Kelsey is a cash-basis, calendar-year taxpayer. Her salary is $30,000, and she i
ID: 2613526 • Letter: K
Question
Kelsey is a cash-basis, calendar-year taxpayer. Her salary is $30,000, and she is single. She plans to purchase a residence in 2016. She anticipate her propery taxes and interest will total $8,000 in 2016. Each year, Kelsey contributes approproximately $1,500 to charity. Her other itemized deducions total $2,000. For purposes of this problem, assume 2016 tax rates,exemptions, and standard deductions are the same as 2015.
a. What will her gross tax be in 2015 and 2016 if she controbutes $1,500 to charity in each year?
b. What will her gross tax be in 2015 and 2016 if she contributes $3,000 to charity in 2015 but makes no contributions in 2016?
c. What will her gross tax be in 2015 and 2016 if she makes no contribution in 2015 but contributes $3,000 to charity in 2016?
b.Why does alternative "c" yield the lowest tax?
Explanation / Answer
Answer: 2015 2016
a. Salary $30,000 $30,000
Minus: Itemized or standard deduction ( 6,300) ( 11,500)
Exemption ( 4,000) ( 4,000)
Taxable income $19,700 $ 14,500
Gross Tax $2,494* $ 1,714**
b. Salary $30,000 $30,000
Minus: Itemized or standard deduction ( 6,300) (10,000)
Exemption ( 4,000) ( 4,000)
Taxable income $19,700 $16,000
Gross tax $ 2,494* $ 1,939***
c. Salary $30,000 $30,000
Minus: Itemized or standard deduction ( 6,300) (13,000)
Exemption ( 4,000) ( 4,000)
Taxable income $19,700 $13,000
Gross tax $ 2,494 * $ 1,489 ****
*$922.50 + [.15 × ($19,700 -$9,225)] = $2,494 rounded
**$922.50+ [.15 × ($14,500 -$9,225)] = $1,714 rounded
***$922.50 + [.15 × ($16,000 - $9,225)] = $1,939 rounded
****$922.50 + [.15 × ($13,000 - $9,225)] = $1,489 rounded
d. The contributions have no tax benefit in 2015 because the standard deduction is taken and charitable contributions are itemized deductions.
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