Question

Determine the amount of income that must be recognized by the taxpayer(s) in the current year for each of the following situations. Explain how you determined the amount that was taxable.

c. David is an employee of Fern Leaf Company. David is robbed and knocked unconscious while coming out of a basketball game on December 29. His $550 paycheck is available to be picked up at Fern Leaf on December 30, but David does not regain consciousness until January 3. He picks up the check and deposits it on January 8.

Answer 1

David must recognize the income $550 in the year the check was written. The funds were available to David when he knocked unconscious, someone else could have deposited the check for him. David constructively received the amount, because he had knowledge that the check was available on December 30.