Question

Use the following information from questions 6-12. In both 2018 and 2019 you expect to receive a W2 for $200,000; $65,000 will be already withheld on your W2 for federal income taxes and your income tax bracket is 32%. The short term capital gains on investments (<1 year) are taxed like income, long term capital gains on investments (>=1 year) are taxed at 15%, and dividends are taxed at 22%. Besides your W2 income, the only income you have to report is from one stock on the 1099-B issued by your broker: On January 1t, 2018, you purchased 100 shares of stock at $50 per share; you based your investment decision on publically available sources which speculate the share's price will increase dramatically at some point over the next two years July 1s, 2018, is the ex-dividend date for the stock - that morning you received a special onetime cash dividend of $2 per share and the stock closed at $48 per share On November 29h, 2018, the company announced great news about a clinical drug trial and the share price begins to rise On November 30th, 2018, you purchased 20 shares of stock at $80 per share On December 1st, 2018, there was a 2 for 1 stock split On December 2nd, 2018, you sold 50 shares of stock at $100 per share On January 2st, 2019, you sold 70 shares at $90 per share You do not receive any dividends in 2019 On December 31s", 2019, you sell any remaining shares at $30 per share All stock prices quoted above are at market close on the day referenced Assume shares that were purchased first were sold first (i.e. FIFO) Assume there are no transaction costs

11. Your 2018 federal gross income (W2 wages, capital gains, and dividends) would be closest to:

a. $203,736 b. $203,825 c. $203,936 d. $203,950 e. $207,450

Answer 1

Answer:

Correct answer is:

d. $203,950

Explanation:

2018 federal gross income (W2 wages, capital gains, and dividends):

1. W2 wages:

W2 wages = $200,000

2. Dividends:

Cash Dividend of $2 per share were received on July 1, 2018 for 100 shares owned = 100 * $2 = $200

3. Capital gains:

During 2018, the only sale transaction is on Dec 2 of 50 shares at $100 per share = $5000

Cost basis of shares:

100 shares were purchased on Jan 1, 2018 at $50 per share.

On Dec 1, 2018, there was 2: 1 stock split

Hence cost basis = 100 * $50 / (100 * 2) = $25

Hence, Short term capital gain = Sales value - cost basis = 50 * $100 - 50 * $25 = $3,750

2018 federal gross income (W2 wages, capital gains, and dividend = $200,000 + $3,750 + $200 = $203,950

Hence option d is correct and options a, b and c are incorrect.