Question

Problem 5-47 (LO. 2) Sparrow Corporation would like you to review its employee fringe benefits program with regard to the tax consequences of the plan for the company's president (Polly), who is also the majority shareholder. For the following items, indicate what amount, if any, is included in Polly's gross income. If an amount is zero, enter "O". a. $ The company has a qualified retirement plan. The company pays the cost of employees attending a retirement planning seminar. The employee must be within 10 years of retirement, and the cost of the seminar is $1,500 per attendee. $ 600 x The company owns a parking garage that is used by customers, employees, and the general public. Only the general public is required to pay for parking. The charge to the general public for Polly's parking for the year would have been $3,600 (a $300 monthly rate). $ All employees are allowed to use the company's fixed charge long-distance telephone services, as long as the privilege is not abused. Although no one has kept track of the actual calls, Polly's use of the telephone had a value (what she would have paid on her personal telephone) of approximately $600. d. 0 The company owns a condominium at the beach, which it uses to entertain customers. Employees are allowed to $ use the facility without charge when the company has no scheduled events. Polly used the facility 10 days during the year. Her use had a rental value of $1,000. e. The company is in the household moving business. Employees are allowed to ship goods without charge whenever there is excess space on a truck. Polly purchased a dining room suite for her daughter. Company trucks delivered the furniture to the daughter. Normal freight charges would have been $750.

Answer 1

Answer -

	Particulars	Amount included in Polly's gross income	Explanation
a.	The company has a qualified retirement plan. The company pays the cost of employees attending a retirement planning seminar. The employee must be within 10 years of retirement, and the cost of the seminar is $1500 per attendee.	$0	The $1500 cost of the retirement planning seminar can be excluded from Polly's gross income because it is provided on a nondiscriminatory basis.
b.	The company owns a parking garage that is used by customers, employees, and the general public. Only the general public is required to pay for parking. The charge to the general public for Polly's parking for the year would have been $3600 (a $300 monthly rate).	$420	Employee parking is specifically excluded from gross income. However, the value of Polly's free parking of $3600 ($3600/12 = $300 per month) exceeds the permitted exclusion amount of $3180 ($265 per month). So, Polly must include $420 ($3600 − $3180) in her gross income.
c.	All employees are allowed to use the company's fixed charge long-distance telephone services, as long as the privilege is not abused. Although no one has kept track of the actual calls, Polly's use of the telephone had a value (what she would have paid on her personal telephone) of approximately $600.	$0	The use of the phone is excluded from Polly's gross income because it fits the requirements for a de minimis fringe benefit. It is not cost effective to track and record the cost of personal phone calls.
d.	The company owns a condominium at the beach, which it uses to entertain customers. Employees are allowed to use the facility without charge when the company has no scheduled events. Polly used the facility 10 days during the year. Her use had a rental value of $1000.	$0	The value of the use of the condominium is a no additional-cost fringe benefit that Polly can exclude from gross income.
e.	The company is in the household moving business. Employees are allowed to ship goods without charge whenever there is excess space on a truck. Polly purchased a dining room suite for her daughter. Company trucks delivered the furniture to the daughter. Normal freight charges would have been $750.	$0	The freight is a no additional-cost benefit made available to all employees (nondiscriminatory). The $750 can be excluded from Polly's gross income.