McGraw-Hill's Taxation of Business Entities 3rd Edition by Connie Weaver, Brian Spilker, Edmund Outslay, John Robinson, Ronald Worsham, Benjamin Ayers, John Barrick

Exercise 67

While completing undergraduate school work in information systems, Dallin Bourne and Michael Banks decided to start a business called ISys Answers which was a technology support company. During year 1, they bought the following assets and incurred the following fees at start-up:

In April of year 2, they decided to purchase a customer list from a company started by fellow information systems students preparing to graduate who provided virtually the same services. The customer list cost $10,000 and the sale was completed on April 30 th. During their summer break, Dallin and Michael passed on internship opportunities in an attempt to really grow their business into something they could do full time after graduation. In the summer, they purchased a small van (for transportation, not considered a luxury auto) and a pinball machine (to help attract new employees). They bought the van on June 15, Y2 for $15,000 and spent $3,000 getting it ready to put into service. The pinball machine cost $4,000 and was placed in service on July 1, Y2.
Assume that ISys Answers does not elect any §179 expense or bonus depreciation.
a. What are the maximum cost recovery deductions for ISys Answers (excluding §179 expensing) for 2010 and 2011
b. What is ISys Answers' basis in each of its assets at the end of 2011