Chapter 1
customer checks to his bank account but retains cash received in the business to pay his expenses. Inventories are material
to determining income but he “estimates” his inventory. He keeps a log of daily sales, purchases, and other pay-outs.
When preparing his income tax return, his tax preparer carefully compares his gross profit ratio and net profit to sales ratio
to other clients operating similar businesses. The accountant then adjusts Joe Bob’s income so that the ratios are greater
than those reported by comparable businesses. In addition, the tax preparer “adds a guess, usually $20,000 to $50,000, of
undisclosed cash sales” that is disclosed on the face of Joe Bob’s tax return. Thus, his net profit is increased by the same
amount. Joe Bob has never objected to the amount of added income. Has Joe Bob evaded the income tax? Explain.
No. Evasion results in an underpayment of income tax. It is not clear that an underpayment results because of
122. Madeline operates a janitorial service. The business is organized as a corporation. She has a crew of 100 employees
that clean offices and commercial buildings on a set schedule. Madeline also runs a maid service. Since persons paying for
the maid services are individuals, the amounts paid to Madeline are not reported to the IRS. Madeline has developed a tax
plan. She will deposit the maid service fees to her personal bank account. As a result, she can draw a smaller salary from
the janitorial service. She will pay the maids for their services through the corporation. Since she is not deducting her
salary from the corporation to the extent she keeps the maid fees, she does not report income from the maid fees. Has
Madeline evaded the income tax? Explain.
123. Amy hired Carey, a CPA, to prepare her 2015 federal income tax return. Amy had prepared her own 2014 return. In
reviewing her records, Carey discovered that Amy had recorded $5,000 of consulting income she received by check in
December 2014 as though it had been received in 2015. What should Carey do about this situation?
124. Barrett and Betina are planning to be married on December 26, 2015. Barrett’s salary for 2015 is $42,000 and
Betina’s is $40,000. Barrett pays mortgage interest of $7,200 and property taxes of $1,800; Betina has $400 of charitable
contributions. Barrett earns interest of $1,450 on a savings account and makes a deductible for AGI contribution to his
IRA of $2,000. Betina makes a $1,000 deductible contribution to her IRA. Amounts withheld for State taxes are $1,900
for Barrett and $1,800 for Betina. Based on the above information, answer the following questions to help Barrett and
Betina prepare their 2015 tax return (they will file jointly and have no other dependents):
What is their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for 2015?
What is their taxable income and tax liability?
If Barrett and Betina don’t get married until January 2016, what is Barrett’s taxable
income and tax liability?
If Barrett and Betina don’t get married until January 2016, what is Betina’s taxable
income and tax liability?
From a purely tax standpoint, should Barrett and Betina get married in December or
January?