CPA Regulation (REG) : CPA Regulation (REG)

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for CPA Regulation (REG)

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Deductible & Non Deductible Corporate Expenses

For a C Corporation, _____ are able to be expensed or amortized during the organizational process.

Possible Answers:

Costs associated with issuing company stock

Underwriter commissions

Legal fees associated with charter drafts

All of the above

Correct answer:

Legal fees associated with charter drafts

Explanation:

Stock sale costs cannot be expensed or amortized during the organizational period, only legal fees necessary to form the company.

Example Question #171 : Cpa Regulation (Reg)

Rigg, Steele, and Urco Corps., all accrual-basis, calendar-year C corporations, have only voting common stock outstanding. Rigg owns 85 percent of Steele and 40 percent of Urco. Steele owns 50 percent of Urco. Which group of corporations qualifies as an affiliated group and may join in the filing of a consolidated federal income tax return?

Possible Answers:

Rigg and Urco

Urco and Steele

Rigg, Steele, and Urco

An affiliated group does not exist

Correct answer:

Rigg, Steele, and Urco

Explanation:

For tax purposes, entities may file as a consolidated group if the parent company owns at least 80% of all entities in the group. Here, Rigg owns 85% of Steele which qualifies for consolidation. Rigg owns 40% of Urco directly, and another 50% indirectly through Steele, which means Urco also qualifies for consolidation. 

Example Question #172 : Cpa Regulation (Reg)

Sunshine Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pierpoint Corp., purchased land from Pierpoint for its fair market value of $10,000 on January 1 of the previous tax year. Pierpoint's adjusted basis of the land on the date of sale was $8,000. During the current tax year, Sunshine sold the land for $9,000 to an unrelated taxpayer. What gain or loss will be reported on a consolidated tax return filed by Sunshine and Pierpoint for the current tax year?

Possible Answers:

$2,000

$0

($1,000)

$1,000

Correct answer:

$1,000

Explanation:

Related party transfers of property are disregarded for tax purposes, and as a result the basis of the parent company is retained by the subsidiary. Only when the property leaves the consolidated group is a gain or loss recognized, again from the parent’s (original owner’s) basis. Since the parent’s basis is $8,000, when the subsidiary sells the property for $9,000, a $1,000 gain is recognized. 

Example Question #173 : Cpa Regulation (Reg)

Which of the following statements regarding the election to file a consolidated tax return is correct?

Possible Answers:

Each member of the consolidated group is liable only for its own tax liability.

Net operating losses arising after the election must first offset their income from separate return years.

Intercompany gains are eliminated.

The election may be revoked by the parent of the group at any time.

Correct answer:

Intercompany gains are eliminated.

Explanation:

One feature of consolidated tax returns is that intercompany gains and losses are deferred for tax purposes. All parties must agree to the initial filing as a group, but the election is binding until the group is disbanded (e.g., the parent sells its stake in the subsidiary). The group as a whole is responsible for the tax liability, and no rules about NOL application within the group exist.

Example Question #4 : Consolidated Tax Returns

Of the following, which groups may elect to file a consolidated corporate return?

Possible Answers:

A parent corporation and all more than 10% controlled partnerships

Members of an affiliated group

A brother sister controlled group

A parent corporation and all more than 50% controlled subsidiaries

Correct answer:

Members of an affiliated group

Explanation:

An affiliated group of corporations may file a consolidated return. Not all corporations have the privilege of filing a consolidated return. 

Example Question #2 : Consolidated Tax Returns

In a consolidated income tax return of a corp and its wholly owned subsidiary, what percent of cash dividends paid by the sub to the parent is tax free?

Possible Answers:

100%

0%

50%

65%

Correct answer:

100%

Explanation:

The DRD is increased to 100% of qualifying dividends received from a consolidated affiliated group of a common parent who owns at least 80% of the includible corporations if elected.

Example Question #174 : Cpa Regulation (Reg)

Under consolidation rules between a corporation and a 100% owned subsidiary, the Dividends Received Deduction percentage would be:

Possible Answers:

0%

100%

50%

33%

Correct answer:

100%

Explanation:

When a company is wholly owned, the distribution of dividends from one to another can be viewed as a cash transfer among the same entity, thus eliminating the tax.

Example Question #175 : Cpa Regulation (Reg)

Vital Corp. is an accrual-basis, calendar-year C corporation. Its year 2 reported book income before federal income taxes was $500,000. Included in that amount were the following items:

  • Year 1 state franchise tax refund: $50,000
  • Municipal bond interest income: 7,500

What should be the amount of Vital's year 2 taxable income as reconciled on Vital's Schedule M-1 of Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return?

Possible Answers:

$450,000

$492,500

$442,500

$500,000

Correct answer:

$492,500

Explanation:

Municipal bond interest income is not taxable, and so must be deducted from book income to determine taxable income. The state tax refund, however, is treated the same for book and tax purposes. As a result, to arrive at tax income, only the bond interest must be removed: $500,000 - $7,500 = $492,500.

Example Question #176 : Cpa Regulation (Reg)

Which of the following items should be included on Schedule M-1, Reconciliation of Income (Loss) per Books with Income per Return, of Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, to reconcile book income to taxable income?

Possible Answers:

Corporate bond interest

Cash distributions to shareholders

Premiums paid on key-person life insurance policy

Ending balance of retained earnings

Correct answer:

Premiums paid on key-person life insurance policy

Explanation:

Life insurance expenses paid on key individuals in the corporation are not treated as expenses for tax purposes, and as a result must be included on Schedule M-1. The rest of the options are all either treated the same for book and tax purposes or are non-taxable transactions.

Example Question #177 : Cpa Regulation (Reg)

Taxi Co. reported book income of $140,000. Included in that amount was $50,000 for meal expenses and $40,000 for federal income tax expense. In Taxi’s Schedule M-1 of Form 1120, which reconciles book income and taxable income, what amount should be reported as taxable income?

Possible Answers:

$150,000

$205,000

$140,000

$190,000

Correct answer:

$205,000

Explanation:

To calculate taxable income from book income, income tax expense must be added back before reconciling. Additionally, meal expenses are 50% deductible for tax purposes, meaning half of the expense must be removed to arrive at tax income. So, to calculate taxable income:

$140,000 + $40,000 + ($50,000 * 50%) = $205,000

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