What is the recognized gain from the disposition of a fully depreciated barn that was destroyed by a tornado?

In the case of a fully depreciated barn that has been destroyed, it's important to understand how recognized gain is calculated, particularly when it comes to destroyed or involuntarily converted property.

When an asset is fully depreciated, it means that the depreciation taken on it has reduced its book value to zero. If this asset is destroyed, the owner may receive insurance proceeds as compensation for the loss. In this scenario, the recognized gain from the disposition of the barn would be directly linked to these insurance proceeds.

If the insurance payment for the destroyed barn was $186,000, this amount represents the gain realized. Since the barn had a basis of $0 after full depreciation, any amount received in the form of insurance proceeds is considered a gain. Therefore, the individual recognizes a gain equal to the insurance payout, which in this case is $186,000. This amount is fully taxable because it exceeds the basis, which is zero.

In summary, the recognized gain from the disposition of the fully depreciated barn is correctly identified as $186,000, reflecting the fact that when asset value is compensated through insurance due to destruction, that compensation is treated as realized gain if the asset was fully depreciated to zero.