Textbook Problem #44

Hana is in the 24% tax bracket and owns depreciable business equipment that she purchased several years ago for $135,000. She has taken $100,000 of depreciation on the equipment, and it is worth $55,000. Hanas niece, Michelle, is starting a new business and is short of cash. Michelle has asked Hana to gift the equipment to her so that Michelle can use it in her business. Hana no longer needs the equipment. Identify the alternatives available to Hana if she wants to help Michelle and the tax effects of those alternatives. (Assume that all alternatives involve the business equipment in one way or another and ignore the gift tax.)