CPA Exam — REG (Regulation)Federal Taxation of EntitiesMedium
A client, S Corp X, has two equal shareholders, M and N. X's ordinary business income for the year is $80,000. It also has a tax-exempt interest income of $5,000 and charitable contributions of $10,000. Shareholder M's initial basis was $40,000. What is M's basis after these allocations, assuming no distributions?
- A$82,500
- B$77,500
- C$75,000
- D$80,000
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. $77,500
S corporation shareholder basis is increased by ordinary income and tax-exempt income, and decreased by charitable contributions. M's share of ordinary income is $80,000 * 50% = $40,000. M's share of tax-exempt interest is $5,000 * 50% = $2,500. M's share of charitable contributions is $10,000 * 50% = $5,000. So, M's adjusted basis = $40,000 (initial) + $40,000 (ordinary income) + $2,500 (tax-exempt interest) - $5,000 (charitable contributions) = $77,500.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This incorrectly adds the charitable contributions instead of subtracting them.
- C. This incorrectly excludes tax-exempt income or miscalculates the charitable contribution impact.
- D. This incorrectly excludes tax-exempt income and charitable contributions.
S Corporation Shareholder Basis
A shareholder's basis in an S corporation is adjusted to reflect contributions, income, losses, and distributions, similar to partnership basis.
- Increases by contributions, ordinary income, separately stated income/gain, tax-exempt income.
- Decreases by distributions, ordinary loss, separately stated loss/deduction, non-deductible expenses.
Memory trick: Shareholders' S-Basis: Contributions Up, Income Up, Losses Down, Distributions Down, Exempt Up!