Question

Lance H. and Wanda B. Dean are married and live at 431 Yucca Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Lance works for the convention bureau of the local Chamber of Commerce, while Wanda is employed part-time as a paralegal for a law firm.

During 2016, the Deans had the following receipts:

Salaries ($60,000 for Lance, $41,000 for Wanda)				$101,000
Interest income—
City of Albuquerque general purpose bonds		$1,000
Ford Motor company bonds		1,100
Ally Bank certificate of deposit		400		2,500
Child support payments from John Allen				7,200
Annual gifts from parents				26,000
Settlement from Roadrunner Touring Company				90,000
Lottery winnings				600
Federal income tax refund (for tax year 2015)				400

Wanda was previously married to John Allen. When they divorced several years ago, Wanda was awarded custody of their two children, Penny and Kyle. (Note: Wanda has never issued a Form 8332 waiver.) Under the divorce decree, John was obligated to pay alimony and child support—the alimony payments were to terminate if Wanda remarried.

In July, while going to lunch in downtown Santa Fe, Wanda was injured by a tour bus. As the driver was clearly at fault, the owner of the bus, Roadrunner Touring Company, paid her medical expenses (including a one-week stay in a hospital). To avoid a lawsuit, Roadrunner also transferred $90,000 to her in settlement of the personal injuries she sustained.

The Deans had the following expenditures for 2016:

Medical expenses (not covered by insurance)				$7,200
Taxes—
Property taxes on personal residence		$3,600
State of New Mexico income tax (includes amount withheld
from wages during 2016)		4,200		7,800
Interest on home mortgage (First National Bank)				6,000
Paid church pledge				3,600
Life insurance premiums (policy on Lance's life)				1,200
Contribution to traditional IRA (on Wanda's behalf)				5,000
Traffic fines				300
Contribution to the reelection campaign fund of the mayor of Santa Fe				500
Funeral expenses for Wayne Boyle				6,300

The life insurance policy was taken out by Lance several years ago and designates Wanda as the beneficiary. As a part-time employee, Wanda is excluded from coverage under her employer's pension plan. Consequently, she provides for her own retirement with a traditional IRA obtained at a local trust company. Because the mayor is a member of the local Chamber of Commerce, Lance felt compelled to make the political contribution.

The Deans' household includes the following, for whom they provide more than half of the support:

	Social Security Number	Birth Date
Lance Dean (age 42)	123-45-6786	12/16/1974
Wanda Dean (age 40)	123-45-6787	08/08/1976
Penny Allen (age 19)	123-45-6788	10/09/1997
Kyle Allen (age 17)	123-45-6789	05/03/1999
Wayne Boyle (age 75)	123-45-6785	06/15/1941

Penny graduated from high school on May 9, 2016, and is undecided about college. During 2016, she earned $8,500 (placed in a savings account) playing a harp in the lobby of a local hotel. Wayne is Wanda's widower father who died on January 20, 2016. For the past few years, Wayne qualified as a dependent of the Deans.

Federal income tax withheld is $5,200 (Lance) and $3,100 (Wanda). The proper amount of Social Security and Medicare tax was withheld.

how to find taxable interest? line 8a on 1040 form

I need help on this problem using the new tax forms for this current year now that they changed the forms.

thanks in advance.

Answer 1