| Unfortunately, not all startup companies succeed, however when they fail, all is not lost. In what may otherwise be considered a complete loss, there are some potential tax benefits available to certain original individual shareholders of corporations in this position. After selecting the type of entity to form, if a corporation is the most favorable, I recommend making an S election and issuing Section 1244 stock for this newly incorporated entity. As long as certain requirements are met, the original investors can claim an ordinary loss of up to $100,000 if the venture is unsuccessful and the stock is ultimately sold for a loss. Under normal circumstances, when you invest in corporate stock, any resulting loss on its sale is treated as a capital loss where the loss can offset capital gains and then up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year with the excess capital losses carried forward.  Under Section 1244 of the Internal Revenue Code, an ordinary loss deduction for a loss on stock from a “qualified small business corporation” can offset ordinary income and any capital gains. You can deduct up to $100,000 of losses from Section 1244 stock in any one year if married and file a joint return, or $50,000 if you file as single. To qualify under Section 1244, these five requirements must be adhered to: 1. The stock must be acquired in exchange for cash or property contributed to the corporation. Investors cannot receive shares as compensation for their services. However, cancellation of indebtedness may be sufficiently valid consideration. 2. The corporation must issue the stock directly to the investors. They cannot acquire the stock from another shareholder, so gifts or inheritance of the shares will not qualify. 3. The corporation must be an actual, operating company. During the past five years, it must have received less than 50% of its gross receipts from rents, royalties, dividends and other investment income. If the corporation is less than five years old, this test applies to the years it existed. 4. The stock must be issued by a “small business corporation” defined as a corporation with invested capital of $1,000,000 or less. It can be an S corporation or a C corporation. 5. The entity must be a domestic corporation. Under the current 2020 tax tables, a long-term capital gain that results from the sale of this Section 1244 stock will be taxed at the regular preferential rate of 15% for most individuals or 20% for high-income individuals with taxable income over $441,450. The 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) may also be due. Section 1244 of the Internal Revenue Code is the small business stock provision enacted to allow shareholders of domestic small business corporations to deduct a loss on the disposal of such stock as an ordinary loss rather than as a capital loss, which is limited to only $3,000 annually. A loss on Section 1244 stock is reported on Form 4797 of your personal income tax return, not Schedule D. I recommend that when the corporation is set up, corporate records should document that the stock issued qualified as Section 1244 stock. The corporation and the individual shareholders should retain information about the qualifying stock purchased such as the number of shares received, date the stock was issued and price paid for the stock. If a partnership purchases Section 1244 stock of another corporate entity and later disposes of the stock at a loss, the partnership entity may pass the ordinary loss through to its partners. Note that for a partner to claim the loss as an ordinary loss instead of a capital loss, the partner must have been a partner when the stock was originally issued and remained so until the time of the loss. Alas, if an S corporation owns Section 1244 stock and passes a loss on the stock to its shareholders, they may not deduct the loss as an ordinary loss. Instead, they must deduct the loss as a capital loss. Shareholders in S corporations who plan to invest in Section 1244 stock issued by other corporations should be certain to 1) acquire the stock directly from the issuing corporation themselves or 2) purchase the stock through a partnership in which they are partners. Assuming all other requirements are met, the stock will qualify as Section 1244 stock, and the taxpayers may deduct as ordinary losses any future losses realized on the stock up to $100,000 per year for joint filers. An additional tax planning strategy would be to have the S corporation issue Section 1244 stock to its shareholders. This way, the shareholders will be certain to realize the best of both worlds. They receive the benefit of having items of income and deduction passed through to them from the S corporation. In addition, should they subsequently sell the S corporation stock at a loss, the loss would be deductible as an ordinary loss up to $100,000 per year for joint filers, rather than as a capital loss. If you have any questions about Section 1244 stock, call Gregory J. Spadea at 610-521-0604. |
How To Deduct An Ordinary Loss of Up to $100,000 on Qualified Small Business Corporate Stock Under Section 1244 of the Internal Revenue Code
December 13, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Eight Tax Credits and Deductions for Parents in 2013
July 9, 2013 by
Learning Credit. Both credits may reduce the amount of tax you owe and are claimed by filing IRS Form 8863. If the American Opportunity Credit is more than the tax you owe, you could be eligible for a refund of up to $1,000. However, your adjusted gross income had to be less than $90,000 if single and $180,000 if married filing jointly to qualify for the credits. Your children may help you qualify for valuable tax certain credits and deductions listed below when filing your 2013 taxes.
1. Dependency Exemption. In most cases, you can claim your child as a dependent who lives with you regardless of when the child was born as long as you provide more than 50 % of the child support.
2. Child Tax Credit. You may be able to claim the Child Tax Credit of $1,000 for each of your children that were under age 17 at the end of 2013 by filing form 8812. However your adjusted gross income must be less than $75,000 if single and $110,000 if married filing jointly to qualify for the credit.
3. Child and Dependent Care Credit. You may be able to claim this credit if you paid someone to care for your child or children under age 13, so that you could work. The credit is claimed on IRS Form 2441. However, if you are married filing jointly both parents must work to be eligible for the credit.
4. Earned Income Tax Credit. If you worked but earned less than $51,000 in 2013, you may qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit. If you have qualifying children, you may get up to $5,900 dollars extra back when you file a 1040 tax return and claim the credit on Schedule EIC.
5. Adoption Credit. You may be able to take a tax credit of up to $12,700 for certain expenses you incurred to adopt a child. You must file IRS Form 8839 in the year the adoption is finalized and your modified adjusted gross income had to be less than $190,000 to qualify for the full credit.
6. Higher education credits. If you paid higher education costs for yourself or another student who is an immediate family member, you may qualify for either the American Opportunity Credit or the Lifetime.
7. Student loan interest. You may be able to deduct interest you paid on a qualified student loan, even if you do not itemize your deductions on IRS Form 1040, line 33. However, your adjusted gross income must be less than $75,000 if Single and $155,000 if married filing jointly to claim the deduction.
8. Self-employed health insurance deduction – If you were self-employed and pay for your own health insurance, you may be able to deduct premiums you paid not only for yourself but to cover your child. It applies to children under age 27 at the end of the 2013, even if they are not your dependent.
If you have any questions or need help in preparing your taxes please contact Gregory J. Spadea of Spadea & associates, LLC in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania at 610-521-0604. He prepares tax returns year round and can amend an earlier year return if you missed taking advantage of one of the credits listed above.
