TAX 4001 Exam 2 questions with 100% solution

It has been suggested that tax policy favors deductions for AGI compared to itemized deductions. Describe two ways in which deductions for AGI are treated more favorably than itemized deductions. - Correct Answer Itemized deductions must exceed the standard deduction before taxpayers receive any tax benefit from the deductions (this is equivalent to an overall floor limit). In contrast, business deductions that are deductible for AGI (above the line) reduce taxable income without being subject to an overall floor limit. Also, itemized deductions are subject to many mechanical limitations including ceilings, floors, and phase-outs whereas business deductions are generally not subject to these limits (there are limits on certain specific deductions, but this will be described in greater detail in chapter 9). How is a business activity distinguished from an investment activity? Why is this distinction important for the purpose of calculating federal income taxes? - Correct Answer Both business and investment activities are motivated primarily by profit intent, but they can be distinguished by the level of profit-seeking activity. A business activity is commonly described as a sustained, continuous, high level of profit-seeking activity, whereas investment activities don't require a high level of involvement. The distinction can be important for the location of deductions, because business deductions are claimed above the line (for AGI on Schedule C) while investment deductions are generally itemized or from AGI deductions (with the exception of rent and royalty expenses which are deductible for AGI on Schedule E). Describe how a business element is reflected in the requirements to deduct moving expenses and how Congress limited this deduction to substantial moves. - Correct Answer A business element is reflected in both the distance test and time test associated with the move. To satisfy the distance test, the distance from the taxpayer's old residence to the new place of work (business element) must be at least 50 miles more than the distance from the old residence to the old place of work (business element). The time test for a moving expense deduction requires the taxpayer to be employed full time 39 of the first 52 weeks (or self-employed for 78 of the first 104 weeks) after the move (obviously reflecting a business element). Explain why Congress allows self-employed taxpayers to deduct the cost of health insurance above the line (for AGI) when employees can only itemize this cost as a medical expense. Would a self-employed taxpayer ever prefer to claim health insurance premiums as an itemized deductions rather than a deduction for AGI? Explain. - Correct Answer This deduction provides a measure of equity between employees and the self-employed. The cost of health insurance is essentially a personal expense. However, employees typically aren't required to pay insurance premiums because their employers pay the premiums for them as a form of compensation. The employer is allowed to deduct the premium as a compensation expense, and the employee is allowed to exclude from taxable income the value of the premiums paid on his behalf. Thus, from the employee's perspective, this arrangement has the same effect as if (1) the employer pays the employee cash compensation in the amount of the premium and (2) the employee pays the premium and deducts the expense for AGI (completely offsetting the compensation income). In contrast to employees, self-employed taxpayers pay their own health insurance costs, because they don't have an employer to pay these costs for them. Absent a rule to the contrary, self-employed taxpayers would deduct their medical expenses as itemized deductions subject to strict limitations, because the cost of the health insurance is a personal expense rather than a business expense. To treat employees and self-employed taxpayers similarly, Congress allows self-employed taxpayers to deduct personal health insurance premiums as for AGI rather than itemized deductions. Thus, self-employed taxpayers are able to (1) receive business income and (2) use the business income to pay their health insurance premiums and deduct the premiums as a for AGI deduction (completely offsetting the business income they used to pay the premium). Given the preferential treatment of for AGI deductions relative to itemized deductions, a self-employed taxpayer should never prefer to claim health insurance premiums as an itemized deduction rather than a deduction for AGI. Explain why Congress allows self-employed taxpayers to deduct the employer portion of their self-employment tax. - Correct Answer To put self-employed individuals on somewhat equal footing with other employers that are allowed to deduct the employer's share of the social security tax. Hence, self-employed taxpayers are allowed to deduct the employer's share of the self-employment tax. Using the Internal Revenue Code, describe two deductions for AGI that are not discussed in this chapter. - Correct Answer §62 is the quickest way to identify deductions for AGI, but several can also be identified from the front of form 1040. Examples include the performing artist deduction, deductions of business expenses for state and local officials, reforestation expenses, and remitted jury duty pay.