AICPA Certified Public Accountant CPA Regulation - CPA-Regulation Exam Questions

QUESTION NO: 1
Which one of the following will result in an accruable expense for an accrual-basis taxpayer?

QUESTION NO: 2
Baum, an unmarried optometrist and sole proprietor of Optics, buys and maintains a supply of eyeglasses and frames to sell in the ordinary course of business. In 1999, Optics had $350,000 in gross business receipts and its year-end inventory was not subject to the uniform capitalization rules.
Baum's 1999 adjusted gross income was $90,000 and Baum qualified to itemize deductions. During
1999, Baum recorded the following information:
Business expenses:

What amount should Baum report as 1999 net earnings from self-employment?

QUESTION NO: 3
Cobb, an unmarried individual, had an adjusted gross income of $200,000 in 1990 before any IRA deduction, taxable social security benefits, or passive activity losses. Cobb incurred a loss of $30,000 in 1990 from rental real estate in which he actively participated. What amount of loss attributable to this rental real estate can be used in 1990 as an offset against income from nonpassive sources?

QUESTION NO: 4
Hall, a divorced person and custodian of her 12-year old child, filed her 1990 federal income tax return as head of a household. She submitted the following information to the CPA who prepared her
1990 return:
* The divorce agreement, executed in 1983, provides for Hall to receive $3,000 per month, of which
$600 is designated as child support. After the child reaches 18, the monthly payments are to be reduced to $2,400 and are to continue until remarriage or death. However, for the year 1990, Hall received a total of only $5,000 from her former husband. Hall paid an attorney $2,000 in 1990 in a suit to collect the alimony owed.
* In June 1990, Hall's mother gifted her 100 shares of a listed stock. The donor's basis for this stock, which she bought in 1970, was $4,000, and market value on the date of the gift was $3,000. Hall sold this stock in July 1990 for $3,500. The donor paid no gift tax.
* During 1990, Hall spent a total of $1,000 for state lottery tickets. Her lottery winnings in 1990 totaled $200.
* Hall earned a salary of $25,000 in 1990. Hall was not covered by any type of retirement plan, but contributed $2,000 to an IRA in 1990.
* In 1990, Hall sold an antique that she bought in 1980 to display in her home. Hall paid $800 for the antique and sold it for $1,400, using the proceeds to pay a court-ordered judgment.
* Hall paid the following expenses in 1990 pertaining to the home that she owns: realty taxes,
$3,400; mortgage interest, $7,000; casualty insurance, $490; assessment by city for construction of a sewer system, $910; interest of $1,000 on a personal, unsecured bank loan, the proceeds of which were used for home improvements. Hall does not rent out any portion of the home.
What amount should be reported in Hall's 1990 return as alimony income?

QUESTION NO: 5
Tom and Joan Moore, both CPAs, filed a joint 1994 federal income tax return showing $70,000 in taxable income. During 1994, Tom's daughter Laura, age 16, resided with Tom. Laura had no income of her own and was Tom's dependent.
Determine the amount of income or loss, if any that should be included on page one of the Moores'
1994 Form 1040.
Tom's 1994 wages were $53,000. In addition, Tom's employer provided group-term life insurance on Tom's life in excess of $50,000. The value of such excess coverage was $2,000.

QUESTION NO: 6
Conner purchased 300 shares of Zinco stock for $30,000 in 1980. On May 23, 1994, Conner sold all the stock to his daughter Alice for $20,000, its then fair market value. Conner realized no other gain or loss during 1994. On July 26, 1994, Alice sold the 300 shares of Zinco for $25,000.
What was Alice's recognized gain or loss on her sale?

QUESTION NO: 7
On February 1, 1993, Hall learned that he was bequeathed 500 shares of common stock under his father's will. Hall's father had paid $2,500 for the stock in 1990. Fair market value of the stock on February 1, 1993, the date of his father's death, was $4,000 and had increased to $5,500 six months later. The executor of the estate elected the alternate valuation date for estate tax purposes. Hall sold the stock for $4,500 on June 1, 1993, the date that the executor distributed the stock to him.
How much income should Hall include in his 1993 individual income tax return for the inheritance of the 500 shares of stock, which he received from his father's estate?