Hypothetical Taxpayer Information Yesterday, your firm received a call from Jim Smith, who has been a client of the firm for many years. Jim's daughter, Ann, is 19 years old, and she would like to work part-time while she continues to complete her coursework for her undergraduate degree. Ann was excited to receive two job offers, both of which include new educational assistance programs provided by the employers. The first job offer came from Target, and it includes educational assistance for the cost of tuition fees, and books at her local university during the time period in which she is employed. Ann estimates that this new benefit could potentially save her from incurring $10,000 of tuition fee, and book costs on an annual basis. The second job offer came from a local construction company, and it includes the annual payment of up to $5,250 of student loan principal and interest costs for a qualified education loan for the next five years. Jim wants to ensure that Ann properly considers the federal tax treatment of these benefits before she makes her final decision. Jim has asked that your firm prepare a tax research memo which addresses the following: (1) Will the payment of Ann's tuition, fees, and book costs by Target, her employer, be considered taxable gross income for Ann? (2) Will the payment of up to $5,250 of student loan principal and interest costs for a qualified education loan by the local construction company be considered taxable gross income for Ann? (3) Assume Ann's next year of college (i.e., tuition fees, and books) costs exactly $10,000 and her marginal tax rate is 10%. What is Ann's total out-of-pocket cost, including any taxes on employer-provided education benefits, for each job offer? In other words, which of these job offers provides the best overall "deal" for school