Question
David R. and Ella M. Cole (ages 39 and 38, respectively) are husband and wife who live at 1820 Elk Avenue, Denver, CO 80202. David
David R. and Ella M. Cole (ages 39 and 38, respectively) are husband and wife who live at 1820 Elk Avenue, Denver, CO 80202. David is a self-employed consultant specializing in retail management, and Ella is a dental hygienist for a chain of dental clinics.
- David earned consulting fees of $145,000 in 2019. He maintains his own office and pays for all business expenses. The Coles are adequately covered by the medical plan provided by Ella’s employer but have chosen not to participate in its § 401(k) retirement plan.
- David's employment-related expenses for 2019 are summarized below.
Airfare $8,800 Lodging 4,615 Meals (during travel status) 4,800 Entertainment 3,600 Ground transportation (e.g., limos, rental cars, and taxis) 800 Business gifts 900 Office supplies (includes postage, overnight delivery, and copying) 1,500 The entertainment involved taking clients to sporting and musical events. The business gifts consisted of $50 gift certificates to a national restaurant. These were sent by David during the Christmas holidays to 18 of his major clients.
In addition, David drove his 2017 Ford Expedition 11,000 miles for business and 3,000 for personal use during 2019. He purchased the Expedition on August 15, 2016, and has always used the automatic (standard) mileage method for tax purposes. Parking and tolls relating to business use total $340 in 2019. - When the Coles purchased their present residence in April 2016, they devoted 450 of the 3,000 square feet of living space to an office for David. The property cost $440,000 ($40,000 of which is attributable to the land) and has since appreciated in value. Expenses relating to the residence in 2019 (except for mortgage interest and property taxes; see below) are as follows:
Insurance $2,600 Repairs and maintenance 900 Utilities 4,700 Painting office area; area rugs and plants (in the office)* 1,800 *Treat as a direct office in home expense. In terms of depreciation, the Coles use the MACRS percentage tables applicable to 39-year nonresidential real property. As to depreciable property (e.g., office furniture), David tries to avoid capitalization and uses whatever method provides the fastest write-off for tax purposes.
- Ella works part-time as a substitute when a hygienist is ill or on vacation or when one of the clinics is particularly busy (e.g., prior to the beginning of the school year). Assumed that Ella is an employee (not an independent contractor). Besides her transportation, she must provide and maintain her own uniforms. Her expenses for 2019 appear below.
Uniforms $690 State and city occupational licenses 380 Professional journals and membership dues in the American Dental
Hygiene Association340 Correspondence study course (taken online) dealing with teeth
whitening procedures420 - Ella's salary for the year is $42,000, and her Form W–2 for the year shows income tax withholdings of $4,000 (Federal) and $1,000 (state) and the proper amount of Social Security and Medicare taxes.
- Besides the items already mentioned, the Coles had the following receipts during 2019.
Interest income— State of Colorado general purpose bonds $2,500 IBM bonds 800 Wells Fargo Bank 1,200 $4,500 Federal income tax refund for year 2018 510 Life insurance proceeds paid by Eagle Assurance
Corporation200,000 Inheritance of savings account from Sarah Cole 50,000 Sales proceeds from two ATVs 9,000 - For several years, the Coles' household has included David's divorced mother, Sarah, who has been claimed as their dependent. In late December 2018, Sarah unexpectedly died of cardiac arrest in her sleep. Unknown to Ella and David, Sarah had a life insurance policy and a savings account (with David as the designated beneficiary of each). In 2018, the Coles purchased two ATVs for $14,000. After several near mishaps, they decided that the sport was too dangerous. In 2019, they sold the ATVs to their neighbor.
- Additional expenditures for 2019 include:
Funeral expenses for Sarah $4,500 Taxes— Real property taxes on personal residence $6,400 Colorado state income tax due (paid in April
2019 for tax year 2018)310 6,710 Mortgage interest on personal residence (Rocky Mountain Bank) 6,600 Paid church pledge 2,400 Contributions to traditional IRAs for Ella and David
($6,000 + $6,000)12,000 - In 2019, the Coles made quarterly estimated tax payments of $6,000 (Federal) and $500 (state) for a total of $24,000 (Federal) and $2,000 (state).
- Relevant Social Security numbers are:
David Cole 123-45-6788 Ella Cole 123-45-6787 - The Coles have never owned or used any virtual currency. They do not want to contribute to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. Also, they want any overpayment of tax refunded to them and not applied toward next year’s tax liability. David will have a self-employment tax liability.
1 Wages, salaries, tips, etc. Attach Form(s) W-2.. 1 42,000 2a Tax-exempt interest. . 2a 2,500 b Taxable interest. Attach Sch. B if required 2b 200 X Standard 3a Qualified dividends ... 3a Deduction for- b Ordinary dividends. Attach Sch. B if required 3b . Single or Married filing separately, $12,200 4a IRA distributions.... 4a b Taxable amount. 4b c Pensions and annuities 4c d Taxable amount 4d 5a Social security benefits 5a b Taxable amount.. 5b Married filing jointly or 6 Capital gain or (loss). Attach Schedule D if required. If not required, check here... 6 Qualifying widow(er), $24,400 7a Other income from Schedule 1, line 9 7a Head of household, $18,350 If you checked b Add lines 1, 2b, 3b, 4b, 4d, 5b, 6, and 7a. This is your total income. 7b 8a Adjustments to income from Schedule 1, line 22. 8a any box under Standard b Subtract line 8a from line 7b. This is your adjusted gross income 8b 9 Deduction, see instructions. Standard deduction or itemized deductions (from Schedule A). 9 10 Qualified business income deduction. Attach Form 8995 or Form 8995-A... 10 11a Add lines 9 and 10. 11a b Taxable income. Subtract line 11a from line 8b. If zero or less, enter -0- 11b
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