Chapter 9, Problem 15DQ

Paul wholly owns and operates an office supplies business and a printing/shipping business through separate entities. The office supplies business and printing/shipping business share centralized purchasing to obtain volume discounts and share a centralized accounting office that performs all necessary accounting for both businesses (including preparing financial statements, paying bills, collecting receivables, and preparing payrolls for both businesses). Paul maintains a website that promotes both businesses. The businesses operate in separate spaces in the same building (next to each other), but share an office and a shipping/receiving space at the rear of the building and an opening in the shared inside wall that allows customers to move between the businesses without going outside. Each business owns its own equipment and employs its own staff. May Paul aggregate these businesses for purposes of the QBI deduction? Explain.