Federal Income Tax for Partnerships, Corporations, and Estates

BUSN 315

Spring Semester/Term 2015

PROFESSOR/CLASS INFORMATION
Phil Woodward: MBA, MBT, CPA
Title: Federal Income Tax for PCE
Course Code: BUSN 315-01
Term: Fall 2014
Class Days/Time: MW 1:30 2:45
Location: Business 202
Credit Hours/Units: 3 hours
Office Phone: X5182
Office Location: Crowell 126
Meetings with Professor: Make appointment on sign-up calendar outside my office
E-Mail: phil.woodward@biola.edu
Admin Assistant: Lillian Minar
School Website: www.biola.edu
Dept. Website: http://biola.edu/academics/business
Office Hours:
MTWTH: 11:45 1:30
MW 2:45-3:15

DISABILITY SERVICES
Disability Services exist to assist any student who thinks he or she may need such assistance. Students
desiring accommodations for this class on the basis of physical learning, psychological and/or emotional
disabilities are to contact The Learning Center which houses both learning assistance and disability
services. The Learning Center is located in the Biola Library, Upper Level, Room U-137, and this
department can be reached by calling 562.906.4542 or by dialing extension #4542 if calling from on
campus.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The University deplores the unfair treatment of individuals based on race, gender, socio-economic status,
age, physical disability, or cultural differences, regardless whether such treatment is intentional or simply
resultant from careless or insensitive behavior. Rather, employees and members of the student body should
embrace the expectation of Scripture to love God with all their being and their neighbors as themselves.

BIOLA UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT

TRUTH~TRANSFORMATION~TESTIMONY
!1

The mission of Biola University is biblically-centered education, scholarship, and service; equipping men
and women in mind and character to impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.

SCHOOL OR PROGRAM MISSION/VISION STATEMENT

The mission of the Crowell School of Business program is to prepare highly skilled, technically competent
business persons who have broad preparation in the liberal arts as well and who can make significant
contributions in the workplace or in Christian organizations they serve.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
BUSN 315

An explanation of the federal income tax law as it relates to partnerships and corporations.
Estate taxes are reviewed with historical perspective. Problem solving is emphasized to provide
the student with practice in application of tax principles to specific situations.

COURSE ALIGNMENT WITH PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

BUSN 315: This upper division business course is a core course for business majors with an emphasis in
accounting. Successful completion of this course will prepare students to demonstrate a developing
proficiency toward the accomplishment of the following learning outcomes that are aligned with the
Crowell School of Business Program Learning Outcomes:
Critical Thinking: Students will demonstrate the ability to identify, analyze, and evaluate alternative
solutions to a wide range of business problems by presenting reliable, valid, and logical arguments that
drive innovation.
1. An understanding the provisions, legislative history and implications of the Federal.Income tax with a
focus is on business entities and the Federal Estate and Gift taxes.
2. Application of the Federal income tax law as it relates to business entities.
3. Application of the Federal income tax law as it relates to tax exempt entities.
4. Application of the Federal Estate and Gift taxes laws.
5. Competence in decision making, tax reporting, research and technology relating to Business entities

Technology and Analytical: Students will demonstrate their understanding of the role digital technologies
play in the success of organizations and will demonstrate proficiency in the use of digital technologies by
solving business problems using those technologies.
Demonstrate the ability to conduct on-line tax research.
Understand the use of tax software for tax compliance.
Communications: Students will apply effective communication, research, and technological skills to
business situations, write professional business documents, work effectively in teams, and prepare and
deliver effective oral presentations.
Students will learn to articulate and explain tax concepts in class discussions and written
assignments
Spiritual: Students will articulate their knowledge of biblical principles and their application to integrity,
humility, and ethical business behavior.
Students will develop an awareness of biblical concepts as they relate to the accounting profession.

!2

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the completion of this course including class participation, class assignments (referred to as Tasks), class
readings and group interaction, the following objectives and learning outcomes will be assessed and
demonstrated:
IDEA Objective #1: Gaining factual knowledge (terminology, classifications, methods, trends) to enable the
student to make sound financial decisions from any position in any organization.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES The learner will demonstrate that he or she has satisfactorily fulfilled
IDEA Objective #1 through on mid-term exams.
IDEA Objective #2: Learning fundamental principles, generalizations or theories.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: The learner will demonstrate that he or she has satisfactorily fulfilled
IDEA Objective #2 through on mid-term exams.
IDEA Objective #3: Learning to apply course material to improve critical thinking skills, problem solving
(get to the root cause) and decision making.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES The learner will demonstrate that he or she has satisfactorily fulfilled
IDEA Objective #3 through on mid-term exams and projects.

REQUIRED TEXTS
Required Textbooks:
Federal Taxation: Comprehensive Volume, Hoffman, 2015 Edition, Cengage Learning

ACADEMIC HONESTY
Biola University is committed to ethical practice in teaching, scholarship, and service. As such, plagiarism
and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Please see the undergraduate/graduate
student handbook and/or the departmental/program/school policy on academic honesty. It is imperative
that you present all written, oral, and/or performed work with a clear indication of the source of that
work. If it is completely your own, you are encouraged to present it as such, taking pleasure in ownership
of your own created work. However, it is also imperative that you give full credit to any and all others
whose work you have included in your presentation via paraphrase, direct quotation, and/or performance,
citing the name(s) or the author(s)/creator(s) and the source of the work with appropriate bibliographic
information. To do otherwise is to put oneself in jeopardy of being sanctioned for an act or acts of
plagiarism that can carry serious consequences up to and including expulsion from the university.
http://studentlife.biola.edu/campus-life/student-handbook/academic-integrity
http://plagiarism.org/plagiarism-101/overview/

ONLINE AND OTHER COURSE RESOURCES

Throughout the academic term, any number of hard-copy documents or various other resources (electronic
or otherwise) may be made available to students registered for this course. Those resources may be
presented in class or could alternately be posted on the university website or in the electronic reserves
!3

area of the librarys catalog for viewing and download. It is the students responsibility to make himself or
herself aware of such materials, and to electronically save, physically print, archive, read, reference, and
bring such items to class as necessary or required.
These course resources may include, but are not limited to, syllabi, rubrics, worksheets, protocols, and the
like. Prior to and after the beginning of the term, students should take responsibility to periodically check
the university website for the web page corresponding to this course. This will ensure he or she is in
possession of all necessary items for the successful completion of course objectives. If failing to have such
items on hand affects the students participation in class, s/he should anticipate that reality impacting her/
his participation score and, potentially, final grade. To access online materials that may be available, log
on to http://www.biola.edu and proceed to the student portal and class web page.
In addition, the Biola Librarys website provides access to thousands of electronic books and journal articles
for your research. The librarys home page is available at: http://library.biola.edu

LEARNING TASKS (Assignments) & ASSESSMENT (Grading)

Description and Weighting of Assignments: The following tasks are not necessarily in sequential
dated order.
Task #1: Exams
Due Date: See Schedule
Possible Points: 100 points per exam 1 & 2, 50 points for Exam 3, 250 points total
Description: Exam#1: Chapters 17, Exam #2: chapters 18,19,20 &21, Exam #3: Chapters 22,23,27
Assessment: Exams graded per pre-determined answers
No make-up exams will be scheduled. It is your responsibility to contact me prior to the exam
date if there is a problem. If you do not, you will receive no points for the exam.
Task #2: Tax returns
Due Date: To be determined
Possible Points: 30 points
Description: Tax returns 30 points
Assessment: Graded per pre-determined answers
Task #3: Homework
Due Date: See schedule
Possible Points: 3 points per homework, 10 homework assignments, maximum of 30 total points
Description: See attached Professor will assign problems from back of each chapter. They will be
uploaded on Canvas before class on the due date to receive full credit. Homework will be graded based
on effort and completion.
Assessment: Homework must be submitted before class to receive credit.
Task #4: Quizzes
Due Date: See schedule
Possible Points: 20 points
Description: Pre-test Quizzes 20 points
Assessment: Graded per pre-determined answers

!4

CLASS INFORMATION
1. Class Attendance and Attendance Policy: Class attendance is essential to derive the full benefit from
this class; therefore you are expected to attend class.
2. Turning in Homework: Homework is only received electronically through Canvass. It must be an excel
spreadsheet.
3. Professional Courtesy: Students are expected to uphold the highest standards of courtesy, respect and
professionalism to the professor, classroom guests, and fellow students. This includes the employment of
institutional and academic titles when addressing faculty, administrators, and other university personnel or
classroom guests. Classroom dress, proper grooming, behaviors, and hygiene should be such that they are
not distracting or offensive to classmates or dishonoring to the Lord Jesus Christ and this institution.
4. Respect for Divergent Viewpoints: In Christian higher educational institutions, it can be assumed that
each believer-learner is at a different place of personal maturity and educational preparedness. For
these reasons, it is requested and expected that each student exhibit mutual respect, even when divergent
viewpoints are expressed in the classroom. Such respect, even when it results in a students frustrated
silence, does not require or imply agreement with or acceptance of any such perspectives.
5. Technology Use and Classroom Etiquette: Students should refrain from behaviors that negatively
affect the teaching environment or its facilities. This includes any potentially distracting action that could
inhibit the primary purposes of the classroom namely, learning and personal transformation. Students
should conduct themselves as professionals, who give, and are worthy of, a high level of respect. Material
presented in the classroom represents the intellectual property of the professor and of others who may
have contributed to the professors perspectives. Class meetings may not be recorded by audio and/or
video without the express consent of the professor.
The use of items like laptops, pagers, cell/mobile phones, mp3 players, and all other electronic or digital
devices are matters that are strictly governed in academic environments such as this. Neither the professor
nor ones classmates should expect to endure buzzing, vibrating, ringing, singing, or other intended/not
intended but nevertheless distracting noises from your device(s). With the exception of laptops (which are
to be used solely and strictly for educational purposes directly related to what is happening moment by
moment in this class) and other similar note-taking devices, students are expected to take the initiative and
choose either not to bring such devices or to fully power down each of these items prior to the beginning
of class and to keep them off until class is dismissed. Students who fail or forget to turn off
communication devices and who receive such communications should expect to be reproved by the
professor during class. Incidents like these are frowned upon and cannot be tolerated for the integrity of
the learning atmosphere.
In addition, it is expected that students not participate in distracting activities such as e-mailing, websurfing, instant messaging, and computer gaming during class. The professor is alert to such disturbances
and if/when such activities are discovered, the student should expect to be confronted and asked to leave
for the remainder of the immediate class session (morning/afternoon, or until a break, etc.), and then
counted absent for that time period while not in class. Appropriate deductions will be taken for any missed
class participation or required course work due during that period of time. Simply put, under no
circumstances will the professor excuse a students inappropriate behavior, academic apathy, or general
indifference to subject matter that this institution considers necessary for effective vocational preparation
nor will the professor allow other students interested in being equipped to endure a disinterested,
distracting university student. If the spirit or the letter of these guidelines is violated by students, the
professor reserves the right to completely restrict the use of all electronic and battery-powered
devices, including laptops/computers, during class, however unfortunate that would be.
!5

6. Computation of Final Grade:

Summary:
Homework
Exams
Quizzes
Tax returns
Total points

30
250
20
20
320

9. Final grades will be awarded on the following point system:

A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF

93-100%
90-92%
88-89%
83-87%
80-82%
78-79%
73-77%
70-72%
68-69%
63-67%
60-62%
Below 60%

GENERAL INFORMATION
1. The GPA System adopted by this professor is:
A
AB+
B

4.0
3.66
3.33
3.0

BC+
C
C-

2.66
2.33
2.0
1.66

D+
D
DF

2. Method of Instruction:
The following methods of instruction will be included in this course:
1. Lecture
2. Group Discussion
3. Digital Media
4. Electronic Presentations
5. Use of the Internet

6. Audio/Visual Resources
7. Reading
8. Guest Speakers
9. Accounting Tutors

!6

1.33
1.0
.66
0.0

3. Posting of Final Grades: The professor does not post, calculate, nor provide final grades to
individual students. Final grades are delivered by the Registrars Office, whose responsibility it is to
perform that task. The Professor will record homework and exam grades on Canvass so each
student can track their performance.
4. Report Delay: In virtually every case that students do not meet the course requirements and when
required course tasks are not submitted to the professor, such students should anticipate receiving a
failing grade. In rare and unusual situations (e.g., serious illness of the student or illness or death of a
students immediate family), the student may formally request a report delay (RD) through the Vice
Provosts Office. Details can be found in the student handbook.
http://studentlife.biola.edu/campus-life/student-handbook/absences
5. Course Calendar
DATE TOPIC

ASSIGNMENTS DUE (Task Name/Number)

Jan. 26
Jan. 28

INTRODUCTION
Chap. 17

Feb. 2
Feb. 4

Chap. 17
Chap. 17, 14, 15

Feb. 9
Feb. 11

Chap. 17, 14, 15

Chap. 17, 13 14

Feb. 16
Feb. 18

Chap. 17, 13, 14

Chap. 17 Corporate tax compliance

Feb. 23
Feb. 25

Chap. 17 Corporate tax compliance

Review & Quiz

March 2
March 4

Exam 1
Chap. 18

March 9
March 11

Chap. 18
Mission Conference

March 16
March 18

Chap. 19 & 20
Chap. 19 & 20

March 23
March 25

Chap. 21
Chap. 21

March 30
April 1

Chap. 21 Partnership tax compliance

Chap. 21 Partnership tax compliance

April 6
April 8

Easter Break
Easter Break

April 13
April 15

Review & Quiz

Exam 2

April 20
April 22

Chap. 22
Chap. 22

April 27

Chap. 23
!7

April 29

Chap. 23

May 4
May 6

Chap. 27
Chap. 27

May 11
May 13

Tax Project
Tax Project

May 18

EXAM 3 12:30-2:30PM

!8