Question
Addison Parker (Social Security number 123-45-6785), single and age 32, lives at 3218 Columbia Drive, Spokane, WA 99210. She is employed as regional sales manager
Addison Parker (Social Security number 123-45-6785), single and age 32, lives at 3218 Columbia Drive, Spokane, WA 99210. She is employed as regional sales manager by VITA Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of vitamins and food supplements. Addison is paid an annual salary of $83,000 and a separate travel allowance of $28,000. In order to access the travel allowance, VITA requires adequate accounting by Addison.
Addison participates in VITAs contributory health and 401(k) plans. During 2018, she paid $3,500 for her share of the medical insurance and contributed $11,000 to the 401(k) retirement plan.
Addison uses her automobile 70% for business and 30% for personal. The automobile, a Toyota Avalon, was purchased new on June 30, 2016, for $37,000 (no trade-in was involved). Depreciation has been claimed using the MACRS 200% declining-balance method, and no 179 election was made in the year of purchase. (For depreciation information, see the IRS Instructions for Form 4562, Part V.) During 2018, Addison drove 15,000 miles and incurred and paid the following expenses relating to the automobile:
Gasoline $3,100
Insurance 2,900
Auto club dues 240
Interest on car loan 1,100
Repairs and maintenance 1,200
Parking (during business use) 600
Traffic fines (during business use) 500
Because VITA does not have an office in Spokane, the company expects Addison to maintain one in her home. Out of 1,500 square feet of living space in her apartment, Addison has set aside 300 square feet as an office. Expenses for 2018 relating to the office are listed below.
Rent $18,000
Utilities 4,000
Insurance (renters casualty and theft coverage) 1,600
Carpet replacement (office area only) 1,200
Addisons employment-related expenses (except for the trip to Korea) for 2018 are summarized below.
Airfare $4,100
Lodging 3,200
Meals 2,800
Transportation (taxis and airport limos) 300
Business gifts 540
Continuing education 400
Professional journals 140
Most of Addisons business trips involve visits to retail outlets in her region. Store managers and their key employees, as well as some suppliers, were the parties entertained. The business gifts were boxes of candy costing $30 ($25 each plus $5 for wrapping and shipping) sent to 18 store managers at Christmas. The continuing education was a noncredit course dealing with improving management skills that Addison took online.
In July 2018, Addison traveled to Korea to investigate a new process that is being developed to convert fish parts to a solid consumable tablet form. She spent one week checking out the process and then took a one-week vacation tour of the country. The round-trip airfare was $3,600, while her expenses relating to business were $2,100 for lodging ($300 each night), $1,470 for meals, and $350 for transportation. Upon returning to the United States, Addison sent her findings about the process to her employer. VITA was so pleased with her report that it gave her an employee achievement award of $10,000. The award was sent to Addison in January 2019.
Addison provides more than 50% of the support of her parents (Gordon and Anita Parker), who live in Seattle. In addition to modest Social Security benefits, her parents receive a small amount of interest on municipal bonds and nontaxable retirement income.
Besides the items already mentioned, Addison had the following receipts in 2018:
Interest income
City of Tacoma general purpose bonds $350
Olympia State Bank $400
Proceeds from property sales
City lot $13,000
Sailboat $18,000
Cash found at airport 5,000
Regarding the city lot (located in Vancouver), Addison purchased the property in 2003 for $16,000 and held it as an investment. Unfortunately, the neighborhood where the lot was located deteriorated, and property values declined. In 2018, Addison decided to cut her losses and sold the property for $13,000. The sailboat was used for pleasure and was purchased in 2014 for $16,500. Addison sold the boat because she purchased a new and larger model (see below). While at the Spokane airport, Addison found an unmarked envelope containing $5,000 in $50 bills. As no mention of any lost funds was noted in the media, Addison kept the money.
Addisons expenditures for 2018 (not previously noted) are summarized below.
Medical (not covered by insurance) $7,000
State and local general sales tax 3,300
Church pledge (2018 and 2019) 5,600
Fee paid for preparation of 2017 income tax return 500
Contribution to mayors reelection campaign fund 200
Contribution to a Coverdell Education Savings Account (on behalf of a favorite nephew) 2,000
Addison keeps careful records regarding sales taxes. In 2018, the sales tax total was unusually high due to the purchase of a new sailboat. In 2018, Addison decided to pay her church pledge for both 2018 and 2019. The insurance premium was on a policy covering her fathers life. (Addison is the designated beneficiary under the policy.)
Addisons employer withheld $8,600 for Federal income tax purposes, and she applied her $800 overpayment for 2017 toward the 2018 tax liability.
Compute Addisons Federal income tax payable (or refund) for 2018. In making the calculation, use the Tax Rate Schedule and disregard the application of the alternative minimum tax (AMT).
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