Special Webinar Question: Gift and Estate Tax Compliance and Tax Calculation

Posted by Adam Scherer, CFP®, MS

May 28, 2020

This question is a part of BIF's Special Webinar series which was created to help students affected by the July 2020 CFP® Exam postponement to September 2020.


A mother's basis in stock is $400,000 and she gifts the stock to her daughter when it is worth $360,000. Eight months later, the daughter sells the stock for $380,000. Identify the correct tax treatment of the daughter’s sale.

  1. $20,000 long-term capital gain
  2. $40,000 short-term capital gain
  3. $20,000 long-term capital loss
  4. No capital gain or loss

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Correct answer: D. No capital gain or loss


Instructor insight:

Since the FMV of the initial gift is lower than the original basis AND the sale price falls between the mother's original basis ($400,000) and the FMV on the date of the gift ($360,000), the daughter recognizes no capital gain or loss on the sale.


CFP® Exam insight:

When a gift is transferred at a loss, the ensuing sale price will serve as a cue to identify the correct basis for calculation of capital gains or capital losses. Work toward understanding the three potential paths to tax treatment with a gifted loss property that is eventually sold.

 

Topics: Practice Questions