Try 10 focused Certified Public Accountant Taxation and Regulation (CPA REG) questions on basis, amount realized, recognized gain, character, timing, and property dispositions.
CPA means Certified Public Accountant. REG means Taxation and Regulation. Use this focused page when your CPA REG misses are about basis, amount realized, recognized gain or loss, character, holding period, or property disposition timing. Drill this topic before returning to mixed practice.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam route | CPA REG |
| Issuer | American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) |
| Topic area | Federal Taxation of Property Transactions |
| Blueprint weight | 10% |
| Page purpose | Property-tax practice for basis, amount realized, recognized gain or loss, character, holding period, and timing |
This topic tests the tax effect of buying, selling, exchanging, contributing, receiving, or disposing of property. Strong answers separate basis, amount realized, realized gain or loss, recognized gain or loss, character, holding period, and timing.
Work in order: basis, amount realized, realized gain or loss, recognized gain or loss, character, and timing. If an answer jumps directly to tax due without showing those steps, it is usually hiding a basis or recognition trap.
Use this page to isolate Federal Taxation of Property Transactions for CPA REG. Work through the 10 questions first, then review the explanations and return to mixed practice in Mastery Exam Prep.
| Pass | What to do | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| First attempt | Answer without checking the explanation first. | The fact, rule, calculation, or judgment point that controlled your answer. |
| Review | Read the explanation even when you were correct. | Why the best answer is stronger than the closest distractor. |
| Repair | Repeat only missed or uncertain items after a short break. | The pattern behind misses, not the answer letter. |
| Transfer | Return to mixed practice once the topic feels stable. | Whether the same skill holds up when the topic is no longer obvious. |
Blueprint context: 10% of the practice outline. A focused topic score can overstate readiness if you recognize the pattern too quickly, so use it as repair work before timed mixed sets.
These questions are original Mastery Exam Prep practice items aligned to this topic area. They are designed for self-assessment and are not official exam questions.
Topic: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Falcon LLC acquired the assets of a competitor in a taxable asset purchase to expand its consulting business. The purchase agreement separately allocated $120,000 to the competitor’s client list, which Falcon will use to solicit repeat business. The client list was acquired with the trade or business and was not self-created by Falcon. How should Falcon characterize cost recovery for the client list?
Best answer: B
What this tests: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Explanation: The acquired client list is an intangible asset obtained as part of acquiring a trade or business. That makes it a Section 197 intangible, recovered through amortization rather than Section 179 expensing, special depreciation allowance, or MACRS depreciation.
Cost recovery depends on the type of property. Section 179, the special depreciation allowance, and MACRS generally apply to depreciable tangible property or specifically qualifying property. By contrast, many acquired intangibles connected with the acquisition of a trade or business, such as customer lists, goodwill, going-concern value, and covenants not to compete, are Section 197 intangibles. These assets are recovered by amortization over 15 years. Falcon purchased the competitor’s client list as part of acquiring business assets, so the cost is not treated as tangible depreciable property or immediate-expensing property.
An acquired client list obtained in connection with acquiring a trade or business is a Section 197 intangible amortized over 15 years.
Topic: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
A CPA is preparing the federal income tax return for a calendar-year corporation. On November 10, the corporation purchased and placed in service office desks and chairs for its administrative office at a total cost of $80,000. The corporation placed no other depreciable tangible property in service during the year and will use MACRS GDS with no Section 179 deduction or bonus depreciation. What is the correct MACRS recovery period and convention for the furniture?
Best answer: A
What this tests: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Explanation: Office desks and chairs used in a business are generally 7-year property under MACRS GDS. Because the corporation placed all of its depreciable personal property in service in the last three months of the tax year, the mid-quarter convention applies rather than the half-year convention.
Under MACRS GDS, office furniture and fixtures are generally classified as 7-year property. Tangible personal property normally uses the half-year convention, but the mid-quarter convention applies if more than 40% of the aggregate basis of MACRS personal property placed in service during the year is placed in service during the last three months of the tax year. Here, the only depreciable tangible property placed in service was the office furniture on November 10, so 100% of the basis was placed in service in the fourth quarter. Therefore, the furniture is depreciated as 7-year property using the mid-quarter convention.
Office furniture is 7-year MACRS property, and because all depreciable personal property placed in service during the year was placed in the fourth quarter, the mid-quarter convention applies.
Topic: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Jade is preparing Theo’s current-year individual income tax return. Theo sold stock that he received as a gift from his uncle two years ago. The uncle’s records show an adjusted basis of $110,000, and no gift tax was paid. Theo sold the stock for $95,000, but the file does not contain reliable evidence of the stock’s fair market value on the date of the gift. What should Jade do next to determine the correct tax reporting?
Best answer: A
What this tests: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Explanation: Jade should first obtain reliable evidence of the stock’s fair market value on the gift date. For gifted property, the recipient may need different bases for gain and loss if the property’s fair market value was below the donor’s adjusted basis when gifted.
For property received by gift, the recipient generally uses the donor’s adjusted basis to determine gain. However, if the property’s fair market value on the gift date was less than the donor’s adjusted basis, the dual-basis rule applies: the loss basis is the gift-date fair market value, and the gain basis is the donor’s adjusted basis. If the sale price falls between those amounts, no gain or loss is recognized. Because Theo sold the stock for less than the uncle’s adjusted basis and the gift-date fair market value is missing, Jade cannot yet determine whether Theo has a deductible loss or no recognized gain or loss. Since no gift tax was paid, no gift-tax basis adjustment is needed.
When a gift’s fair market value may be below the donor’s basis, the recipient may have a dual basis, so gift-date fair market value is needed before computing gain or loss.
Topic: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Maria asks a CPA about investment land she received as a gift from her aunt. At the date of the gift, the aunt’s adjusted basis was $120,000 and the land’s fair market value was $90,000. No gift tax was paid on the transfer. Maria later sells the land to an unrelated buyer for $80,000, with no selling expenses. What basis should be used to determine Maria’s loss on the sale?
Best answer: A
What this tests: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Explanation: Gifted property with a gift-date FMV below the donor’s adjusted basis is subject to a dual-basis rule. For determining a loss, the donee uses the gift-date FMV, so Maria’s loss basis is $90,000 and the sale for $80,000 produces a $10,000 loss.
For property received by gift, the donee generally takes a carryover basis from the donor for purposes of determining gain. However, when the property’s fair market value on the gift date is less than the donor’s adjusted basis, the donee has a dual basis. The donor’s adjusted basis is used to determine gain, while the gift-date fair market value is used to determine loss. This rule prevents the donor’s built-in loss from shifting to the donee. Here, the land’s FMV at the gift date was $90,000, which was lower than the aunt’s $120,000 adjusted basis. Because Maria sold the land for $80,000, below the $90,000 loss basis, she recognizes a $10,000 loss.
When gift-date FMV is less than donor basis, the donee uses FMV as the basis for determining loss.
Topic: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Marin is preparing his individual income tax return and provided the following stock record for Beta Corp. common stock. All shares are substantially identical, and Marin had no other Beta Corp. transactions during the wash-sale period.
| Date | Transaction | Shares | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1 | Purchased | 100 | $6,000 total basis |
| September 15 | Sold | 100 | $4,200 net proceeds |
| October 1 | Purchased | 60 | $2,730 total cost, including commission |
What tax basis should Marin use for the 60 Beta Corp. shares purchased on October 1?
Best answer: D
What this tests: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Explanation: The September 15 sale created a $1,800 realized loss, or $18 per share. Because Marin repurchased only 60 substantially identical shares within 30 days after the sale, only $1,080 of the loss is disallowed and added to the basis of the October 1 shares.
A wash sale occurs when stock or securities are sold at a loss and substantially identical stock or securities are acquired within the 61-day window beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the sale date. The loss is disallowed only to the extent of the number of replacement shares acquired. Marin sold 100 shares with a $6,000 basis for $4,200, producing a $1,800 loss, or $18 per share. He purchased 60 replacement shares within the wash-sale window, so $1,080 of the loss is disallowed. That disallowed loss is added to the $2,730 cost of the replacement shares, giving a tax basis of $3,810.
The wash-sale loss disallowed on the 60 replacement shares is added to the basis of those replacement shares.
Topic: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
A calendar-year corporation purchased a warehouse property on March 5 of Year 1 for use in its business. The contract separately stated $1,200,000 for the building and $300,000 for the land. Before the warehouse was ready for use, the corporation paid $120,000 for capital improvements to the building. The warehouse was first placed in service on April 18 of Year 1. Assume no bonus depreciation or Section 179 deduction applies. Under MACRS, nonresidential real property is depreciated over 39 years using the straight-line method and the mid-month convention. What is the corporation’s Year 1 depreciation deduction for the warehouse building, rounded to the nearest dollar?
Best answer: D
What this tests: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Explanation: The correct deduction uses only the depreciable building basis, including capital improvements, and excludes land. Because the warehouse was placed in service in April, the mid-month convention allows 8.5 months of depreciation in Year 1.
For nonresidential real property, MACRS depreciation is computed using a 39-year straight-line recovery period and the mid-month convention. Land is not depreciable, but capital improvements made to prepare the building for use are included in the depreciable basis. The building’s depreciable basis is $1,200,000 + $120,000 = $1,320,000. Annual straight-line depreciation is $1,320,000 ÷ 39 = $33,846. Because the building was placed in service in April, Year 1 includes one-half of April plus May through December, or 8.5 months. The deduction is $33,846 × 8.5 ÷ 12 = $23,974, rounded.
The depreciable building basis is $1,320,000, and the mid-month convention allows 8.5 months of depreciation for property placed in service in April.
Topic: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
A CPA is reviewing a calendar-year corporation’s 2025 fixed asset import. The corporation paid $140,000 for new manufacturing equipment on December 20, 2025, and the vendor delivered it on December 29, 2025. The vendor completed required installation and testing on January 6, 2026, and the equipment was first available for production on January 7, 2026. Assume the equipment is otherwise eligible for Section 179 and no Section 179 dollar or taxable income limitation applies. What correction should the CPA make to the 2025 tax depreciation schedule?
Best answer: A
What this tests: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Explanation: The decisive date is when the equipment was placed in service, not when it was paid for or delivered. Because installation and testing were required before the equipment was ready for production, no 2025 depreciation or Section 179 deduction is allowed.
For tax cost recovery, property generally must be placed in service before depreciation or a Section 179 deduction can begin. Placed in service means the property is ready and available for its specifically assigned use. Here, the equipment was delivered in 2025, but it was not installed, tested, and available for production until January 2026. Therefore, the 2025 fixed asset schedule should not include depreciation or Section 179 for this equipment. The asset may be capitalized, but cost recovery begins in 2026.
Depreciation and Section 179 are allowed only when eligible property is placed in service, meaning ready and available for its intended use.
Topic: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
A CPA is reviewing the following 2025 federal tax cost-recovery schedule for a calendar-year corporation. The corporation elected no Section 179 expense and claimed no bonus depreciation. It uses MACRS GDS; the half-year convention applies to personal property, and the mid-quarter convention does not apply.
| Asset per source records | Placed in service | Source cost | Classification used on depreciation schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop computers for office staff | 01/10/2025 | $18,000 | 5-year property; 200% declining balance; half-year |
| Office furniture | 03/15/2025 | $42,000 | 7-year property; 200% declining balance; half-year |
| Warehouse roof replacement, capitalized as an improvement to an existing nonresidential warehouse | 06/30/2025 | $96,000 | 7-year property; 200% declining balance; half-year |
Which correction is supported by the exhibit?
Best answer: D
What this tests: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Explanation: The schedule uses the wrong recovery classification for the warehouse roof replacement. Because the source records state it is a capitalized improvement to a nonresidential building, it should be recovered as nonresidential real property over 39 years using straight-line depreciation and the mid-month convention.
A cost-recovery diagnostic check compares the source asset description with the recovery classification used on the depreciation schedule. Computers are generally 5-year MACRS property, and office furniture is generally 7-year MACRS property, so those entries are consistent with the exhibit. A roof replacement that is capitalized as an improvement to an existing nonresidential warehouse is part of the building real property, not equipment or furniture. Therefore, the correction is to reclassify the roof replacement from 7-year 200% declining-balance personal property to 39-year nonresidential real property using straight-line depreciation and the mid-month convention.
A capitalized roof replacement to a nonresidential building is building real property, not 7-year personal property.
Topic: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Moore operates a calendar-year sole proprietorship. In Year 1, Moore placed $95,000 of qualifying business equipment in service and elected to expense the full cost under Section 179. Before any Section 179 deduction or depreciation, Moore had $62,000 of taxable income from the active business. Assume the annual Section 179 dollar limit is not exceeded, no special depreciation allowance is available, and regular MACRS depreciation is ignored. What amount should Moore deduct under Section 179 for Year 1?
Best answer: D
What this tests: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Explanation: Moore may elect Section 179 for qualifying equipment, but the current deduction cannot exceed taxable income from the active business. Because the active business income is $62,000, only $62,000 is deductible in Year 1 and the remaining $33,000 is carried forward.
Section 179 allows a taxpayer to expense the cost of qualifying business property, subject to limitations. One key limitation is that the Section 179 deduction cannot create or increase a loss from the taxpayer’s active trade or business. Here, Moore elected to expense $95,000, but taxable income from the active business before Section 179 and depreciation is only $62,000. Therefore, the current-year Section 179 deduction is limited to $62,000. The unused $33,000 elected amount is not lost; it is carried forward and may be deductible in a later year, subject to the applicable limits in that year.
Section 179 expense is limited to taxable income from the active trade or business, and the disallowed elected amount is carried forward.
Topic: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
RenCo, a calendar-year sole proprietorship, bought and placed in service one new machine on July 1, 2026. The machine cost $130,000 and is 100% business-use 5-year MACRS property. RenCo elected to expense $100,000 under Section 179. Taxable income from the active business before Section 179 expense, special depreciation, and regular MACRS depreciation is $70,000. Assume the Section 179 dollar limit and investment limit do not otherwise reduce the deduction, there are no carryforwards, the special depreciation allowance rate is 20%, the half-year convention applies, and the first-year MACRS rate for 5-year property is 20%. What total 2026 cost-recovery deduction should RenCo report for the machine?
Best answer: C
What this tests: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
Explanation: RenCo’s Section 179 deduction is limited by active business taxable income to $70,000, even though it elected $100,000. After Section 179, the remaining basis is reduced by special depreciation before applying regular MACRS, producing a total current-year deduction of $91,600.
Cost recovery is generally applied in this order: Section 179 expense, special depreciation allowance, then regular MACRS depreciation. RenCo elected $100,000 of Section 179, but the taxable income limitation allows only $70,000 currently. The remaining basis is $60,000. Special depreciation is 20% of $60,000, or $12,000, leaving $48,000 of basis for regular MACRS. Regular MACRS is 20% of $48,000, or $9,600. Total 2026 cost recovery is $70,000 + $12,000 + $9,600 = $91,600.
The Section 179 deduction is limited to $70,000, then 20% special depreciation applies to the remaining $60,000, and regular MACRS applies to the $48,000 balance.
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