1. Calvin, a client of yours since you opened your practice, has over the past few years become very intrigued with investing in the stock market. He has interest-bearing securities and dividend-paying stocks. He also owns U.S. Securities. He is considering selling $400,000 in stocks. He doesn’t know if he should sell the additional stock for a loss to help offset the stock sale of $400,000. Calvin called you to ask what tax consequences the interest and dividends will have along with the stock sale. What tax advice would you offer to Calvin in planning for this situation?

2. Kenneth, the owner of a catering company, needs business advice. He recently traveled to Massachusetts for a week for a trip and spent five days on business and two days to visit his family. While he was gone, one of his food trucks was damaged partially by vandalism and two grills were stolen. He is distraught. He does not know how to report the business expenses from his trip or the loss sustained from the vandalism and stolen grills. What are the potential tax consequences and what kind of record-keeping do you advise Kenneth to maintain? Were there any components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that impacted this area of the tax law?

3.

Avery has always wanted to own his own business. Last year, he took the leap and opened a pet store in a nearby city. He leases the store. He incurred start-up costs and large inventory costs for buying food in bulk. He had to purchase three large tables and a machine that moves the food to higher shelves for storage. He even hired five people: a groomer, two clerks, a stock person, and a bookkeeper. Unfortunately, his bookkeeper has accounting experience but no tax experience. Now, he is lost. How does he handle the start-up costs? What kinds of assets can he depreciate? What kinds of records should he keep? What changes were implemented in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that impacted this area of the tax law?