CPA Regulation (REG) : Dividends Received Deductions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Corporate Income Tax Deductions

The corporate dividends-received deduction:

Possible Answers:

May be claimed by S corporations.

Is unaffected by the percentage of the investee’s stock owned by the investor corporation.

Must exceed the applicable percentage of the recipient shareholder’s taxable income.

Is affected by a requirement that the investor corporation must own the investee’s stock for a specified minimum holding period.

Correct answer:

Is affected by a requirement that the investor corporation must own the investee’s stock for a specified minimum holding period.

Explanation:

The dividends-received deduction (DRD) depends on the percentage of the investor’s share of the investee. To take advantage of the DRD, investors must hold the investee’s stock for a specific period prior to the ex-dividend date. The DRD is only available to domestic C corporations, and is limited to the investor’s taxable income for the period.

Example Question #2 : Corporate Income Tax Deductions

Rohr, a C corporation, owns 18% of Alda Corporation. Alda paid a $3,000 cash dividend to Rohr. What is the amount of Rorh’s dividends-received deduction?

Possible Answers:

$3,000

$0

$1,950

$1,500

Correct answer:

$1,500

Explanation:

For the dividends-received deduction (DRD), less than 20% ownership results in a 50% deduction, so Rohr gets a DRD of $1,500 (50% of the $3,000 dividend received).

Example Question #2 : Corporate Income Tax Deductions

In Year 2, Buy Corp., an accrual basis calendar year C corporation, received $100,000 in dividend income from the common stock that it held in an unrelated domestic corporation. The stock was not debt financed and was held for over a year. Buy recorded the following information for Year 2:

  • Loss from Buy’s operations: (10,000)
  • Dividends received: 100,000
  • Taxable income (before dividends-received deduction): 90,000

Buy’s dividends-received deduction on its Year 2 tax return was:

Possible Answers:

$100,000

$45,000

$50,000

$65,000

Correct answer:

$45,000

Explanation:

Generally, the minimum dividends-received deduction (DRD) is 50%, which would mean in this case a $100,000 would result in a $50,000 DRD. However, the DRD is limited to the lesser of the DRD % applied to dividends received or the DRD % applied to taxable income without consideration of the DRD. Since we are told the taxable income is $90,000, the maximum DRD at 50% would be $45,000. (Had the company been eligible for a 65% DRD, the DRD could only have been $58,500, which was not an option.) 

Example Question #1 : Dividends Received Deductions

The corporate dividends received deduction:

Possible Answers:

Is unaffected by the percentage of the investee’s stock owned by the investor corporation

Must exceed the applicable percentage of the recipient shareholder’s taxable income

May be claimed by an S corporation

Is affected by a requirement that the investor corporation must own the investee’s stock for a specified minimum holding period

Correct answer:

Is affected by a requirement that the investor corporation must own the investee’s stock for a specified minimum holding period

Explanation:

The corporate DRD is affected by a requirement that the investor corporation must own the investee’s stock for a specified minimum holding period of more than 45 days.

Example Question #5 : Corporate Income Tax Deductions

Canada Co, a C Corp, owns 15% of Apple Corp. Apple paid a $3,000 cash dividend to Canada. What is Canada’s DRD?

Possible Answers:

$1,900

$1,500

$3,000

$0

Correct answer:

$1,500

Explanation:

Per the DRD rates, with a 15% ownership in Apple, the percentage used for the deduction is 50%. 50% * $3,000 = $1,500.

Example Question #2 : Dividends Received Deductions

The Dividends Received Deduction applies to:

Possible Answers:

A C Corporation in the United States

A company in France

Individuals in the United States

All of the above

Correct answer:

A C Corporation in the United States

Explanation:

Of the following choices, only a C Corporation in the United States would be applicable for the DRD under current US tax law.

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