Florida Business Broker / Tax Implications
(AS OF JANUARY 2001, FEDERAL TAXES ONLY; STATE TAXES ADDITIONAL)
STOCK SALES
Value placed on Stock:
- Seller: Capital gains tax rate (currently at 15%) for stock held more than one year
- Buyer: No write off; must accept assets at current book value (i.e., existing depreciation schedule)
Value placed on Covenant Not to Compete:
- Seller: Ordinary income to recipient (is considered personal to seller / principal)
- Buyer: Amortize value over 15 years
Value placed on Training / Consulting Agreement:
- Seller: Ordinary income to recipient
- Buyer: Expense out as paid
Non-Stock ("asset") Sales
Value placed on Tangible Personal Property (trade fixtures, furniture, equipment):
- Seller: If held more than one year, the gains in excess of depreciation are long-term capital gain; otherwise ordinary income
- Buyer: Established basis, depreciate per IRS schedules
Value placed on Premise Lease savings (if the lease is at below market rent, it is an intangible asset):
- Seller: If held for more than one year, is long-term capital gain
- Buyer: Amortize value over 15 years
Value placed on Covenant Not to Compete (include time and distance of covenant):
- Seller: Ordinary income as received
- Buyer: Amortize over 15 years
Value placed on Training/Consultation (include schedule of time, hours, etc.):
- Seller: Ordinary income as received
- Buyer: Expense out as paid
Value placed on Registered Vehicles (do not include in Tangible Personal Property above:)
- Seller: If held more than one year, the gains in excess of depreciation are long-term capital gain; otherwise ordinary income
- Buyer: Established basis, depreciate per IRS schedules
Value placed on Liquor License (include license type and number; is an intangible asset):
- Seller: If held for more than one year, is long-term capital gain
- Buyer: Amortize over 15 years
Value placed on Customer List:
- Seller: Ordinary income as received
- Buyer: Amortize over 15 years
Value placed on Goodwill:
- Seller: If held for more than one year, is long-term capital gain
- Buyer: Amortize over 15 years
Value placed on Buildings:
- Seller: If held more than one year, the gains in excess of depreciation are long-term capital gain; otherwise ordinary income
- Buyer: Establishes basis, depreciate per IRS schedules
Value placed on Land:
- Seller: If held more than one year, the gains in excess of depreciation are long-term capital gain, otherwise ordinary income
- Buyer: No immediate tax impacts
Value placed on Inventory:
- Seller: Ordinary income, to the extent that is over basis
- Buyer: Treated as "cost of goods sold" upon sale of products
Section 2: Stock Sale - Allocation of Purchase Price
Section 3: Non-Stock Sale - Allocation of Purchase Price
Section 4: Tax Implications - General Guidelines
Section 5: Key Points - Allocation of Purchase Price