SOLUTION MANUAL FOR MCGRAW-HILL'S
TAXATION OF INDIVIDUALS 2026 EDITION,
15TH EDITION BY BRIAN SPILKER, BENJAMIN
AYERS, LATEST EDITION
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Part I: Introduction To Taxation
2. Chapter 1: An Introduction To Tax
3. Chapter 2: Tax Compliance, The IRS, And Tax Authorities
4. Chapter 3: Tax Planning Strategies And Related Limitations
5. Part II: Basic Individual Taxation
6. Chapter 4: Individual Income Tax Overview, Dependents, And Filing Status
7. Chapter 5: Gross Income And Exclusions
8. Chapter 6: Individual Deductions
9. Chapter 7: Investments
10. Chapter 8: Individual Income Tax Computation And Tax Credits
11. Part III: Business-Related Transactions
12. Chapter 9: Business Income, Deductions, And Accounting Methods
13. Chapter 10: Property Acquisition And Cost Recovery
14. Chapter 11: Property Dispositions
15. Part IV: Specialized Topics
16. Chapter 12: Compensation
17. Chapter 13: Retirement Savings And Deferred Compensation
18. Chapter 14: Tax Consequences Of Home Ownership
,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
TAXATION OF INDIVIDUALS 2026 EDITION,
15TH EDITION BY BRIAN SPILKER, BENJAMIN
AYERS, LATEST EDITION
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Part I: Introduction To Taxation
2. Chapter 1: An Introduction To Tax
3. Chapter 2: Tax Compliance, The IRS, And Tax Authorities
4. Chapter 3: Tax Planning Strategies And Related Limitations
5. Part II: Basic Individual Taxation
6. Chapter 4: Individual Income Tax Overview, Dependents, And Filing Status
7. Chapter 5: Gross Income And Exclusions
8. Chapter 6: Individual Deductions
9. Chapter 7: Investments
10. Chapter 8: Individual Income Tax Computation And Tax Credits
11. Part III: Business-Related Transactions
12. Chapter 9: Business Income, Deductions, And Accounting Methods
13. Chapter 10: Property Acquisition And Cost Recovery
14. Chapter 11: Property Dispositions
15. Part IV: Specialized Topics
16. Chapter 12: Compensation
17. Chapter 13: Retirement Savings And Deferred Compensation
18. Chapter 14: Tax Consequences Of Home Ownership
,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
