Tax Strategies for Sideline Businesses (Second Edition) (00113609, 2012)

Today, with the advent of online auctions and other selling venues, more and more people are running sideline businesses from home to gain additional revenue, to test drive an alternative career, or merely to have a creative outlet that is a switch from their nine-to-five work. This course will review the tax rules for operating a sideline business. Topics covered include: the home office deduction; hobby loss rules; retirement plans for sideline businesses; and Social Security and Medicare taxes. Upon completion you will be able to: Identify what activities amount to a home business for purposes of the home office deduction. Determine if the hobby loss rule applies to a sideline business. List which retirement plans can be used for sideline businesses.
Final Exam > Results Page

final exam score:
final exam status:
80%

Question 1
Correct
With respect to claiming a home office deduction, which statement is not correct?

(You Answered) (Correct Answer) The office must be the principal place of business for the taxpayer’s main activity.

The office must be the principal place of business for the taxpayer’s main or sideline activity.

The office must at least be a place used for substantial administrative tasks for a main or sideline business.

The office must be used exclusively for administrative tasks for a main or sideline business

Question 2
Correct
For purposes of the home office deduction, which is an indirect expense?

(You Answered) (Correct Answer) The allocable portion of painting the exterior of the home

Depreciation on the home office

The cost of painting the office

The heating cost of the office

Question 3
Correct
A sideline business owner who is single uses a home office in 2009 and 2010, claiming, among other things, depreciation totaling $1,000. At the start of 2011, the home is sold for a profit of $230,000. The home office makes up 10% of the home’s square footage. Which statement is correct?

There is no income to report because of the $250,000 home sale exclusion.

10% of the gain on the sale related to the home office, or $23,000, is fully taxable.

The sale profit of $230,000 is fully taxable

(You Answered) (Correct Answer) While no allocation of gain is required, $1,000 is reported as recaptured depreciation, taxed at 25%.

Question 4
Correct
Which statement regarding the hobby loss rule is correct?

It applies only to hobby-like activities.

It does not apply to sideline activities

(You Answered) (Correct Answer) It limits deductible losses to the extent of income from the activity.

Taxpayers are not presumed to have a profit motive if there is a profit in three of five years.

Question 5
Correct
Which statement regarding the filing of Form 5213 is not correct?

It must be filed within the first three years of the due date of the return for the year in which the activity is started (or within 60 days of an IRS notice that is within this three-year period).

Filing the form acts as a waiver of the statute of limitations.

(You Answered) (Correct Answer) If the form is not filed and an activity shows losses in three out of five years, the taxpayer can never deduct losses in excess of income.

Taxpayers can make a special election to postpone IRS review until after the presumption period by filing 5213

Question 6
Correct
With respect to self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare taxes, which statement is not correct?

(You Answered) (Correct Answer) No Medicare taxes are due if the sideline business owner pays the maximum amount on his/her main job.

Even if a sideline business owner pays the maximum Social Security tax on the main job, he or she may owe Medicare taxes.

If any Social Security and Medicare taxes are paid on a sideline business that is not incorporated, one half of self-employment tax is deductible.

In 2011, if the taxpayer earns a salary of $106,800 or more through the main job, there is no additional Social Security tax payment required on the sideline business profits.

Question 7
Incorrect
A sideline business owner, age 55, has a good year in 2011. He works at a company where he contributes the maximum to its 401(k) plan ($22,000 in 2011). He also has a profit of $100,000 from his sideline activity. Which type of qualified retirement plan will allow for maximum savings of sideline business income in this case?

SIMPLE plan

(Correct Answer) SEP

401(k) plan

(You Answered) A profit-sharing plan

Question 8
Correct
Assume the same facts as in question number 7, except that his employer has a profit-sharing plan to which he makes no elective deferrals. Which type of qualified retirement plan will allow for maximum sheltering of sideline business in this case?

SIMPLE plan

SEP

(You Answered) (Correct Answer) 401(k) plan

A defined benefit (pension) plan

Question 9
Incorrect
If a taxpayer does not want to file annual information returns with the IRS for a retirement plan, which type of plan should be selected?

(Correct Answer) SEP

Profit-sharing plan

401(k) plan

(You Answered) SIMPLE plan

Question 10
Correct
A taxpayer has a self-employed sideline business netting $50,000 and is an employee on a main job with a salary of $110,000. Which statement concerning Social Security and Medicare taxes is not correct?

If she pays the maximum Social Security taxes on the main job, there is no additional Social Security tax payment on self-employment income.

The Social Security portion of the tax must be coordinated with payments made on salary earned on the main job

The wage base limitation for 2011 is $106,800.

(You Answered) (Correct Answer) No additional Medicare tax is due on self-employment income if she pays the maximum amount on the main job.