Exam 20: Corporations: Distributions in Complete Liquidation and an Overview of Reorganizations

For a corporate restructuring to qualify as a tax-free reorganization, the step transaction doctrine must apply.

Mars Corporation merges into Jupiter Corporation by exchanging all of its assets for 300,000 shares of Jupiter stock valued at $2 per share and $100,000 cash. Wanda, the sole shareholder of Mars, surrenders her Mars stock (basis $900,000) and receives all of the Jupiter stock transferred to Mars plus the $100,000. How does Wanda treat this transaction on her tax return?

Skylark Corporation owned 100% of the outstanding stock of Quail Corporation, having purchased the stock six years ago for $200,000. Pursuant to a plan of liquidation adopted by Quail Corporation earlier in the current year, Quail distributed all its property to its shareholder. Quail Corporation had never been insolvent and had E & P of $700,000 on the date of liquidation. Pursuant to the liquidation, Quail distributes property worth $650,000 (basis $340,000) to Skylark Corporation. How much gain must the parties recognize on the transfer of this property to Skylark Corporation?

Magenta Corporation acquired land in a § 351 exchange one year ago. The land had a basis of $320,000 and a fair market value of $350,000 on the date of the transfer. Magenta Corporation has two shareholders, Mark (70%) and Megan (30%), who are brother and sister. Magenta Corporation adopts a plan of liquidation in the current year. On this date, the land has decreased in value to $250,000. Magenta Corporation sells the land for $250,000 and distributes the proceeds pro rata to Mark and Megan. What amount of loss may Magenta Corporation recognize on the sale of the land?

Last year, Crow Corporation acquired land in a transaction that qualified under § 351. The land had a basis of $400,000 to the contributing shareholder and a fair market value of $310,000. Assume that the shareholder also transferred equipment (basis of $100,000, fair market value of $200,000) in the same § 351 exchange. In the current year, Crow Corporation adopted a plan of liquidation and distributes the land to Ali, a shareholder who owns 20% of the stock in Crow Corporation. The land's fair market value was $230,000 on the date of the distribution to Ali. Crow Corporation acquired the land to use as security for a loan it had hoped to obtain from a local bank. In negotiating with the bank for a loan, the bank required the additional capital investment as a condition of its making a loan to Crow Corporation. How much loss can Crow Corporation recognize on the distribution of the land?

During the current year, Goldfinch Corporation purchased 100% of the stock of Dove Corporation and made a qualified election under § 338. Which of the following statements is incorrect with respect to the § 338 election?

A tax free corporate reorganization can be utilized to:

The related-party loss limitation applies to distributions to related parties and either the distribution is pro rata or the property distributed is disqualified property.

Dipper Corporation is acquiring Bulbul Corporation by exchanging 220,000 shares of Dipper stock and $80,000 cash for all of Bulbul's assets (valued at $500,000), liabilities ($200,000), and accumulated earnings and profits ($120,000). Betty purchased 40% of Bulbul five years ago for $60,000, and Keith purchased the remaining 60% for $90,000. What is the amount of the gain or loss that Betty and Keith recognize (if any), assuming that the exchange qualifies as a § 368 reorganization? What is the basis in their new Dipper stock?

A subsidiary is liquidated pursuant to § 332. The parent has held 100% of the stock in the subsidiary for the past ten years. The subsidiary has a net operating loss carryover of $400,000. The net operating loss does not carry over to the parent.

The amount of gain recognized by a shareholder in a corporate reorganization is based on the shareholder's proportionate share of E & P.

In the current year, Dove Corporation (E & P of $1 million) distributes all of its property in a complete liquidation. Alexandra, a shareholder, receives land having a fair market value of $200,000. Dove Corporation had purchased the land as an investment three years ago for $125,000, and the land was distributed subject to a $100,000 liability. Alexandra took the land subject to the $100,000 liability. What is Alexandra's basis in the land?

Compare the sale of a corporation's assets with a sale of its stock from the perspective of the seller.

Pursuant to a liquidation, Coral Corporation distributes to Lucinda, a shareholder, land (basis of $90,000, fair market value of $200,000). The land is subject to a $75,000 liability. Lucinda will have a basis of $125,000 in the land.

What are the tax consequences of a § 332 liquidation to the parent corporation, subsidiary corporation, and minority shareholder?

Obtaining a favorable letter ruling from the IRS can ensure the desired tax treatment for parties contemplating a corporate reorganization.

A liquidation can occur for tax purposes even though the corporation has retained some assets to pay remaining debts and preserve legal status.

If a parent corporation makes a § 338 election, the subsidiary corporation recognizes gain but not loss on the deemed sale of its assets on the qualified stock purchase date.

Indigo has a basis of $1 million in the stock of Owl Corporation, a subsidiary in which it owns 100% of all classes of stock. Indigo purchased the stock in Owl 10 years ago. In the current year, Indigo liquidates Owl and acquires assets worth $1.2 million. At the time of its liquidation, Owl Corporation had a basis of $800,000 in the assets and E & P of $500,000. Which of the following statements is correct with respect to the liquidation?

The built-in loss limitation in a complete liquidation does not apply to losses attributable to a decline in a property's fair market value after its transfer to the corporation.