Question

bob katz and sally mander are a married couple with four children. total wages for 2018 equaled $102,400. stock which had been purchased nine months earlier was sold for a $5,200 gain and stock held for three years was sold for a $13,000 gain. interest income from savings was $100. itemized deductions totaled $29,500. bob and sally qualify for a $1,500 tax credit. what is bob's and sally's taxable income

Answer 1

Bob Katz and Sally Mander

Taxable Income for 2018:

= $78,200

Step-by-step explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

Total wages = $102,400

Gain from sale of stock = 5,200

Interest income = 100

Total income = $107,700

less total deductions = (29,500)

Taxable Income = $78,200

b) Bob Katz and Sally Mander will have taxable income of $78,200 when the appropriate rate of tax is applied and the tax liability obtained, then the $1,500 tax credit will be deducted before arriving at the tax liability due.

c) The short-term capital gain of $5,200 is taxed as ordinary income. Since it is held for less than a year, it will be included in the taxable income for that year and it follows the same tax brackets as ordinary income. On the other hand, the long-term capital gain of $13,000 will attract a tax rate of 0 percent for a taxable income of $78,200. Otherwise, it will attract a tax rate of 15 percent or 20 percent, depending on income level. This means that long-term capital gains tax rates are much lower than the ordinary income tax rate.