Question

John is in his mid-60s and is not married. At the age 55 he retired and sold his business, Buymore.com. Though John is retired, he is a very active person. John reported the following information about his financial activity this year.

1.      John won $1,200 in an illegal game of poker (the game was played in Utah, where gambling is illegal).

2.      John sold 1,000 shares of stock for $32 a share. He inherited the stock two years ago. His tax basis (or investment) in the stock was $31 per share.

3.      John received $25,000 from an annuity he purchased eight years ago. He purchased the annuity, to be paid annually for 20 years, for $210,000.

4.      John received $13,000 in disability benefits for the year. He purchased the disability insurance policy last year.

5.      John decided to go back to school to learn about European history. He received a $500 cash scholarship to attend. He used $300 to pay for his books and tuition, and he applied the rest toward his new car payment.

6.      John’s son, Mike, instructed his employer to make half of his final paycheck of the year payable to John as a gift from Mike to John. John received the check on December 30 in the amount of $1,100.

7.      John received a $610 refund of the $3,600 in state income taxes his employer withheld from his pay last year. John claimed $6,350 in itemized deductions last year (the standard deduction for a single filer was 6,300).

8.      John received $30,000 of interest from corporate bonds and money market accounts.

Required: determine John’s gross income and complete page 1 of Form 1040 for John (forms can be downloaded from the IRS website).

Answer 1

Particulars	Amount ($)	Amount ($)
Income from poker		1200
Gain on sale of shares:
Sale proceeds	32000
Less: Cost basis	31000
		1000
Annuity received	25000
Less: Amortized costs	10500
Annuity benefit		14500
Disability benefit is not to be included		-
Net scholarship
Scholarship	500
Less; Tuition fees	300
		200
Gift		1100
Refund of state income tax not to be included		-
Interests		30000
Gross total income		48000

Particulars	Amount ($)	Amount ($)
Income from poker		1200
Gain on sale of shares:
Sale proceeds	32000
Less: Cost basis	31000
		1000
Annuity received	25000
Less: Amortized costs	10500
Annuity benefit		14500
Disability benefit is not to be included		-
Net scholarship
Scholarship	500
Less; Tuition fees	300
		200
Gift		1100
Refund of state income tax not to be included		-
Interests		30000
Gross total income		48000
Less: Standard deduction		6300
Net taxable income		41700