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Subject Topic: Lobbying Expense Question (Topic Closed Topic Closed) Post ReplyPost New Topic
  
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Zipties
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Joined: 04 Jan 2011
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Posted: 30 Dec 2011 at 14:52 | IP Logged  

I'm now starting to doubt how many of these questions are actually legit from ExamMatrix:

Quote:
Which of the following expenses incurred by a C-Corporation are not deductible and therefore must be reported as an M-1 adjustment on the corporate tax return:
A) $1,000 of in-house lobbying expense
B) $3,000 paid to a professional lobbyist to Congress
C) $500 of local lobbying expense
D) $5,000 travel expenses incurred by a professional lobbyist to lobby for Congress

Answer: B) $3,000 paid to a professional lobbyist to Congress


Now, I chose D. Honestly, I had no idea of the right answer, but A and C seemed reasonable, and I thought well between B and D that D is less reasonable. Now, someone please explain this to me...? Can you really pay for travel expenses incurred for a professional lobbyist, but not the fees paid directly to him? That seems really stupid...
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jakemia
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Joined: 20 Aug 2011
Location: United States
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Posted: 30 Dec 2011 at 16:48 | IP Logged  

Actually, I would agree with B. According to the South-Western Federal Taxation textbook:

"Lobbying expenses incurred in attempting to influence state or Federal legislation or the actions of certain high-ranking public officials (e.g., the President, Vice President, cabinet-level officials, and the two most senior officials in each agency of the executive branch) are not deductible. The disallowance also applies to a pro rata portion of the membership dues of trade associations and other groups that are used for lobbying activities.

There are three exceptions to the disallowance of lobbying expenses. An exception is provided for influencing local legislation (ex. city and county governments). Second, the disallowance provision does not apply to activities devoted solely to monitoring legislation. Third, a de minimis exception is provided for annual in-house expenditures (lobbying expenses other than those paid to professional lobbyists or any portion of dues used by associations for lobbying) if such expenditures do not exceed $2,000. If the in-house expenditures exceed $2,000, none of the in-house expenditures can be deducted."

Since E/M chose B but not D, D might be allowed thru the first exception, which allows expenses incurred to influence local legislation. B is disallowed 100% because it is to influence Congress, not local governments.

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