Chapter 18, Problem 51P

Floyd, a cash basis taxpayer, has received an offer to purchase his land. The cash basis buyer will pay him either $100,000 at closing or $50,000 at closing and $56,000 two years after the date of closing. If Floyd recognizes the entire gain in the current year, his marginal tax rate will be 25% (combined Federal and state rates). However, if he spreads the gain over the two years, his combined marginal tax rate on the gain will be only 20%. Floyd does not consider the buyer a credit risk, and he understands that shifting the gain to next year with an installment sale will save taxes. Still, he realizes that the deferred payment will, in effect, earn only $6,000 for waiting two years for the other $50,000. Floyd believes he can earn a 10% before-tax rate of return on his after-tax cash. Floyd’s adjusted basis for the land is $25,000, the buyer is also a cash basis taxpayer, and the short-term Federal rate is 4%. Floyd has asked you to evaluate the two alternatives on an after-tax basis.