Ben Owns and Operates a Machine Repair Shop as a Sole

Essay

Ben owns and operates a machine repair shop as a sole proprietorship. It generates a profit of about $150,000 annually. The business pays wages of about $50,000 annually. The building and most of the equipment are leased so there is no qualified property. Ben files as single and claims the standard deduction. He has a large unrealized gain in bitcoin that he acquired in 2014 and is wondering when he should sell it and whether he should sell it all in one year or over a few years. Advise Ben as to how the sale of the bitcoin and its resulting capital gain can affect his QBI deduction in 2019.