REG: MCQ Incorrect answer & contradicting explanation

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #844343
    SkiBum1990
    Participant

    Becker: MCQ #96 of C-Corp

    Brisk Corp. is an accrual-basis, calendar-year C corporation with one individual shareholder. At year end, Brisk had $600,000 accumulated and current earnings and profits as it prepared to make its only dividend distribution for the year to its shareholder. Brisk could distribute either cash of $200,000 or land with an adjusted tax basis of $75,000 and a fair market value of $200,000. How would the taxable incomes of both Brisk and the shareholder change if land were distributed instead of cash?

    Brisk Taxable Income | Shareholder Taxable Income

    a) increase | no change
    b) no change | decrease
    c) no change | no change
    d) increase | decrease

    “Correct” answer: A
    My Answer: Not Listed – Increase/Increase

    Explanation for A –
    If Brisk Corp. were to distribute $200,000 of accumulated earnings and profits in cash as a dividend, the shareholder would recognize $200,000 in dividend income, and the corporation would reduce its earnings and profits by $200,000. If, instead, the dividend were the $200,000 FMV land with a basis of $75,000, the shareholder would still recognize $200,000 of dividend income (the FMV of the property received, as per the above rule), but the corporation would recognize a gain of $125,000 on the distribution ($200,000 FMV – $75,000 basis, per the above rule), the corporation’s earnings and profits would increase $125,000, and the corporation would reduce its earnings and profits by the $200,000 dividend distribution. Thus, Brisk’s taxable income would increase if the land were distributed, but the shareholder’s taxable income would not change.

    Rule: The taxable amount of a dividend to a shareholder from a corporation’s earnings and profits is the amount received in cash or the fair market value of the property received.

    Rule: The general rule is the payment of a dividend does not create a taxable event, unless the distribution is appreciated property. When the distribution is of appreciated property, the corporation recognizes gain as if the property were sold at fair market value.
    __________________________________________________________

    **My understanding & per BECKER book (C-Corp page 44)**: When a corporation distributes appreciated property, a gain to the corp is recognized as if it were “sold”, which would be FMV – NBV = Gain recognized. THEN, then shareholder would recognized the FMV of property received as dividend income.

    SOOOOOOOO….. how is the answer A if they both are recognizing income???!?!? The beginning of the explanation even says the shareholder would recognize $200k dividend income — but later concludes as “the shareholder’s taxable income would not change”. — also contradicting the above rules?

    What am I missing here… this is not making any sense.. help?!

    B - 79
    A - 68, 70 (UGH)
    R - Oct
    F - Nov

    "The mind can only absorb as much as the seat can take"

    "The mind can only absorb as much as the seat can take"

    B - 79
    A - 68, __ (got bumped from Aug 4 release to Aug 23-THANKS AICPA)
    R - Oct
    F - Nov (HA! 1 month to study working full-time; love NTS rules)

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #844352
    Me!
    Participant

    It's one of those trick questions! it is asking what would CHANGE based on the distribution…

    Brisk Corp.:
    Cash distribution=$200,000 would reduce earnings and profits
    Land Distribution=$200,000-75,000=$125,000 gain on distribution and $200,000 of dividend distribution

    Shareholder:
    Cash distribution=$200,000 dividend income
    Land distribution=$200,000 dividend income
    NO CHANGE!, it would be the same for the shareholder with either distribution.

    AUD - 76
    BEC - 78
    FAR - 70-Q1; 66!-Q2 WTH! 77
    REG - 78

    Used CPA Excel, Wiley, Ninja

    Licensed CPA, Tennessee 2/2018

    #844365
    SkiBum1990
    Participant

    HAH fooled me… gosh… and I thought I had plenty of coffee this morning…

    Thank you!!! — I'm just going to crumble to the floor now. 🙂 sigh

    B - 79
    A - 68, 70 (UGH)
    R - Oct
    F - Nov

    "The mind can only absorb as much as the seat can take"

    "The mind can only absorb as much as the seat can take"

    B - 79
    A - 68, __ (got bumped from Aug 4 release to Aug 23-THANKS AICPA)
    R - Oct
    F - Nov (HA! 1 month to study working full-time; love NTS rules)

    #844367
    SkiBum1990
    Participant

    If the land's FMV was, lets say, $205,000, the shareholder's income would “increase” in this sense… makes sense. -____-

    B - 79
    A - 68, 70 (UGH)
    R - Oct
    F - Nov

    "The mind can only absorb as much as the seat can take"

    "The mind can only absorb as much as the seat can take"

    B - 79
    A - 68, __ (got bumped from Aug 4 release to Aug 23-THANKS AICPA)
    R - Oct
    F - Nov (HA! 1 month to study working full-time; love NTS rules)

    #844392
    Me!
    Participant

    That is what I hate about these questions…have to really read them…just a word or a few
    can change the answer…so annoying! You were right it would be an increase to both, it's just not what the question asked.

    AUD - 76
    BEC - 78
    FAR - 70-Q1; 66!-Q2 WTH! 77
    REG - 78

    Used CPA Excel, Wiley, Ninja

    Licensed CPA, Tennessee 2/2018

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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