Lexy Ballinger and her four-year-old son currently live in an apartment owned by Lexy’s parents. Her parents charge her very little for rent—$200 per month for a luxurious two-bedroom townhouse. Lexy works at a local hospital as a physician’s assistant, where she earns $45,200 per year. She has no deductions to itemize.
a. What is Lexy’s tax liability?
b. How would Lexy’s tax liability change if she had a $15,000 automobile loan with monthly payments equal to $484 and the interest paid on the loan this year was $1,300?