Matt and Meg Comer are married and file a joint tax return. They do not have any children. Matt works as a history professor at a local university and earns a salary of $64,700. Meg works part-time at the same university. She earns $34,000 a year. The couple does not itemize deductions. Other than salary, the Comers’ only other source of income is from the disposition of various capital assets (mostly stocks). a.

a. What is the Comers’ tax liability for 2019 if they report the following capital gains and losses for the year?

Short-term capital gains $ 9,200
Short-term capital losses (2,200) )
Long-term capital gains 15,390
Long-term capital losses (6,390) )
b.

What is the Comers’ tax liability for 2019 if they report the following capital gains and losses for the year?

Short-term capital gains $ 1,500
Short-term capital losses 0
Long-term capital gains 10,500
Long-term capital losses (10,200) )

Explanation:

Given that:

Matt and Meg Comer are married, file a joint tax return and do not have any children.

The total salary of Matt and Meg = $64,700 + $34,000 = $98,700

The net short capital gain = Short-term capital gains - Short-term capital losses

The net short capital gain =  $9,200 - $2,200 = $7,000

The net Long term capital gains = Long-term capital gains - Long-term capital losses

The net Long term capital gains = $15,390 - $6,390 = $9000

The Adjusted gross income AGI = Total Salary + net short capital gain + net Long term capital gains

The Adjusted gross income AGI = $98,700 + $7,000 +  $9000

The Adjusted gross income AGI = $114700

The Taxable income = Adjusted gross income AGI - Standard deduction

The Taxable income = $114700 - $24,400

The Taxable income = $90,300

The net taxable income = Taxable income - less preferentially taxed income

The net taxable income =  $90,300 - $9000

The net taxable income =  $81,300

For 2019:

Tax Liability = $9086 + ($81,300 - $78,950) × 22%    

Tax Liability = $9086 + ($2,350)  × 0.22

Tax Liability = $9086 + $517

Tax Liability = $9,603

The long-term capital gain for 2019 = $9,000 ×  15%    (since it is between  15% - 37% ordinary income tax range, it may be taxed as 15%)

The long-term capital gain for 2019 = $9,000 ×  0.15

The long-term capital gain for 2019 = $1350

Therefore;  the Comers’ tax liability for 2019 if they report the following capital gains and losses for the year is:

Tax Liability  + The long-term capital gain for 2019

= $9,603 + $1350

= $10953

b.

The total salary of Matt and Meg = $64,700 + $34,000 = $98,700

The net short capital gain = Short-term capital gains - Short-term capital losses

The net short capital gain =  $1,500 - $0 = $1,500

The net Long term capital gains = Long-term capital gains - Long-term capital losses

The net Long term capital gains = $10,500 - $10,200 = $300

The Adjusted gross income AGI = Total Salary + net short capital gain + net Long term capital gains

The Adjusted gross income AGI = $98,700 + $1,500 +  $300

The Adjusted gross income AGI = $100,500

The Taxable income = Adjusted gross income AGI - Standard deduction

The Taxable income = $100500 - $24,400

The Taxable income = $76,100

The net taxable income = Taxable income - less preferentially taxed income

The net taxable income =  $76,100 - $300

The net taxable income =  $75,800

For 2019:

Tax Liability = $1940 + ($75,800 - $19,400) × 12%

Tax Liability = $1940 + ($56400)  × 0.12

Tax Liability = $1940 + $6768

Tax Liability = $8,708

The long-term capital gain for 2019 = $3,190 ×  0%        (since it is in 10% - 15% ordinary income tax range)

The long-term capital gain for 2019 = $0

Therefore;  the Comers’ tax liability for 2019 if they report the following capital gains and losses for the year is:

Tax Liability  + The long-term capital gain for 2019

= $8,708 + $0

= $8708