Matt and Meg Comer are married. They do not have any children. Matt works as a history professor at a local university and earns a salary of $64,000. Meg works part-time at the same university. She earns $21,000 a year. The couple does not itemize deductions. Other than salary, the Comers’ only other source of income is from the disposition of various capital assets (mostly stocks).

a) What is the Comers’ tax liability for 2016 if they report the following capital gains and losses for the year?

Short-term capital gains $ 9,000 Short-term capital losses (2,000)

Long-term capital gains 15,000 Long-term capital losses (6,000)

b) What is the Comers’ tax liability for 2016 if they report the following capital gains and losses for the year?

Short-term capital gains $ 1,500 Short-term capital losses 0 Long-term capital gains 13,000 Long-term capital losses (10,000)