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Tax Compliance and Planning/Blueprint/2.D

Advanced basis calculations

Area 2: Entity Tax Compliance (30-40%)

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Topics

  • Partnership inside/outside basis
  • S corporation stock and debt basis
  • Section 754 elections

Lessons

  • Advanced Basis Calculations

Study Frameworks

Loss Limitation Ordering Rules

Loss Limitation Hierarchy (applied in order)
1. Tax Basis Limitation
S corp: stock basis + debt basis (direct loans only)
Partnership: outside basis (includes partner's share of all liabilities)
Losses exceeding basis are suspended and carried forward indefinitely
2. At-Risk Limitation (IRC 465)
Amount at risk = cash invested + recourse debt + qualified nonrecourse financing (real estate)
Losses limited to amount at risk
Suspended losses freed up when at-risk amount increases
3. Passive Activity Loss Limitation (IRC 469)
Passive losses offset only passive income
Exception: $25,000 rental real estate allowance (phases out $100K-$150K AGI)
Real estate professionals exempt if material participation
Suspended losses released on fully taxable disposition
4. Excess Business Loss Limitation (IRC 461(l))
Noncorporate taxpayers: losses exceeding threshold become NOL carryforward
Threshold: $322,000 single / $644,000 MFJ (2026, indexed)
Applied after passive activity rules

S Corp Stock Basis Ordering

Basis = Beginning + Income + Contributions - Nondeductible Expenses - Distributions - Losses/Deductions

Order matters: increase for income items first, then decrease for nondeductible/noncapital expenses, then distributions (tax-free to extent of remaining basis; excess is capital gain), then losses/deductions (limited to remaining basis). Per Reg. §1.1367-1(f), nondeductible expenses reduce basis before distributions and losses.

IRC Section Quick Reference

SectionTopicKey Rule
IRC 83(b)Property transferred for servicesElection to recognize income at grant (not vesting); must file within 30 days
IRC 199AQBI deduction20% deduction for pass-through income; W-2/UBIA limitation above threshold; SSTB phase-out
IRC 267Related party lossesLosses disallowed between related parties; deferred until gain recognition by transferee
IRC 302Stock redemptionsSale treatment if substantially disproportionate, complete termination, or meaningful reduction
IRC 318Constructive ownershipFamily, entity, and option attribution rules for determining stock ownership
IRC 332Subsidiary liquidationTax-free liquidation to 80%+ parent corporation; carryover basis under 334(b)(1)
IRC 336Liquidating distributionsCorporation recognizes gain/loss as if sold at FMV; exception for 332 liquidations (IRC 337)
IRC 351Corporate formationTax-free transfer of property for stock if transferors have 80% control immediately after
IRC 409ADeferred compensationStrict timing rules for deferral elections and distributions; 20% penalty + interest for violations
IRC 465At-risk rulesLosses limited to amount taxpayer has at risk (cash + recourse debt + qualified nonrecourse for real estate)
IRC 469Passive activity lossesPassive losses only offset passive income; $25K rental allowance; released on disposition
IRC 704(c)Partnership contributed propertyBuilt-in gain/loss allocated to contributing partner; prevents shifting pre-contribution gain/loss
IRC 721Partnership formationNo gain/loss on contribution of property to partnership; carryover basis
IRC 743(b)Partnership basis adjustmentOptional step-up in basis of partnership assets on transfer of partnership interest (requires 754 election)
IRC 754Basis adjustment electionPartnership election for inside basis adjustments on transfers (743b) and distributions (734b)
BAP-EBasis, At-risk, Passive activity, Excess business loss

The mandatory ordering of loss limitation rules. Each limitation is applied in sequence: losses must first pass the basis test, then at-risk, then passive activity, and finally excess business loss.

SLEDStock basis, Loans (direct only), E&P (AAA ordering), Distributions

S corporation shareholder basis framework. Unlike partnerships, only direct loans from the shareholder increase debt basis. Distributions reduce stock basis first (tax-free to extent of basis), then loan basis.

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