Under What Circumstances May a Taxpayer Deduct the Expenses of Investigating

question 87

Essay

Under what circumstances may a taxpayer deduct the expenses of investigating a possible business acquisition, if (1) the business is not acquired? and (2) the business is acquired?

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Definitions:

Normative Economics

An approach to economics that analyzes outcomes of economic behavior, evaluates them as good or bad, and may prescribe courses of action. Also called policy economics.

Inflation

The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, eroding purchasing power.

Unemployment

The state of being without a job despite actively looking for work, measured as a percentage of the labor force.

Normative Economics

Normative economics deals with the evaluation of economic outcomes through the prism of what ought to be, recommending actions by what is deemed desirable or ideal.