Writing Assignment –
Please prepare a research memo responding to the question
below:
Our client, Happy T Behere, inherited a Peanuts cartoon from
her mother more than a year ago. At the time of her death, the cartoon was
valued at $3,000. Originally, her mother had purchased it at a charity auction
for $1,000. At the alternative valuation date the cartoon was valued at $2,500.
It is a valuable cartoon as it featured a character, Charlotte Braun, included
in only 10 comic strips. It is currently listed and is expected to sell at an
auction house for $10,000 tomorrow. She will have to pay a commission of 3% to
sell it. What is the tax impact of her selling the Peanuts cartoon? She doesn’t
want to accept the final auction amount before hearing from you. Happy is in a
22% marginal tax bracket.
Your memo should include the four sections of a research
memo discussed in class. These would be:
1.
Facts
2.
Question or Query
3.
Discussion
4.
Conclusion
Please make sure to reference sources that can be relied
upon in your discussion section.
