RESEARCH PROBLEMS: As the semester progresses, under the Documents tab on Bb students will find Research Problems (RP) noted on...

RESEARCH PROBLEMS: As the semester progresses, under the Documents tab on Bb students will find Research Problems (RP) noted on the Assignment Sheet for many chapters.  Students may submit only one problem from each chapter (when there is more than one problem) to a limit of three for the term.  These assignments are limited to one page (typed) (in 10 or 12 point type) responses to the questions assigned.  One page means one page, no more.  The format is:  Statement of the Facts, Issues or Tax Question, Answer, Rationale, Resources Used (non-text).  Assignments are due on the date shown on the Assignment Sheet.  Lexis-Nexis, Checkpoint/RIA  and CCH Intelliconnect will be significant research tools in completing these assignments.  Please use proper citation form (as described in Chapters 1 & 2 of the Text).  Each submission must contain at a minimum one reference to the Internal Revenue Code (26 USC §___) or applicable Regulation and one federal case law citation (Tax Court, US District Court, US Appeals Court, US Supreme Court).  Please note that case citations should include a discussion of how case findings can be applied to the facts in the problem.  Each student may submit three research problems during the term.  Please submit your best work – there are no “do-overs”.  Failure to properly format your research will result in a grade of zero.  A sample student research problem answer is available on the Documents tab on Blackboard.  The grading rubric is also available on Bb.  A document template is posted on Bb and must be sued for each submission.  Spelling and proofreading matters so proof your assignments carefully.  It is common for a student to receive a zero score for a poorly proofed paper.  Students may submit only three research problems of those assigned for grading and two must be submitted by October 10(night)/12 (day) to be marked.  Students submitting more than three RP assignments will be docked 40 penalty points and the additional submission(s) will not be graded.  Note, since students are accorded choices in turning in papers, the smart call is to turn in the assignments early.  No late papers are accepted for any reason so it is smart to turn assignments in early to avoid any potential problem that might arise at the last minute. 

Research Problem (RP) format: 

Facts:  Describe the facts provided by the client. 

Issue(s) or Tax Question:  Isolate the specific tax treatment question(s). 

Answer:  Provide a yes/no style answer about the tax treatment. 

Rationale:  Describe the reasons for your answer including the variations and considerations to be followed to obtain the desired result.