Tony is a carpenter who owns his own furniure-manufacturing business. During the
ID: 2385731 • Letter: T
Question
Tony is a carpenter who owns his own furniure-manufacturing business. During the current year, vandals broke into the workshop, damaged several pieces of equiptment, stole his delivery truck, and also stole his personal automobile, which he often kept in the workshop garage. The asset descriptions and related values are as follows:Asset FMV B-4 Casulaty FMV B-4 Casulaty Cost 2 replace/rep. Adj. Basis Insur. Proceeds
Equiptment A $12,300 $4,000 $8,700 $9,000 $3,700
Equiptment B 8,100 0 9,000 3,000 7,800
Equiptment C N/A N/A 13,800 15,300 11,400
Delivery Truck 18,000 0 32,000 17,500 16,000
Automobile 15,000 0 12,000 28,000 12,000
Although he could not obtain its fair market value after the casualties, Tony decided to repair rather than replace Equiptment C. Beofre considering any deductions due to these casualties, Tony's AGI is $80,000.
A. What deductions may Tony take relating to the vandalism?
Explanation / Answer
Tony may be able to take an itemized deduction on his U.S. federal income tax return. He may also be able to deduct money he had in a financial institution but lost because of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the institution. The deduction of these types of losses is covered under the tax provisions for casualties, disasters, and thefts.