Offered
CHAPTER 1
UNDERSTANDING AND WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL TAX LAW
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEM MATERIALS
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. (LO 1) When enacting tax legislation, Congress often is guided by the concept of revenue neutrality
so that any changes neither increase nor decrease the net revenues raised under the prior rules.
Revenue neutrality does not mean that any one taxpayer’s tax liability remains the same. Since this
liability depends on the circumstances involved, one taxpayer’s increased tax liability could be
another’s tax saving. Revenue-neutral tax reform does not reduce deficits, but at least it does not
aggravate the problem.
2. (LO 2) Economic, social, equity, and political factors play a significant role in the formulation of tax
laws. Furthermore, the IRS and the courts have had impacts on the evolution of tax laws. For
example, control of the economy has been an important economic consideration in passing a number
of laws (e.g., rapid depreciation, changes in tax rates).
3. (LO 2) The tax law encourages technological progress by allowing immediate (or accelerated)
deductions and tax credits for research and development expenditures.
4. (LO 2) Saving leads to capital formation and thus makes funds available to finance home construction
and industrial expansion. For example, the tax laws provide incentives to encourage savings by giving
private retirement plans preferential treatment.