Question

Tracy started his sole proprietorship business two years ago and has never sold a §1231 asset. Tracy owned each of the assets for the entire 2 years he has been in business. In the current year, he sold the following business assets:

Asset	Original Cost	Accumulated Depreciation	Gain/Loss
Desks	$8,000	$2,000	($2,000)
Truck	12,000	6,000	(6,000)
Equipment	18,000	12,000	13,500
Building	150,000	10,000	25,000Assuming Tracy’s marginal ordinary income tax rate is 30 percent, what is the character of Tracy’s gains and/or losses for the current year? What effect do the various gains or losses have on Tracy’s tax liability

Answer 1

Character of Tracy's Gain or Loss for the current year:

Whenever any property used for private or business purpose, that property is called capital assests.

Whenever any capital assets is sold, capital gains or losses would arise which will have impact on the taxpayers tax liability.

in the given case

Tracy has business assets, as i am telling every business assets is also a capital assets.

In the given question tracy has sold business assets having gains and losses. On this gain and losses capital gain tax will be paid by tracy.

in case of capital loss:

short term capital loss can be set off with long term or short term capital gains.

But long term capital loss can only be set off from long term capital loss.

Long term capital asset is a asset which have holding period of more then 36 months.

but in case of depriciable assets every capital gain would be short term capital gain.

so, as per the requiement of question

all the gain or loss is capital, and all gain or loss are short term.

Effect of various gains or losses on Tracy's tax liability:

Total gain= 38500

Toatal Loss= 8000

Net Gain= 30500

Tax on Net Gain= 30500*30%= $ 9150.