Question

51. Albert purchased a tract of land for $140,000 in 2011 when he heard that a new highway was going to be constructed through the property and that the land would soon be worth $200,000. Highway engineers surveyed the property and indicated that he would probably get $180,000. The highway project was abandoned in 2014 and the value of the land fell to $100,000. What is the amount of loss Albert can claim in 2014

Answer 1

Answer: $0

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to claim a loss on the sale of land, there has to be an actual sale of land in the first place. Albert is not selling this land as of yet and so he cannot claim any losses on it.

One cannot claim losses simply because the land fell in value, that would be speculative and not how the law works so until Albert decides to and sells the land, there can be no losses claimed.