Solution Manual
McGraw-Hill's Taxation of Individuals and Business Entities
By Brian C. Spilker, Benjamin C. Ayers
2026 edition
,Solution Manual For
Mcgraw-Hill's Taxation Of Individuals 2026 Edition, Edition Spilker
Chapter 1-14
Chapter 1
An Introduction To Tax
Discussion questions
(1) [lo 1] jessica’s friend zachary once stated that he couldn’t understand why someone would take
a tax course. Why is this a rather naïve view?
Taxes are a part of everyday life and have a financial effect on many of the major personal decisions that
individuals face (e.g., investment decisions, evaluating alternative job offers, saving for education
expenses, gift or estate planning, etc.).
(2) [lo 1] what are some aspects of business that require knowledge of taxation? What are some
aspects of personal finance that require knowledge of taxation?
Taxes play an important role in fundamental business decisions such as the following:
• What organizational form should a business use?
• Where should the business locate?
• How should business acquisitions be structured?
• How should the business compensate employees?
• What is the appropriate mix of debt and equity for the business?
• Should the business rent or own its equipment and property?
• How should the business distribute profits to its owners?
One must consider all transaction costs (including taxes) to evaluate the merits of a transaction.
Common personal financial decisions that taxes influence include: choosing investments, retirement
planning, choosing to rent or buy a home, evaluating alternative job offers, saving for education
expenses, and doing gift or estate planning.
,(3) [lo 1] describe some ways in which taxes affect the political process in the united states.
U.s. presidential candidates often distinguish themselves from their opponents
Based upon their tax rhetoric. Likewise, the major political parties generally have very diverse views of
the appropriate way to tax the public. Determining who is taxed, what is taxed, and how much is taxed
are difficult questions. Voters must have a basic understanding of taxes to evaluate the merits of
alternative tax proposals offered by opposing political candidates and their political parties.
(4) [lo 2] courtney recently received a speeding ticket on her way to the university. Her fine was
$200. Is this considered a tax? Why or why not?
The $200 speeding ticket is not considered a tax. Instead, it is considered a fine or penalty. Taxes differ
from fines and penalties because taxes are not intended to punish or prevent illegal behavior.
(5) [lo 2] marlon and latoya recently started building a house. They had to pay
$300 to the county government for a building permit. Is the $300 payment a tax? Why or why not?
The building permit is not considered a tax because $300 payment is directly linked to a benefit that
they received (i.e., the ability to build a house).
(6) [lo 2] to help pay for the city’s new stadium, the city of birmingham recently enacted a 1 percent
surcharge on hotel rooms. Is this a tax? Why or why not?
The 1 percent surcharge is a tax. The 1 percent surcharge is an earmarked tax – i.e., collected for a
specific purpose. The surcharge is considered a tax because the tax payments made by taxpayers do not
directly relate to the specific benefit received by the taxpayers.
(7) [lo 2] as noted in example 1-2, tolls, parking meter fees, and annual licensing fees are not
considered taxes. Can you identify other fees that are similar?
There are several possible answers to this question. Some common examples include entrance fees to
national parks, tag fees paid to local/state government for automobiles, boats, etc.
, (8) [lo 2] if the general objective of our tax system is to raise revenue, why does the income tax
allow deductions for charitable contributions and retirement plan contributions?
In addition to the general objective of raising revenue, congress uses the federal tax system to
encourage certain behavior and discourage other behavior. The charitable contribution deduction is
intended to encourage taxpayers to support the initiatives of charitable organizations, whereas
deductions for retirement contributions are intended to encourage retirement savings. Another
objective of the tax system is to redistribute wealth.
(9) [lo 2] one common argument for imposing so-called sin taxes is the social goal of reducing
demand for such products. Using cigarettes as an example, is there a segment of the population that
might be sensitive to price and for whom high taxes might discourage purchases?
The most obvious segment sensitive to price may be teenagers and younger adults that typically have
less disposable income, although price sensitivity or elasticity will vary by taxpayer.
(10) [lo 3] dontae stated that he didn’t want to earn any more money because it would ―put him in
a higher tax bracket.‖ what is wrong with dontae’s reasoning?
Although earning additional taxable income may increase dontae‘s marginal tax rate (i.e., put him in a
higher tax bracket), the additional income earned does not affect the taxes that dontae will pay on his
existing income. Moving to a higher tax bracket simply means that dontae will pay a higher tax rate on
the additional income earned (not on the income that he already has).
(11) [lo 3] describe the three different tax rates discussed in the chapter and how taxpayers might
use them.
The marginal tax rate is the tax rate that applies to the taxpayer‘s additional taxable income or
deductions that the taxpayer is evaluating in a decision.
specifically,
marginal tax rate
McGraw-Hill's Taxation of Individuals and Business Entities
By Brian C. Spilker, Benjamin C. Ayers
2026 edition
,Solution Manual For
Mcgraw-Hill's Taxation Of Individuals 2026 Edition, Edition Spilker
Chapter 1-14
Chapter 1
An Introduction To Tax
Discussion questions
(1) [lo 1] jessica’s friend zachary once stated that he couldn’t understand why someone would take
a tax course. Why is this a rather naïve view?
Taxes are a part of everyday life and have a financial effect on many of the major personal decisions that
individuals face (e.g., investment decisions, evaluating alternative job offers, saving for education
expenses, gift or estate planning, etc.).
(2) [lo 1] what are some aspects of business that require knowledge of taxation? What are some
aspects of personal finance that require knowledge of taxation?
Taxes play an important role in fundamental business decisions such as the following:
• What organizational form should a business use?
• Where should the business locate?
• How should business acquisitions be structured?
• How should the business compensate employees?
• What is the appropriate mix of debt and equity for the business?
• Should the business rent or own its equipment and property?
• How should the business distribute profits to its owners?
One must consider all transaction costs (including taxes) to evaluate the merits of a transaction.
Common personal financial decisions that taxes influence include: choosing investments, retirement
planning, choosing to rent or buy a home, evaluating alternative job offers, saving for education
expenses, and doing gift or estate planning.
,(3) [lo 1] describe some ways in which taxes affect the political process in the united states.
U.s. presidential candidates often distinguish themselves from their opponents
Based upon their tax rhetoric. Likewise, the major political parties generally have very diverse views of
the appropriate way to tax the public. Determining who is taxed, what is taxed, and how much is taxed
are difficult questions. Voters must have a basic understanding of taxes to evaluate the merits of
alternative tax proposals offered by opposing political candidates and their political parties.
(4) [lo 2] courtney recently received a speeding ticket on her way to the university. Her fine was
$200. Is this considered a tax? Why or why not?
The $200 speeding ticket is not considered a tax. Instead, it is considered a fine or penalty. Taxes differ
from fines and penalties because taxes are not intended to punish or prevent illegal behavior.
(5) [lo 2] marlon and latoya recently started building a house. They had to pay
$300 to the county government for a building permit. Is the $300 payment a tax? Why or why not?
The building permit is not considered a tax because $300 payment is directly linked to a benefit that
they received (i.e., the ability to build a house).
(6) [lo 2] to help pay for the city’s new stadium, the city of birmingham recently enacted a 1 percent
surcharge on hotel rooms. Is this a tax? Why or why not?
The 1 percent surcharge is a tax. The 1 percent surcharge is an earmarked tax – i.e., collected for a
specific purpose. The surcharge is considered a tax because the tax payments made by taxpayers do not
directly relate to the specific benefit received by the taxpayers.
(7) [lo 2] as noted in example 1-2, tolls, parking meter fees, and annual licensing fees are not
considered taxes. Can you identify other fees that are similar?
There are several possible answers to this question. Some common examples include entrance fees to
national parks, tag fees paid to local/state government for automobiles, boats, etc.
, (8) [lo 2] if the general objective of our tax system is to raise revenue, why does the income tax
allow deductions for charitable contributions and retirement plan contributions?
In addition to the general objective of raising revenue, congress uses the federal tax system to
encourage certain behavior and discourage other behavior. The charitable contribution deduction is
intended to encourage taxpayers to support the initiatives of charitable organizations, whereas
deductions for retirement contributions are intended to encourage retirement savings. Another
objective of the tax system is to redistribute wealth.
(9) [lo 2] one common argument for imposing so-called sin taxes is the social goal of reducing
demand for such products. Using cigarettes as an example, is there a segment of the population that
might be sensitive to price and for whom high taxes might discourage purchases?
The most obvious segment sensitive to price may be teenagers and younger adults that typically have
less disposable income, although price sensitivity or elasticity will vary by taxpayer.
(10) [lo 3] dontae stated that he didn’t want to earn any more money because it would ―put him in
a higher tax bracket.‖ what is wrong with dontae’s reasoning?
Although earning additional taxable income may increase dontae‘s marginal tax rate (i.e., put him in a
higher tax bracket), the additional income earned does not affect the taxes that dontae will pay on his
existing income. Moving to a higher tax bracket simply means that dontae will pay a higher tax rate on
the additional income earned (not on the income that he already has).
(11) [lo 3] describe the three different tax rates discussed in the chapter and how taxpayers might
use them.
The marginal tax rate is the tax rate that applies to the taxpayer‘s additional taxable income or
deductions that the taxpayer is evaluating in a decision.
specifically,
marginal tax rate
