Helga Havalot: A Case in Corporate Tax Planning

In this case, you are asked to take on the role of a tax professional in a modern professional services (i.e., accounting) firm. Your boss has asked you to develop a plan of incorporation for one of your clients, who has decided to switch from a sole proprietorship to a C corporation. The client has four assets that would be transferred to the corporation: cash, equipment, building, and land. You must determine how to transfer the assets to the corporation, as well as other matters (how much salary the corporation should pay the client, etc.), keeping in mind that the goal is to maximize the client's after‐tax return by minimizing the client's tax liability.