Exam 3: Tax Planning Strategies and Related Limitations

Sal, a calendar year taxpayer, uses the cash-basis method of accounting for his sole proprietorship. In late December he performed $40,000 of consulting services for a client. Sal typically requires his clients to pay his bills immediately upon receipt. Assume that Sal's marginal tax rate is 30% this year and 35% next year and that he can earn an after-tax rate of return of 12% on his investments. Should Sal send his client the bill in December or January? Use Exhibit 3.1. (Round discount factor(s) to 3 decimal places.)

The goal of tax planning is tax minimization.

In general, tax planners prefer to defer income. This is an example of the conversion strategy.

Jason's employer pays year-end bonuses each year on December 31. Jason, a cash basis taxpayer, would prefer to not pay tax on his bonus this year (and actually would prefer his daughter to pay tax on the bonus). So, he leaves town on December 31, 2017 and has his daughter, Julie, pick up his check on January 2, 2018. Who reports the income and when?

Which is not a basic tax planning strategy?

Lucinda is contemplating a long range planning strategy that will allow her to defer sizable portions of her income for 10 years. What type of planning strategy is she contemplating? What are some potential risks associated with this type of strategy?

Assume that Keisha's marginal tax rate is 40% and her tax rate on dividends is 15%. If a city of Atlanta bond pays 7.65% interest, what dividend yield would a dividend-paying stock (with no growth potential) have to offer for Keisha to be indifferent between the two investments from a cash-flow perspective?

Assume that Marsha is indifferent between investing in a city of Destin bond that pays 6% interest and a corporate bond that pays 8% interest. What is Marsha's marginal tax rate?

Antonella works for a company that pays a year-end bonus in December of each year. Assume that Antonella expects to receive a $20,000 bonus in December this year, her tax rate is 30%, and her after-tax rate of return is 8%. If Antonella's employer paid her bonus on January 1 of next year instead of in December, how much would this action save Antonella in today's tax dollars? If Antonella's tax rate increased to 32% next year, would receiving the bonus in January still be advantageous? Use Exhibit 3.1.

Which of the following is an example of the timing strategy?

Assume that Jose is indifferent between investing in a corporate bond that pays 10% interest and a stock with no growth potential that pays an 8% dividend yield. Assume that the tax rate on dividends is 15%. What is Jose's marginal tax rate?

If tax rates are increasing:

If tax rates are decreasing:

The business purpose, step-transaction, and substance-over-form doctrines may limit the conversion strategy.

Which of the following decreases the benefits of accelerating deductions?

Jared, a tax novice, has recently learned of several foreign tax havens (i.e., countries with low tax rates). He is considering locating his manufacturing operations in one of these countries solely based on their low tax rates. What types of taxes is Jared ignoring? Explain how these other taxes may affect the viability of Jared's choice to locate in a foreign tax haven.

The goal of tax planning generally is to:

Lucky owns a maid service that cleans several local businesses nightly. Lucky, a high-tax rate taxpayer, would like to shift some income to his son Rocco. Lucky tells all of his customers (who are always timely in their payments) to pay Rocco and then Rocco will report 50% of the income as a collection fee. Lucky will report the remaining 50%. Will this shift the income from Lucky to Rocco? Why or why not? What doctrines influence your answer? Any suggestions for Lucky?

If Lucy earns a 6% after-tax rate of return, $8,000 received in four years is worth how much today? Use Exhibit 3.1. (Round present and future value amounts to 3 places)

The value of a tax deduction is higher for a taxpayer with a lower tax rate.