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STARTUP COSTS Definition

STARTUP COSTS or Organization Cost, in the U.S., is when a new corporation is created, the costs associated with the formation are not deductible. An election must be made to amortize organizational costs no later than the due date (including extensions) of the return for tax year in which the active trade or business begins. If an election is not made to amortize these costs, they must be capitalized on the books and are not subject to amortization resulting in permanent capitalization. Upon making the timely election, the corporation may recover these costs through amortization deductions over a 60 month period. Organizational expenditures include any expenditure which is:

• incident to the creation of the corporation,
• chargeable to capital account, and 
• is of a character which, if expended incident to the creation of a corporation having a limited life, would be amortizable over such life.

The following are examples of organization costs:

• legal services incident to the organization of the corporation, such as drafting the corporate charter, by-laws, minutes of organizational meetings, terms of original stock certificates, etc.
• necessary accounting services.
• expenses of temporary directors and of organizational meetings of directors or stockholders.
• fees paid to state of incorporation.

Learn new Accounting Terms

LEHMAN FORMULA is a compensation formula originally developed by investment bankers Lehman Brothers for investment banking services:
- 5% of the first million dollars involved in the transaction for services rendered
- 4% of the second million
- 3% of the third million
- 2% of the fourth million
- 1% of everything thereafter (above $4 million)
NOTE: Most investment bankers now require an additional multiplier to offset inflation.

MD&A is an acronym for Management Discussion and Analysis. MD&A usually refers to that section of a corporate annual or quarterly report that provides managerial comment on corporate performance for the time period in question.

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