In 2018, marvin, a cash basis taxpayer, took a $2,000 itemized deduction for state income taxes paid. this increased his itemized deductions to a total that was $800 more than the standard deduction. in 2018, marvin received a $1,600 refund when he filed his 2018 state income tax return. marvin was in the 12% marginal tax bracket in 2018, but was in the 35% marginal tax bracket in 2019. how much must marvin include in his gross income for 2019?

Suppose you win a small lottery and have the choice of two ways to be paid: you can accept the money in a lump sum or in a series of payments over time. if you pick the lump sum, you get $2,950 today. if you pick payments over time, you get three payments: $1,000 today, $1,000 1 year from today, and $1,000 2 years from today. 1) at an interest rate of 6% per year, the winner would be better off accepting the (lump sum / payments over time), since it has the greater present value. 2) at an interest rate of 9% per year, the winner would be better off accepting the (lump sum / payments over time), since it has the greater present value. 3) years after you win the lottery, a friend in another country calls to ask your advice. by wild coincidence, she has just won another lottery with the same payout schemes. she must make a quick decision about whether to collect her money under the lump sum or the payments over time. what is the best advice to give your friend? a) the lump sum is always better. b) the payments over time are always better. c) it will depend on the interest rate; advise her to get a calculator. d) none of these answers is good advice.