Mario, a single taxpayer with two dependent children, has the following items of income and expense during 2018:
Gross receipts from business ............................... $144,000 

Business expenses ..................................................... 180,000 

Alimony received .......................................................... 22,000 

Interest income .............................................................. 3,000 

Itemized deductions (no casualty or theft) ................ 24,00
Itemized deductions (state taxes, residence interest, and contributions)
a. Determine Mario's taxable income for 2018.
b. Determine Mario's NOL for 2018.