Page#1 A+ Grade
Solution Manual for
McGraw Hill's Essentials of Federal Taxation 2025 Evergreen Release By Brian
Spilker, Benjamin Ayers, John Robinson, Edmund Outslay, Ronald Worsham,
John Barrick and Connie Weaver
Chapter 1-17
Chapter 1 An Introduction to Tax
Discussion Questions
(1) [LO 1] Jessica’s friend Zachary once stated that he couldn’t understand why
someone would take a tax course. Why is this a rather naïve view?
Taxes are a part of everyday life and have a financial effect on many of the
major personal decisions that individuals face (e.g., investment decisions,
evaluating alternative job offers, saving for education expenses, gift or
estate planning, etc.).
(2) [LO 1] What are some aspects of business that require knowledge of taxation?
What are some aspects of personal finance that require knowledge of taxation?
Taxes play an important role in fundamental business decisions such as the
following:
What organizational form should a business use?
Where should the business locate?
How should business acquisitions be structured?
How should the business compensate employees?
What is the appropriate mix of debt and equity for the business?
Should the business rent or own its equipment and property?
How should the business distribute profits to its owners?
Created By Solutions
1
,Page#2 A+ Grade
One must consider all transaction costs (including taxes) to evaluate the
merits of a transaction.
Common personal financial decisions that taxes influence include: choosing
investments, retirement planning, choosing to rent or buy a home, evaluating
alternative job offers, saving for education expenses, and doing gift or estate
planning.
(3) [LO 1] Describe some ways in which taxes affect the political process in
the United States.
U.S. presidential candidates often distinguish themselves from their
opponents based upon their tax rhetoric. Likewise, the major political
parties generally have very diverse views of the appropriate way to tax the
public. Determining who is taxed, what is taxed, and how much is taxed are
difficult questions. Voters must have a basic understanding of taxes to
evaluate the merits of alternative tax proposals offered by opposing political
candidates and their political parties.
(4) [LO 2] Courtney recently received a speeding ticket on her way to the university.
Her fine was $200. Is this considered a tax? Why or why not?
The $200 speeding ticket is not considered a tax. Instead, it is considered a
fine or penalty. Taxes differ from fines and penalties because taxes are not
intended to punish or prevent illegal behavior.
(5) [LO 2] Marlon and Latoya recently started building a house. They had to pay
$300 to the county government for a building permit. Is the $300 payment a tax?
Why or why not?
The building permit is not considered a tax because $300 payment is directly
Created By Solutions
2
,Page#3 A+ Grade
linked to a benefit that they received (i.e., the ability to build a house).
(6) [LO 2] To help pay for the city’s new stadium, the city of Birmingham recently
enacted a 1 percent surcharge on hotel rooms. Is this a tax? Why or why not?
The 1 percent surcharge is a tax. The 1 percent surcharge is an earmarked
tax – i.e., collected for a specific purpose. The surcharge is considered a tax
because the tax payments made by taxpayers do not directly relate to the
specific benefit received by the taxpayers.
(7) [LO 2] As noted in Example 1-2, tolls, parking meter fees, and annual licensing
fees are not considered taxes. Can you identify other fees that are similar?
There are several possible answers to this question. Some common examples
include entrance fees to national parks, tag fees paid to local/state
government for automobiles, boats, etc.
(8) [LO 2] If the general objective of our tax system is to raise revenue, why does the
income tax allow deductions for charitable contributions and retirement plan
contributions?
In addition to its primary goal of generating revenue, Congress uses the federal tax system
to influence taxpayer behavior and achieve various social and economic objectives. For
example, the charitable contribution deduction is designed to incentivize taxpayers to
contribute to charitable organizations. By allowing taxpayers to deduct their donations
from their taxable income, the tax system encourages support for charitable causes and
promotes philanthropy.
Similarly, deductions for retirement contributions are aimed at encouraging individuals
to save for their retirement. These deductions reduce the taxable income of taxpayers who
contribute to retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s or IRAs, thereby providing a financial
incentive to plan for the future and build a secure retirement fund.
Created By Solutions
3
, Page#4 A+ Grade
Another significant objective of the tax system is wealth redistribution. Through
progressive tax rates, tax credits, and various social programs, the tax system seeks to
address economic inequality by redistributing resources from higher-income individuals
to support lower-income households. This redistribution aims to reduce income disparities
and provide financial assistance to those in need.
In summary, while the federal tax system is fundamentally designed to raise revenue, it
also serves broader purposes such as promoting charitable giving, encouraging retirement
savings, and redistributing wealth to enhance economic equity.
(9) [LO 2] One common argument for imposing so-called sin taxes is the social goal
of reducing demand for such products. Using cigarettes as an example, is there a
segment of the population that might be sensitive to price and for whom high
taxes might discourage purchases?
The most obvious demographic that is sensitive to price changes includes teenagers and
younger adults, who often have less disposable income compared to older individuals. This
group is particularly responsive to price fluctuations because their limited financial
resources mean that even small changes in price can significantly impact their purchasing
decisions.
However, it’s important to note that price sensitivity, or price elasticity, can vary widely
among different taxpayers. While younger individuals may be more affected by price
changes due to their tighter budgets, other factors such as personal preferences, income
levels, and overall financial stability can influence how sensitive a person is to price
changes. For example, a higher-income individual might be less sensitive to price increases
because they have more disposable income to absorb such changes.
In summary, while teenagers and younger adults generally exhibit higher price sensitivity
due to their limited income, price elasticity can vary across different segments of the
population based on a range of personal and financial factors.
(10) [LO 3] Dontae stated that he didn’t want to earn any more money because it
would ―put him in a higher tax bracket.‖ What is wrong with Dontae’s
reasoning?
Created By Solutions
4
