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Industry Related Definitions


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R

Realized Gain or Loss
The difference between the amount received upon the sale or other disposition of property and the adjusted basis of the property.

Real Property
Also known as real estate, includes land, buildings, and their structural components.

Recapture
The inclusion of a previously deducted or excluded amount in gross income or tax liability. Recapture may be applicable to accelerated depreciation, cost recovery, amortization, and various credits.

Recapture of Depreciation or Cost Recovery
Each year that a depreciable business asset is owned, depreciation is claimed that theoretically corresponds with the using up of the property through normal wear, obsolescence, etc. Thus, the property should be worth approximately its adjusted basis. If the property is sold for more than its adjusted basis, section 1245 of the tax Code requires that the gain on personal property and certain non residential real property (to the extent of depreciation claimed) be recaptured; that is, included as ordinary income on the tax return. The purpose of this recapture is to prevent capital gain treatment of gain resulting from claiming depreciation. The recapture of depreciation or cost recovery rules don't apply when the property is disposed of at a loss.

Recognized Gain or Loss
The portion of realized gain or loss that is subject to income taxation.

Recovery
The amount of a deduction or creditable expense paid in a previous year that is later refunded to the taxpayer. The recovered amount must usually be included in income in the year it is received, to the extent of the previous tax benefit.

Recovery Exclusion
The portion of an item deducted in a prior year and recovered in whole or part in a later tax year, which did not generate any tax benefit for the taxpayer. Because no tax benefit was derived from this portion of the recovered amount, it is not taxable.

Recovery of Cost
The amount that was paid for income received--usually a factor only in income from sales of items purchased for resale, income from sales of property, and income from pensions or annuities. The portion of income that represents recovery of cost is not taxable.

Recovery Period
A period of years during which the cost of business assets is written off under ACRS or MACRS.

Recovery Property
Tangible depreciable property that is not excluded from ACRS (Accelerated Cost Recovery System) or MACRS (Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System). Generally, this property acquired for use in a trade or business or property held for the production of income.

Refundable Credit
A credit for which the IRS will send the taxpayer a refund for any amount in excess of the taxpayer's tax liability.  

Registered pension plan (RPP)
A private pension plan, registered and approved by the government, for which contributions, up to a given maximum, are tax-free.

Registered retirement savings plan (RRSP)
A private pension plan, registered and approved by the government, for which contributions, up to a given maximum, may be deductible when calculating taxable income.

Regular Method (Automobile Expenses)
A deduction for business use of the taxpayer's vehicle based on actual cost of gas, oil, repairs, tires, washing, etc. plus a deduction for depreciation.

Regulated Investment Company (Mutual Fund)
A company or trust that uses its capital to invest in other companies. The two principal types are closed-end and open-end mutual funds. Shares in closed-end mutual funds, some of which are listed on stock exchanges, are readily transferable on the open market and are bought and sold like other shares. Open-end funds sell their own new shares to investors, stand ready to buy back their old shares, and are not listed.

Regulations
The IRS Commissioner publishes his interpretation of the tax Code in the form of regulations. They do not have the force and effect of law except in those cases in which the law on a particular subject calls for rules on that subject to be expounded through regulations.

Reinvested Dividends
Earnings that the shareholder has accepted as additional shares of stock rather than as cash. They are taxable in the year constructively received.

Rental Income
Income received by the taxpayer for allowing another person's use of the taxpayer's property. Rental income includes advance rental payments, late payments, and current payments. Payments received for lease cancellation and forfeited security deposits are rental income the year received or forfeited. Rental income is considered passive income for purposes of the passive loss rules, except for that of qualified real estate professionals.

Repairs
Current expenditures to restore business-use property to an original condition or maintain the property through minor alterations rather than to extend its useful life. The cost of repairs normally is deductible annually. Substantial repairs that increase the value or extend the life of the property are treated as capital improvements and must have their cost recovered over a number of years.

Repossession
Taking possession of property that was earlier sold on an installment contract because the buyer defaults on payment of the debt.

Resident Alien
A citizen of another country who lives in the United States and/or has resident status by law or visa, or passes the substantial presence test.  

Retained Earnings
The capital that comes from company profits which has not yet been paid out to shareholders.

Returns of Capital (Nontaxable Distributions)
A return of a shareholder's investment generally made because an excess amount of capital has been accumulated. Returns of capital may be received in cash or reinvested to acquire additional shares at the shareholder's request. Amounts received that are not in excess of the basis of the stock on which they are paid are not taxable. The basis of the stock on which returns of capital are paid must be reduced. Amounts received in excess of the basis of the stock on which returns of capital are paid are reported on Schedule D, in Part I if stock has been owned short term, or in Part II if stock has been owned long term.  

Revenue
An increase in equity resulting from the proceeds of the sale of goods and services.

Right
The opportunity a corporation gives a shareholder to buy additional shares at a special price for a limited time. Shareholders who don't use their rights can sell them to other investors.

Rollover
The conversion of an employer distribution or an existing IRA to another IRA without taxable consequences. This action must take place within 60 days of receiving the distribution.

Roth IRA
Contributions to Roth IRAs, which were introduced in 1998, are not deductible. Earnings grow tax free and qualified withdrawals are also tax free.

Royalty
A payment received for the right to exploit a taxpayer's ownership of natural resources or a taxpayer's literary, musical, or artistic creation.

Royalty Interest
An interest in the oil and gas in place that entitles the holder to a specified fraction, in kind or in value, of the total production from the property, free of any expense of development and operation.


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This page last modified: 11 Mar 2008