Final answer:
Brendan's recognized gain on transferring a building to Fours Corp. for stock and debt assumption is $180,000, and his basis in the stock is $120,000.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asks what Brendan's recognized gain is and what his basis in the stock will be after transferring a building to Fours Corp. in exchange for stock and debt assumption. Since Brendan transfers a building worth $300,000, with an adjusted basis of $120,000, and receives stock worth $100,000 while Fours Corp. assumes the $200,000 mortgage on the building, the amount realized by Brendan is the sum of the value of the stock received ($100,000) and the mortgage assumed ($200,000), totaling $300,000. The recognized gain is calculated by subtracting the adjusted basis ($120,000) from the amount realized ($300,000), which gives a recognized gain of $180,000. Brendan's basis in the stock will be his adjusted basis in the property transferred ($120,000), increased by any gain recognized on the transfer ($180,000) and reduced by any money received (in this case, the mortgage debt assumed acts as money received), which totals to his original basis since no additional money or other property was received.
The correct answer is: Brendan's recognized gain is $180,000 and his basis in the stock is $120,000.