Flora Company owed $95,000, a debt incurred to purchase land that serves as security for the debt.

Flora Company owed $95,000, a debt incurred to purchase land that serves as security for the debt.

a. If Flora had borrowed the funds from a bank, the bank accepts $85,000 in full payment of the debt, and Flora is solvent after the transfer, Flora does not recognize income, but the company must reduce the cost of the land by $10,000.
b. If Flora had borrowed the funds from a bank, and the bank accepts $85,000 in full payment of the debt, when the value of the property is $80,000, Flora can deduct a loss.
c. If Flora transfers to the bank other property, with a basis of $90,000 and a fair market value of $95,000, in full payment of the debt, Flora can recognize a $5,000 loss.
d. If the $95,000 is owed to the person who sold the property to Flora, and the creditor accepts $85,000 in full payment for the debt, Flora does not recognize gain but must reduce its basis in the land.
e. None of these.


Answer: d

On January 1, 2004, Cardinal Corporation issued 5% 25-year bonds at par and used the $12,000,000 proceeds to finance the construction of a new plant. On January 1, 2014, the company acquired the bonds on the open market for $11,500,000. Assuming that Cardinal Corporation is neither bankrupt nor insolvent, the acquisition and retirement of the bonds results in which of the following:

On January 1, 2004, Cardinal Corporation issued 5% 25-year bonds at par and used the $12,000,000 proceeds to finance the construction of a new plant. On January 1, 2014, the company acquired the bonds on the open market for $11,500,000. Assuming that Cardinal Corporation is neither bankrupt nor insolvent, the acquisition and retirement of the bonds results in which of the following:

a. The company must recognize a $500,000 gain.
b. The company can make an election to recognize a $500,000 gain or reduce the company's basis in the plant by $500,000.
c. The company must recognize a $500,000 gain and increase the company's basis in the plant by $500,000.
d. The company can amortize the $500,000 gain, recognizing income over the remaining life of the bonds.
e. None of these.


Answer: a

Gold Company was experiencing financial difficulties, but was not bankrupt or insolvent. The National Bank, which held a mortgage on other real estate owned by Gold, reduced the principal from $110,000 to $85,000. The bank had made the loan to Gold when it purchased the real estate from Silver, Inc. Pink, Inc., the holder of a mortgage on Gold's building, agreed to accept $40,000 in full payment of the $55,000 due. Pink had sold the building to Gold for $150,000 that was to be paid in installments over 8 years. As a result of the above, Gold must:

Gold Company was experiencing financial difficulties, but was not bankrupt or insolvent. The National Bank, which held a mortgage on other real estate owned by Gold, reduced the principal from $110,000 to $85,000. The bank had made the loan to Gold when it purchased the real estate from Silver, Inc. Pink, Inc., the holder of a mortgage on Gold's building, agreed to accept $40,000 in full payment of the $55,000 due. Pink had sold the building to Gold for $150,000 that was to be paid in installments over 8 years. As a result of the above, Gold must:

a. Include $40,000 in gross income.
b. Reduce the basis in its assets by $40,000.
c. Include $25,000 in gross income and reduce its basis in its assets by $15,000.
d. Include $15,000 in gross income and reduce its basis in the building by $25,000.
e. None of these.


Answer: c

Hazel, a solvent individual but a recovering alcoholic, embezzled $6,000 from her employer. In the same year that she embezzled the funds, her employer discovered the theft. Her employer did not fire her and told her she did not have to repay the $6,000 if she would attend Alcoholics Anonymous. Hazel met the conditions and her employer canceled the debt.

Hazel, a solvent individual but a recovering alcoholic, embezzled $6,000 from her employer. In the same year that she embezzled the funds, her employer discovered the theft. Her employer did not fire her and told her she did not have to repay the $6,000 if she would attend Alcoholics Anonymous. Hazel met the conditions and her employer canceled the debt.

a. Hazel did not realize any income because her employer made a gift to her.
b. Hazel must include $6,000 in gross income from discharge of indebtedness.
c. Hazel must include $6,000 in gross income under the tax benefit rule.
d. Hazel may exclude the $6,000 from gross income because the debt never existed.
e. None of these.


Answer: b