Problem:

Mathias has been the sole proprietor of a clothing store for many years. He intends to retire after holding a "liquidation sale". He wants to avoid ordinary income from the sale of the business inventory, so he shuts down the store for one month and then begins the liquidation sale. Mathias tells you (his tax return preparer) to report the liquidation sale proceeds as capital gain because he was no longer using those assets in a business at the time of the sale, but was holding them for investment.

Required:

Question: Evaluate the propriety of Mathias's plan.

Note: Show all workings.