Sunday, September 10, 2017

湘聚

​2017年9月9日,一个周六的下午,夏日刚刚收敛了炎热的脾气,同城以微信湖南老乡为群的一帮原装三湘四水的湘亲们便拖家带口的聚在了一起。我不常去聚会,因为嘴拙脑笨见识浅,见了人吧总得说点什么,而我总是在打完招呼后就不知道说点什么了,除了在那傻呵呵的笑来增深自己的面部纹路以掩饰自己的尴尬以外就只有听人侃大山的份。但是老湘聚会的诱惑却让我摈弃了那份不自在。于是乎带着自家的男人,自家的娃们,和自家的菜肴如约来到相聚地----Villa Park in Olivette。

一进亭子,除了满眼盖着锡箔纸的盛载佳肴的盆盆碗碗以外,就是排山倒海的湘音裹挟而至,恍惚中我似乎又回到了青春少年时期的长沙城,是那样的熟悉与亲切。虽然颇有年头没有浸淫在长沙话的环境,但是当每一个湘音飘落耳际的时候还是让我心潮澎湃。老湘见老湘,心里直汪汪。

因为心里牵挂着我家三岁的老二,没有来得及开聊,我便被娃带到了playground...

再回亭子,已经是拍片时刻,整整36家,在众多男神的张罗下,最后唐志文才子为我们的相聚留下了永久的定格。

开餐,排队,轮到我的时候,好几个盘子都已经可以当镜子用了,剩下的每一道菜,我都毫不手软的收一筷到盘中,迅即,盘子就被挤得没有了任何空间,我不得不一步三回头,恋恋不舍的离开猎食队伍走到了娃们的旁边。同桌的有株洲妹子一家和长沙伢子一家,除了偶尔同他们扯两句以外,我基本都在埋头苦吃,味蕾与胃都十分享受正宗的湘味,以至于自己的娃和男人什么时候离桌我已经很模糊了。猛一回神,是同桌的株洲妹子一声惊呼,原来,她两岁不到的娃娃一个人在不远处被朋友带来的狗舔了一口,好在无大碍,秒速我被食物又拽回了埋头苦吃的节奏,再一次回神,是活动组织者大美女奚柳和贺琳前来打招呼,不过此时我的胃已经被好好的满足了一把,欣然同他们打起了招呼。

相聚总是短暂,回味起来却是无穷。晚上回到家,得空打开手机又一惊喜不约而至,周胜平先生以“阿瑾”为名发到群里一篇辣妹子聚后感,图文并茂,全程用长沙话行文,十分的贴切形象生动  https://www.meipian.cn/s8285an?from=groupmessage

这两年,拘于自己的小家和个人的职业发展,我已于外界大致隔绝,但是湘聚让我认识了更多的朋友,感受了更多的湘音与湘情,这种感觉,很近,很惬意,很温馨 

Friday, April 14, 2017

Factoring

How Does Factoring Work?

Factoring is a transaction in which a business sells its invoices, or receivables, to a third-party financial company known as a “factor.” The factor then collects payment on those invoices from the business’s customers. Factoring is known in some industries as “accounts receivable financing.”
The main reason that companies choose to factor is that they want to receive cash quickly on their receivables, rather than waiting the 30 to 60 days it often takes a customer to pay. Factoring allows companies to quickly build up their cash flow, which makes it easier for them to pay employees, handle customer orders and add more business.


Thursday, March 23, 2017

纵爱苍生只是痴恋

我有佛陀的善良但我无佛陀的能力,我爱天下苍生,但那只是我的痴心
其实我连爱自己的能力都没有,我何以能爱天下
孟子说,穷则独善其身,达则兼济天下
我现在不仅是物质上穷,要命的是我能力的贫穷,我连自己生存好的能力都没有,何谈苍生
努力
先把自己变得更好,再助家人,后谈苍生
就如同我无数次说过的,我需要先把自己强大起来
怎样强大自己,这是一个问题,必有解决问题的办法
一步一步的来,先把安身的执照拿了
怎样能拿到执照,这是一个进行中的现实问题
我必须专注的完成剩下的考试,坐下来一分钟就把这一分钟有效的利用
看书不是看,是理解,是问为什么,是回答为什么
做题不是做,是理解,是题目里面的知识点吃透
学习不只是赶进度,要piece by piece,要时习之,要时思之
想办法保证高的效率,脑子里必须放空其他的事情,不要把注意力浪费到其他的事情,只专注在对书本的理解
如果脑子跳走了,赶紧刹车把自己拽回来,该干啥干啥,把其他千万个事情学会抛掷脑后只专注在这一件事情上面--保证学习效率
知识点一个一个的背下来,一个一个的理解成我的东西
一定想办法完成当天的计划,一定消化当天的计划,一定学会先对自己的生命负责
爱人先爱己,爱己先专注自己
愿佛陀的力量先助我完成接下来的考试
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Sunday, March 5, 2017

A good source from Youtube on understanding Variance



Direct Materials Variance Analysis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e32TQdCjDg#t=51.100197

Direct Labor Variance Analysis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNriZz-zCec

Standard Costs and Variance Analysis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWOdzhjHNSM#t=13.020366

more links 
https://www.youtube.com/user/EducationUnlocked/playlists

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Following schecule bec +FAR

I have to finish FAR + BEC exam before 5/31
Really not sure whether I could pass the BEC on March 10th, but I will try my best. I may fail

Finish the BEC lecture today
Finish the homework practice at the same time review key important part in the following days
On the following Thursday, I have to spent at least one day on  simulation which refers to writing part

FAR is a big part with a lot of stuff, but I do not think it's difficult section for me. The challenge part is the huge content. I may need to do the homework at least 3 times before I walk into the test center, which means I have too much work needs to do
If I start on 3/19, based on my review material,
week 1(3/19-25)     Ch1+2+3+4+5        lecture+book read+lecture homework + IPQBEC420+SIM2
week 2(3/26-4/1)   Ch6+7+8                 lecture+br+lh+ IPQBEC420+SIM2
week3(4/2-4/8)  Ch9+10+11+12            lecture+br+lh+ IPQBEC420+SIM2
week4(4/9-15)    Ch13+14+15+16          lecture+br+lh+ IPQBEC420+SIM2
week5(4/16-22) Ch17+18+19+20+21+22+23+24 lecture+br+lh+ IPQBEC420+SIM2
week6(4/23-29)    Ch25+26+27+28+29                    lecture+br+lh+ IPQBEC420 (4.29exam)
week7(4/30-5/1)    Ch30+31                                     lecture+br+lh+ IPQ
1601+123 questions    120+ questions a day     5/2-15 first
                                     210+  questions a day    5/16-5/23 second
                                     300+ questions               5/24-29 third

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Home Sale Exclusion: Tax Savings on Capital Gain of a Principal Residence

Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code allows the exclusion of a realized capital gain of up to $250,000 ($500,000, if married filing jointly) from income if it is the sale of the taxpayer's principal residence. Form 1099-S, Proceeds from Real Estate Transactions is used to report any sale of a residence that exceeds the gain exclusion. If the gain is wholly excludable, then no Form 1099-S needs to be filed (IRS Revenue Procedure 2007-12).
To qualify for the exclusion:
  • you must have lived in the house for at least 2 years out of the previous 5 years before the sale (12 months for the mentally or physically disabled)
  • the home was not acquired through a like-kind (§1031) exchange or received as a gift from a donor who acquired it as like-kind exchange
  •  you did not claim the §121 exclusion within the prior 2 years
  • and the expatriate tax does not apply to you
Grantor trusts and single-owner entities can also claim the exclusion. A gain on a conversion, such as when a home is destroyed or condemned, can also be excluded.
Any amount above the exclusion amount is subject to the long-term capital gains tax that, starting in 2013, depends on income. For those in the following tax brackets, the applicable capital gains rate is:
  • 15% or lower: 0%
  • 25% - 35%: 15%
  • 39.6%: 20%
Additionally, beginning in 2013, any gains above the exclusion amount will also be subject to the new Net Investment Income Tax, which can add as much as 3.8% to the applicable gain for taxpayers who earn, both from work and from investments, at least the threshold amount (joint filers: $250,000, everyone else: $200,000).
The period of ownership and use can be discontinuous as long as they satisfy the 2- and 5-year test. Short absences, such as for vacations, are included in the time of use test.
Example: An older couple, with an income of $500,000, owns a main residence in which they lived 25 years. They also own a beach house that they owned for 15 years. They plan to retire to Florida, but before they do, they sell their main residence for a realized gain of $600,000. They can exclude $500,000 of that gain from income, but they must pay the applicable long-term capital gains tax of 20% plus the net investment income tax of 3.8% on the remaining $100,000, resulting in a total tax of $23,800 on the non-excluded portion. Then they move into their beach house and live there for 2 more years. Afterwards, they sell their beach house for a gain of $300,000, all of which is excludable from income.
An involuntary conversion occurs if a property is destroyed or condemned. If a gain was postponed under §1033, because of an involuntary conversion of a principal residence, then the holding period of the replacement residence includes the holding period of the previous residence.
If a homeowner becomes incapacitated, and must spend time in a licensed care facility, then the homeowner can still exclude the gain if the principal residence was used at least 1 year during the 5 years preceding the sale. The 2-out-of-5 year ownership test still needs to be satisfied, however.
The years of ownership test can be suspended for up to 10 years by military and Foreign Service personnel, Peace Corps workers, and intelligence officers that are on official extended duty.
If the taxpayer has more than 1 home, then only the principal residence qualifies for the exclusion, which is generally determined by the length of occupancy of each residence, but the IRS may also consider the taxpayer's place of employment, addresses on driver's licenses, automobile and voter registrations, and the mailing address used in correspondence. Undeveloped land may also qualify for the exclusion if it is adjacent to the principal residence and was used as part of the residence, and both land and the residence are sold within a 2-year period. However, the exclusion limit applies to both the land and the principal residence, not to each independently.
The exclusion can also be applied to mobile homes, trailers, condominiums, and even houseboats if they were used as a principal residence. However, if the home is moved to a different location, then any sale of the vacant land does not qualify for the exclusion. However, an investment in a retirement community only qualifies if the taxpayer receives equity in the property. For the tenant stockholder of a cooperative, the ownership requirement requires the ownership of the stock and the use requirement applies to the unit that the stockholder owns.
The §121 exclusion can only be used once every 2 years. This is to prevent taxpayers from buying multiple residences to earn tax-free income.
Because of the 2-year exclusion period, a taxpayer may choose to not exclude the gain on a residence if he intends to sell another residence that will also qualify for the exclusion but would be within the 2-year period of the 1st sale. A taxpayer may do this if she expects the gain may be greater on the 2nd sale.
Joint owners may each claim the $250,000 exclusion for their share of the gain.

Married Couples Can Claim a $500,000 Exclusion

A married couple must satisfy the following requirements for the $500,000 exclusion:
  • married filing jointly;
  • either spouse owned the residence for at least 5 years;
  • the residence was a principal residence for both spouses for at least 2 years;
  • neither spouse claimed a §121 exclusion within 2 years of the sale of the principal residence.
If only one spouse lived in the house as a principal residence, then only that spouse can claim the $250,000 exclusion. If a married couple has separate residences, then each may claim a $250,000 exclusion on the sale of their residence, whether they file jointly or separately.
United States citizens who have renounced their citizenship or long-term residents who have ended their residency for the purpose of avoiding United States tax cannot claim the exclusion.
Death of Spouse If the spouse dies before the sale of the residence, then the surviving spouse can add the years that the decedent lived in the house as a principal residence, and can also still exclude a $500,000 gain. The surviving spouse is considered to have the property at least as long as the decedent unless the spouse remarries before the sale. The surviving spouse must file a joint return, however, in the year of the spouse's death. The surviving spouse will still qualify for the $500,000 exclusion if the property is sold within 2 years of the deceased spouse's death. Note also that the portion inherited from the deceased spouse will receive a stepped-up basis, which will further reduce any taxable gain. This stepped-up basis will equal the fair market value (FMV) of the portion of property on the date of death or, if the personal representative so chooses, the FMV of that portion 6 months afterward. A surviving spouse in a community property state will receive a stepped-up basis for the entire property.  The $500,000 exclusion can also be applied if the residence is sold within 2 years of both spouses' death if the couple would have qualified otherwise.
Divorce If a spouse receives a residence under a divorce decree, then her time of ownership and time of use is added onto the ex-spouse's time of ownership and use. If one spouse moves out pursuant to a divorce or separation decree, then the relocating spouse can continue to claim use and ownership for as long as he maintains an ownership interest in the property, and as long as the remaining spouse continues to use the residence as a principal residence.

Prorated Maximum Exclusion

If the taxpayer cannot satisfy the use and ownership tests to claim the full exclusion amount, then a partial exclusion equal to the amount of time that the taxpayer does satisfy the use and ownership test divided by 2 years can be claimed if the reason for the sale is because a change of employment, health problems, or some other unforeseen circumstances either to the taxpayer, a close family relative, or to other members of the house who have an ownership stake in the house.
So if you sell your house at a gain of $140,000 because of a change in job location, but only lived in the house for 1 year as a principal residence, then you can claim 50% of the exclusion amount, or $125,000. Hence $125,000 would be tax-free but the remaining $15,000 gain would be taxable.

Safe Harbor for a Prorated Exclusion

Generally, to satisfy the requirements for a prorated exclusion, the IRS considers the facts and circumstances of the situation to decide whether the applicable rules apply. However, the IRS does provide a bright line to distinguish whether the rules allow the prorated exclusion. The change of employment rule is satisfied if the taxpayer's new job location is at least 50 miles further than the old job location from the primary residence and the taxpayer was using the primary residence at the time of the job change. The change of employment includes working for the same employer but in a different location or a change in location for a self-employed worker. The safe harbor can also be satisfied if an unemployed taxpayer obtains a job that is more than 50 miles away from the sold residence.
When the IRS considers facts and circumstances, the most important factor will be the primary reason for the home sale. Thus, the primary reason for the sale must have been because of the change of employment, deteriorating health, or other unforeseen circumstances.
The health rule is satisfied if the change in location was to better manage the health problems of the taxpayer or a close relative, but not just because the taxpayer wanted to move to a healthier environment. However, a safe harbor exists if it was done on the recommendation of a doctor. So if the taxpayer sells his home to care for an ill parent, then the rule is satisfied.
Unforeseen circumstances includes any factor that would make the house unaffordable, or a change in financial status that would make it difficult to maintain the home, such as the involuntary conversion of a home, or damage from disasters; or death, divorce, or legal separation or even a change in employment with a reduced income making it hard for the taxpayer to afford the house. The unforeseen circumstance must not have been anticipated before the house was bought and occupied. So, for instance if a unmarried couple buy a residence so that they can live together, but later they break up, then this would be considered an unforeseen circumstance, especially if the remaining taxpayer is unable to afford the housing by herself.

Figuring Gain

The gain on the sale of the house is considered the sale price minus any selling costs, such as a real estate brokerage commission, minus the adjusted basis of the property. Theadjusted basis of the property includes the purchase price plus expenditures for improving the property. It does not include expenditures for just repairing the property. Settlement fees and closing costs also add to the adjusted basis of the property. However fees associated with obtaining a mortgage do not affect the basis of the property, since those fees are charged for getting the loan, not for the purchase of the property.

Figuring Adjusted Basis

The capital gain or loss is calculated thus:
Realized Gain = Sale Price – Selling Costs
Capital Gain or Loss = Realized Gain – Adjusted Tax Basis
Hence, anything that changes that taxpayer's basis in the property will affect the gain or loss realized. Expenditures that increase the adjusted basis include:
  • improvements that have a useful life of more than 1 year;
  • costs of restoring damaged property.
Decreases in the cost basis include:
  • postponed gains from the sale of a previous home before May 7, 1997;
  • any losses that were deducted from ordinary income tax;
  • insurance payments for casualty losses;
  • depreciation claimed for a home business or rental purposes;
  • claimed tax credits for home energy improvements that increases the basis of the home;
  • energy conservation subsidies that were excluded from income; and
  • receipts from a public utility for energy conservation measures that was excluded fromgross income.
Gains postponed under prior law rollover rules decrease the basis because taxes were not paid on the gains previously.
Improvements to a home only increase the basis if they are still part of the home. For instance, if you spent $4000 to paint your house 10 years ago, and then painted the house again just before the sale, then the previous cost of the painting is not added to the basis.
Recordkeeping Records of all adjustments to the basis of the home, including any receipts of costs, and any Form 2119, Sale of Your Home that was filed to postpone gain from a previous home, should be kept for at least 3 years after the due date of filing for thetax year of the home sale.

Business Use Of The Home

If you have a home office that is part of the dwelling, then the gain on that part of the dwelling is also excludable along with the rest of the residence. However, any depreciation claimed on the property after May 6, 1997 is not excludable and must be reported onSchedule D, Capital Gains and Losses as unrecaptured §1250 gain, which is taxed at the lower of 25% or your marginal tax rate.
Example: You sell your home for a gain of $20,000: $5000 was claimed for depreciation on a home office. Therefore, only $15,000 is excludable from income. The $20,000 gain and the $15,000 exclusion are reported on Part II of Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets, and Schedule D, Part II. The $5000 depreciation recapture can be figured using the Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain Worksheet in the Schedule D Instructions, then entered on Line 19 in Part III, Summary section of Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses.
No loss on the sale of a personal residence is deductible. However if part of the home was rented out or used for business, then the allocable space reduced by the allocable time that it was used for business is deductible.
When a residence is converted to rental property, then the tax basis on the conversion date is the lower of the adjusted basis or the fair market value. Generally, if a residence was converted to rental property only a few months before the sale, then whether any losses are deductible depends on whether the rental returns a profit and whether the lease prevented the owner from reoccupying the house during the lease period.
If a house was bought for resale, then losses are deductible, even if the owner occupied the house for several months before the sale. In these cases, it is presumed that the owner has no intention of living in the house as a primary residence, but occupies the house to prevent vandalism and to keep the house in good shape to sell. Deductible losses can also be claimed for a residence that was acquired by gift or devisement, if the donee had no intention of living at the residence but sold it or rented it out shortly after acquiring it.
If the principal residence is owned by a partnership whose partners are married, then the gain on the sale cannot be excluded but must be recognized.

Nonqualified Use of a Residence

If a residence is not used as a primary residence, then it is a nonqualified use except:
  • if the applicable time period was before 2009;
  • any time period after the property was used as a primary residence;
  • any time period in which the taxpayer was on qualified official extended duty as a member of the Armed Forces, Foreign Service, or as an intelligence community employee;
  • any period of less than 2 years that was a temporary absence caused by a change of employment, health conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances.
The gain on a residence must be divided ratably between the nonqualified use period and the qualified use period during the 5 years before the sale. Only that portion attributable to the qualified use period can be excluded from income.
Example: You buy a house for $400,000 in 2010. You rent it out for the first 2 years, then you move in and use it as your primary residence for 2013 and 2014. You use part of the house for a home office in claiming the total depreciation of $20,000 for 2 years. At the end of 2014, you move out, but you only sell it on January 1, 2016 for$620,000.
Tax Analysis: Since you rented the property out for the first 2 years, only 3 out of your 5 years of ownership is a qualified use. Since you deducted a total of $20,000 for depreciation in 2013 and 2014, this must be subtracted from your excludable gain before the allocation of the gain to the qualified use period:
  • Realized Gain = $620,000 – $400,000 = $220,000
  • Gain – Depreciation = $220,000 – $20,000 = $200,000
  • Amount of Gain Allocable to the Qualified Use Period = 3/5 × $200,000 = $120,000
Note that even though you did not live in the house in the last year of your ownership, it is still considered a qualified use since that was after you had used the house as a primary residence.

Allocable Gain on Separate Structure Used for Business Cannot Be Excluded

If the residence has a separate structure from the dwelling unit that was used for business or rental after 2008, then such use is considered a nonqualified use that is subject to the nonqualified use rules discussed above. Thus, the gain attributable to the nonqualified structure and that is allocable to the nonqualified use period will be taxable even if the 2-year use test is satisfied.
If a separate structure was used for business or rental for more than 3 years during the five-year period previous to the sale, then the gain allocable to the separate part is not excludable since it does not satisfy the 2-year test. A taxable gain must be reported onForm 4797.