The employees of Mauve Accounting Services are permitted to use the copy machine for personal purposes, provided the privilege is not abused. Ed is the president of a civic organization and uses the copier to make several copies of the organization's agenda for its meetings. The copies made during the year would have cost $150 at a local office supply.
a. Ed must include $150 in his gross income.
b. Ed may exclude the cost of the copies as a no-additional cost fringe benefit.
c. Ed may exclude the cost of the copies only if the organization is a client of Mauve.
d. Ed may exclude the cost of the copies as a de minimis fringe benefit.
e. None of these.
Answer: d