Prior to BJ Corporation's year-end, its sole shareholder comes to you for advice. BJ is an established S corporation that was profitable until two years ago when the economy faltered.
Due to distributions and losses passed through in prior years, the shareholder's basis in the S corporation is only $10,000. He anticipates that the corporation will have a loss of $50,000 in the current year. His previous accountant, who retired this year, had mentioned something to him about losses not being deductible if he did not have stock basis. What are the shareholder's alternatives? Make a list of questions you would ask the shareholder to assist you in selecting between alternatives.