and $5,000 of the start-up costs because the amount of organizational
expenditures is under $50,000 and the amount of start-up costs is under $50,000.
c. The corporation will deduct amortization expense of $1,350 for organizational
expenditures and $75 of amortization for start-up costs, computed as follows:
Description
(1) Maximum immediate expense
(2) Total start-up expenditures
(3) Phase-out threshold
Start-up costs
Amount
Explanation
$5,000 ยง195(b)(1)(A)(ii)
$6,500
50,000 ยง195(b)(1)(A)(ii)
(4) Immediate expense phase-out
(5) Allowable immediate expense
(6) Remaining organizational expenditures
(7) Recovery period in months
(8) Monthly straight-line amortization
(9) Teton business months during year 1
Year 1 straight-line amortization for startup costs
Description
$0
$5,000
$1,500
180
8.33
x 9
(2) โ (3), not less than $0
(1) โ (4)
(2) โ (5)
15 years ยง195(b)(1)(B)
(6) / (7)
April through December
$75 (8) x (9)
Organizational expenditures
Amount
Explanation
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
(1) Maximum immediate expense
(2) Total organizational expenditures
(3) Phase-out threshold
$5,000 ยง248(a)(1)
$32,000 Given in problem
50,000 ยง248(a)(1)(B)
(4) Immediate expense phase-out
(5) Allowable immediate expense
(6) Remaining organizational expenditures
(7) Recovery period in months
(8) Monthly straight-line amortization
(9) Teton business months during year 1
$0
$5,000
$27,000
180
150
x 9
Year 1 straight-line amortization for
organizational expenditures
$1,350 (8) x (9)
(2) โ (3), not less than $0
(1) โ (4)
(2) โ (5)
15 years ยง248(a)(2)
(6) / (7)
April through December
d. Organizational expenditures are only authorized for corporations (ยง248) and
partnerships (ยง709). They are not authorized for sole proprietorships. Typically,
sole proprietorships do not incur many of the expenses that would qualify as
organizational expenditures anyway.
74. [LO 4] Bethany incurred $20,000 in research and experimental costs for
developing a specialized product during July of year 1. Bethany went through a
lot of trouble and spent $10,000 in legal fees to receive a patent for the product in
August of year 3. Bethany expects the patent to have a remaining useful life of 10
years.
a. What amount of research and experimental expenses for year 1, year 2,
and year 3 may Bethany deduct if she elects to amortize the expenses
over 60 months?
b. How much patent amortization expense would Bethany deduct in year
3 assuming she elected to amortize the research and experimental costs
over 60 months?
c. If Bethany chose to capitalize but not amortize the research and
experimental expenses she incurred in year 1, how much patent
amortization expense would Bethany deduct in year 3?
a. The amortization of the research expenditures is $2,000 in year 1, $4,000
in year 2, and $2,333 in year 3, computed as follows:
Description
Amount
Explanation
(1) Research and experimental expenses
$20,000 Given in problem
(2) Recovery period in months
60 60 months ยง174
(3) Monthly straight-line amortization
333.33 (1) / (2)
(4) Bethanyโs business months during year 1
x 6 July through December
(5) Year 1 straight-line amortization
(6) Bethanyโs business months during year 2
$2,000 (3) x (4)
12 January through December
(7) Year 2 straight-line amortization
$4,000 (3) x (6)
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
(8) Bethanyโs business months during year
3 before patent is issued in August
(9) Year 3 straight-line amortization on
research and experimentation costs
(10) Accumulated amortization through July
of year 3
(11) Unamortized research and
experimentation expenditures as of August,
year 3
7 January through July, year 3
2,333 (3) x (8)
8,333 (5) + (7) + (9)
(1) โ (10)
$11,667 Used in answer to part b
b. The patent amortization is $902.79, computed as follows:
Description
(1) Unamortized research and experimental expenses
(2) Legal expenses related to patent
(3) Amortizable expenses for patent
(4) Recovery period in months
(5) Monthly straight-line amortization
(6) Bethanyโs business months from August through
December
Year 3 straight-line amortization for patent
Amount
$11,667
$10,000
$21,667
120
180.56
Explanation
See (11) part a above
Given in problem
(1) + (2)
10-year useful life
(3) / (4)
x 5
$902.79 (5) x (6)
c. The patent amortization is $1,250, computed as follows:
Description
Amount
(1) Research and experimental expenses
(2) Legal expenses related to patent
(3) Amortizable expenses
(4) Recovery period in months
(5) Monthly straight-line amortization
(6) Bethanyโs business months from August through
December
Year 3 straight-line amortization for patent
$20,000
$10,000
$30,000
120
250
Explanation
Given in problem
(not amortized)
Given in problem
(1) + (2)
10-year useful life
(3) / (4)
x 5
$1,250 (5) x (6)
75. [LO 5] Last Chance Mine (LCM) purchased a coal deposit for $750,000. It
estimated it would extract 12,000 tons of coal from the deposit. LCM mined the
coal and sold it, reporting gross receipts of $1 million, $3 million, and $2 million
for years 1 through 3, respectively. During years 1 โ 3, LCM reported net income
(loss) from the coal deposit activity in the amount of ($20,000), $500,000, and
$450,000, respectively. In years 1 โ 3, LCM actually extracted 13,000 tons of coal
as follows:
(1)
Tons of Coal
(2)
Basis
Depletion
(2)/(1)
Rate
Tons extracted per year
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
12,000
$750,000
$62.50
2,000
7,200
3,800
a. What is LCMโs cost depletion for years 1, 2, and 3?
b. What is LCMโs percentage depletion for each year (the applicable
percentage for coal is 10 percent)?
c. Using the cost and percentage depletion computations from parts (a)
and (b), what is LCMโs actual depletion expense for each year?
a. LCMโs cost depletion is $125,000 for year 1, $450,000 for year 2, and $175,000 for
year 3, calculated as follows:
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Explanation
(1) Tons extracted
2,000
7,200
3,800
(2) Depletion rate
$62.50
$62.50
$62.50
Cost Depletion Expense $125,000 $450,000 $175,000* (1) x (2)
*This is the remaining basis. Under the cost depletion method, the taxpayerโs
amortization is limited to the cost basis in the natural resource. The full amount
of amortization would have been $237,500 if this were not the case.
b. LCMโs percentage depletion for each year is calculated as follows:
Year 1
(1) Net income from activity (before
depletion expense)
(2) Gross Income
(3) Percentage
(4) Percentage Depletion Expense
before limit
(5) 50% of net income limitation
Allowable percentage depletion
Year 2
Year 3
Explanation
($20,000)
$500,000
$450,000 Given in problem
$1,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000
x 10%
x 10%
x 10%
$100,000
$0
$0
$300,000
$250,000
$250,000
$200,000 (2) x (3)
$225,000 (1) x 50%
$200,000 Lesser of (4) or (5)
Note that percentage depletion is not limited to the basis in the property.
c. Depletion expense is the greater of cost depletion or percentage depletion calculated
as follows:
Tax Depletion Expense
(1) Cost depletion
(2) Percentage depletion
Deductible depletion expense
Year 1
Year 2
$125,000 $450,000
$0 $250,000
$125,000 $450,000
Year 3
Explanation
$175,000 Part a
$200,000 Part b
$200,000 Greater of (1) or (2)
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Comprehensive Problems
76. Karane Enterprises, a calendar year manufacturer based in College Station, Texas
began business in 2018. In the process of setting up the business, Karane has
acquired various types of assets. Below is a list of assets acquired during 2018:
Asset
Office furniture
Machinery
Used delivery truck*
Cost
$150,000
1,560,000
40,000
Date Place in Service
02/03/2018
07/22/2018
08/17/2018
*Not considered a luxury automobile.
During 2018, Karane was very successful (and had no ยง179 limitations) and decided
to acquire more assets in 2019 to increase its production capacity. These are the
assets acquired during 2019:
Asset
Computers & Info. System
Luxury Autoโ
Assembly Equipment
Storage Building
โ
Cost
$400,000
80,000
1,200,000
700,000
Date Place in Service
03/31/2019
05/26/2019
08/15/2019
11/13/2019
Used 100% for business purposes.
Karane generated taxable income in 2019 of $1,732,500 for purposes of computing
the ยง179 expense limitation.
Required
a. Compute the maximum 2018 depreciation deductions including ยง179 expense
(ignoring bonus depreciation).
b. Compute the maximum 2019 depreciation deductions including ยง179 expense
(ignoring bonus depreciation).
c. Compute the maximum 2019 depreciation deductions, including ยง179
expense, but now assume that Karane would like to take bonus depreciation.
d. Now assume that during 2019, Karane decides to buy a competitorโs assets for
a purchase price of $1,350,000. Compute the maximum 2019 cost recovery,
including ยง179 expense and bonus depreciation. Karane purchased the
following assets for the lump-sum purchase price.
Asset
Inventory
Office furniture
Machinery
Patent
Goodwill
Cost
$220,000
230,000
250,000
198,000
2,000
Date Placed in Service
09/15/2019
09/15/2019
09/15/2019
09/15/2019
09/15/2019
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Building
Land
430,000
20,000
09/15/2019
09/15/2019
e. Complete Part I of Form 4562 for part (b) (use the most current form
available).
a) The 2018 depreciation deduction is $1,109,459.
Description
Cost
ยง179
Expense
MACRS
Basis
Current
MACRS
Depreciation
Total
Depreciation
Deduction
Office furniture
150,000
–
150,000
$
$
1,560,000
1,000,000
560,000
80,024
1,080,024
40,000
–
40,000
8,000
8,000
1,750,000
1,000,000
750,000
Machinery
Delivery truck
Totals
21,435
21,435
109,459
$ 1,109,459
MACRS
Basis
Current
MACRS
Depreciation
Total
Depreciation
Deduction
b) The 2019 depreciation deduction is $1,324,648.
Description
Sec. 179
Expense
Cost
2018 Assets
Office furniture
Machinery
Used delivery truck
150,000
1,560,000
40,000
–
150,000
560,000
40,000
36,735
137,144
12,800
36,735
137,144
12,800
2019 Assets
Computers & Info.
System
Luxury Auto
400,000
–
400,000
80,000
80,000
80,000
–
Assembly Equipment
1,200,000
80,000
180,000
10,000
25,722
10,000
1,045,722
700,000
1,020,000
–
700,000
2,247
2,247
4,130,000
1,020,000
2,110,000
304,648
$1,324,648
Storage Building
Totals
c) The 2019 depreciation deduction is $1,806,926.
ยง179
Expense
Description
Cost
2018 Assets
Office Furniture
Machinery
Used Delivery
Truck
150,000
1,560,000
–
40,000
–
Bonus
Current
MACRS
Depreciation
Total
Depreciation
Deduction
150,000
560,000
36,735
137,144
36,735
137,144
40,000
12,800
12,800
MACRS
Basis
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55
Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
2019 Assets
Computers & Info.
System
Luxury Auto
Assembly
Equipment
Storage Building
Totals
400,000
–
400,000
–
–
400,000
80,000
–
8,000
72,000
10,000
18,000
1,200,000
1,020,000
180,000
–
–
1,200,000
700,000
–
–
700,000
2,247
2,247
4,130,000
1,020,000
588,000
1,522,000
198,926
$ 1,806,926
Current
MACRS
Depreciation
Total
Depreciation
Deduction
d) 2019 cost recovery is $2,294,591.
Description
Cost
ยง179
Expense
Bonus
MACRS
Basis
2018 Assets
Office
Furniture
Machinery
150,000
–
150,000
36,735
36,735
1,560,000
–
560,000
137,144
137,144
40,000
–
40,000
12,800
12,800
Computers
& Info.
System
Luxury Auto
400,000
–
400,000
–
–
400,000
80,000
–
8,000
72,000
10,000
18,000
Assembly
Equipment
Storage
Building
1,200,000
1,020,000
180,000
700,000
–
Inventory
Office
Furniture
Machinery
220,000
Used
Delivery
Truck
2019 Assets
–
1,200,000
–
700,000
2,247
2,247
–
n/a
–
–
–
230,000
–
230,000
–
–
230,000
250,000
–
250,000
–
–
250,000
Patent
198,000
–
–
198,000
4,400
4,400
Goodwill
2,000
–
–
2,000
44
44
Building
430,000
–
–
430,000
3,221
3,221
Land
20,000
–
–
n/a
–
–
Totals
$ 5,480,000
$1,020,000
$1,068,000
$2,152,000
$ 206,591
$ 2,294,591
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Education.
56
Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
e) Complete Part I of Form 4562 for part b.
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Education.
57
Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
77. While completing undergraduate school work in information systems, Dallin
Bourne and Michael Banks decided to start a technology support company called
eSys Answers. During year 1, they bought the following assets and incurred the
following start-up fees:
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Education.
58
Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Year 1 Assets
Computers (5-year)
Office equipment (7-year)
Furniture (7-year)
Start-up costs
Purchase Date
October 30, Y1
October 30, Y1
October 30, Y1
October 30, Y1
Basis
$15,000
$10,000
$3,000
$17,000
In April of year 2, they decided to purchase a customer list from a company providing
virtually the same services, started by fellow information systems students preparing
to graduate. The customer list cost $10,000 and the sale was completed on April 30th.
During their summer break, Dallin and Michael passed on internship opportunities in
an attempt to really grow their business into something they could do full-time after
graduation. In the summer, they purchased a small van (for transportation, not
considered a luxury auto) and a pinball machine (to help attract new employees).
They bought the van on June 15, Y2 for $15,000 and spent $3,000 getting it ready to
put into service. The pinball machine cost $4,000 and was placed in service on July 1,
Y2.
Year 2 Assets
Van
Pinball Machine (7-year)
Customer List
Purchase Date
June 15, Y2
July 1, Y2
April 30, Y2
Basis
$18,000
$4,000
$10,000
Assume that eSys Answers does not claim any ยง179 expense or bonus depreciation.
a. What are the maximum cost recovery deductions for eSys Answers for Y1 and
Y2?
b. Complete eSys Answersโ Form 4562 for Y1 (use the most current form
available).
c. What is eSys Answersโ basis in each of its assets at the end of Y2?
a. eSys Answersโ Y1 cost recovery deductions are $6,414, including the expensing
of the start-up costs. eSys Answersโ Y2 cost recovery deductions are $14,754.
Y1 Cost Recovery
Asset
Computer
Equipment
Office Equipment
Furniture
Start-up costs
Original
Basis
Remaining
Expense
Basis
$15,000
$10,000
$3,000
$17,000
$5,000
Quarter
Rate
$15,000
$10,000
$3,000
4th
4th
4th
$12,000
N/A
5.00%
3.57%
3.57%
See
below
Cost
Recovery
Expense
Copyright ยฉ 2020 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill
Education.
$750
$357
$107
$200
59
Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Start-up immediate
expense
Total Cost Recovery Expense
Description
(1) Maximum immediate expense
(2) Total start-up costs
(3) Phase-out threshold
$5,000
$6,414
Start-up costs Y1
Amount
Explanation
$5,000 ยง195
$17,000 Given in problem
50,000 ยง195
(4) Immediate expense phase-out
(5) Allowable immediate expense
(6) Remaining start-up costs
(7) Recovery period in months
(8) Monthly straight-line amortization
(2) โ (3); not less than $0
(1) โ (4)
(2) โ (5)
15 years ยง195
(6) / (7)
October through
x 3
December
$0
$5,000
$12,000
180
66.67
(9) eSysโ business months during year 1
Year 1 straight-line amortization for startup costs
$200 (8) x (9)
Y2 Cost Recovery
Asset
Computer Equipment
Office Equipment
Furniture
Original
Basis
Expense
$15,000
$10,000
$3,000
Start-up costs
Delivery van
Pinball machine
$17,000
$18,000
$4,000
Customer List
$10,000
Remaining
Basis
$15,000
$10,000
$3,000
$5,000
$12,000
Quarter
Rate
th
4 38.00%
4th 27.55%
4th 27.55%
$66.67
N/A
x 12
HY 20.00%
HY 14.29%
See
N/A
below
Total Cost Recovery Expense
Description
(1) Customer list (ยง197 intangible)
(2) Recovery period in months
(3) Monthly straight-line amortization
(4) April through December
Year 1 straight-line amortization for
customer list
Cost
Recovery
Expense
$5,700
$2,755
$827
$800
$3,600
$572
$500
$14,754
Amount
Explanation
$10,000
180 ยง197(a)
55.56 (1) / (2)
x 9
$500 (3) x (4)
b. eSys Answersโ Form 4562 is as follows:
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Education.
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Copyright ยฉ 2020 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill
Education.
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Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
c. eSys Answersโ basis is as follows:
Adjusted Basis
Expense
Year 1
Cost
Recovery
$15,000
10,000
3,000
17,000
18,000
4,000
10,000
$5,000
$750
357
107
200
$77,000
$5,000
Asset
Original
Basis
Computer
Equipment
Office Equipment
Furniture
Start-up costs
Delivery van
Pinball machine
Customer List
Totals
Year 2 Cost
Recovery
Y2 Ending
Basis
_______
$5,700
2,755
827
800
3,600
572
500
$8,550
6,888
2,066
11,000
14,400
3,428
9,500
$1,414
$14,754
$55,832
78. Diamond Mountain was originally thought to be one of the few places in North
America to contain diamonds, so Diamond Mountain Inc. (DM) purchased the land
for $1,000,000. Later, DM discovered that the only diamonds on the mountain had
been planted there and the land was worthless for mining. DM engineers discovered
a new survey technology and discovered a silver deposit estimated at 5,000 pounds
on Diamond Mountain. DM immediately bought new drilling equipment and began
mining the silver.
In years 1-3 following the opening of the mine, DM had net (gross) income of
$200,000 ($700,000), $400,000 ($1,100,000), and $600,000 ($1,450,000),
respectively. Mining amounts for each year were as follows: 750 pounds (year 1),
1,450 pounds (year 2), and 1,800 pounds (year 3). At the end of year 2, engineers
used the new technology (which had been improving over time) and estimated there
was still an estimated 6,000 pounds of silver deposits.
DM also began a research and experimentation project with the hopes of gaining a
patent for its new survey technology. Diamond Mountain Inc. chooses to capitalize
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Education.
62
Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
research and experimentation expenditures and amortize the costs over 60 months or
until it obtains a patent on its technology. In March of year 1, DM spent $95,000 on
research and experimentation. DM spent another $75,000 in February of year 2 for
research and experimentation. DM realizes benefits from the research and
experimentation expenditures when the costs are incurred. In September of year 2,
DM paid $20,000 of legal fees and was granted the patent in October of year 2 (the
entire process of obtaining a patent was unusually fast). The patent’s life is 20 years.
Answer the following questions regarding DMโs activities (assume that DM tries to
maximize its deductions if given a choice).
a. What is DMโs depletion expense for years 1 – 3?
b. What is DMโs research and experimentation amortization for years 1 and 2?
c. What is DMโs basis in its patent and what is its amortization for the patent in
year 2?
a. DMโs depletion expense is as follows, actual cost and percentage depletion
are shown below:
Actual Depletion
Original basis
Year 1 depletion (cost depletion)
Year 1 Ending basis
Year 2 depletion (cost depletion)
Year 2 Ending basis
Year 3 depletion (percentage depletion)
Year 3 Ending basis
$
1,000,000
(150,000)
850,000
(165,431)
684,569
(217,500)
467,069
Cost Depletion Method
Year 1 Beginning basis
Estimated pounds of silver in mine at
beginning of year
Basis depletion per pound
Pounds of silver mined in year
Year depletion
Basis at end of year
Year 1
$1,000,000
Year 2
$850,000
Year 3
$684,569
5,000
$ 200
750
$150,000
$ 850,000
7,450
$ 114.09
1,450
$165,431
$ 684,569
6,000
$114.09
1,800
$205,362
$ 479,207
Year 1
$ 200,000
$ 700,000
15%
Year 2
$ 400,000
$1,100,000
15%
Year 3
$ 600,000
$ 1,450,000
15%
Percentage Depletion Method
Net income
Gross income
Percentage
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63
Solutions Manual โTaxation of Business Entities, by Spilker et al.
Percentage depletion expense before
limit
50% of net income limitation
Allowable percentage depletion
$
105,000
$ 165,000
$
217,500
$
$
100,000
100,000
$ 200,000
$ 165,000
$
$
300,000
217,500
b. DMโs research and experimentation amortization for years 1 and 2 are as
follows:
Description
Year 1
Year 2
Amount
Amount
Research and experimental expenses
$95,000
$75,000
Recovery period in months
60
60
Monthly straight-line amortization
$1,583.33
$1,250
DMโs business months during year 1
10
0
Year 1 straight-line amortization
$15,833
$ DM’s business months during year 2 before the
9
8
patent is issued
Year 2 straight-line amortization
$14,250
$10,000
Accumulated amortization through September of
year 2
Unamortized Research and experimentation
$30,083
$10,000
$64,917
$65,000
$129,917
c. DMโs basis in its patent and amortization for patent in year 2 are as follows:
Description
Amount
Unamortized research and experimental expenses
$129,917
Legal expenses related to patent
$20,000
Amortizable expenses for patent
$149,917
Recovery period in months
240
Monthly straight-line amortization
624.65
DM’s business months from October through
December
3
Year 2 straight-line amortization for patent
$1,874
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