Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

Matt and Meg Comer are married. They do not have any children. Matt works as a h

ID: 2445346 • Letter: M

Question

Matt and Meg Comer are married. They do not have any children. Matt works as a history professor at a local university and earns a salary of $64,000. Meg works part-time at the same university. She earns $21,000 a year. The couple does not itemize deductions. Other than salary, the Comers’ only other source of income is from the disposition of various capital assets (mostly stocks). (Use the tax rate schedules.)

What is the Comers’ tax liability for 2015 if they report the following capital gains and losses for the year?


      

What is the Comers’ tax liability for 2015 if they report the following capital gains and losses for the year?


      

a.

What is the Comers’ tax liability for 2015 if they report the following capital gains and losses for the year?

Explanation / Answer

(a) Total income of Matt and Meg Comer ($64000 +$21000) = $85000.

Add: Net short-term capital gains                                                $7000

Add: Net long-term capital gains                                                 $9000

Adjusted Gross Income                                                              $101000

Less: Standard Deduction                                                          $12600

Taxable Income                                                                          $88400

Tax liability on $88400 will be as follow;

Upto $18450 @10% = $1845

$18,451 to $74,900 @ 15% = $8467.5

$74901 to $88400 @25% = $3375

Thus total tax liability = ($1845 + $8467.5 + $3375) = $13,687.5

(b) Total income of Matt and Meg Comer ($64000 +$21000) = $85000.

Add: Net short-term capital gains                                                $1500

Add: Net long-term capital gains                                                 $3000

Adjusted Gross Income                                                              $89500

Less: Standard Deduction                                                          $12600

Taxable Income                                                                          $76900

Tax liability on $76900 will be as follow;

Upto $18450 @10% = $1845

$18,451 to $74,900 @ 15% = $8467.5

$74901 to $76900 @25% = $500

Thus total tax liability = ($1845 + $8467.5 + $500) = $10,812.5