Question

Suppose you want to invest $10,000. You have two options: (1) Invest in California municipal bonds with an expected rate of return of 13.00%, or (2) invest in J and K Corp.’s bonds with an expected rate of return of 19.50%. Assume that your decision is based on a tax perspective. If everything else is the same for both bonds, at what tax rate would you be indifferent between these two bonds?

Answer 1

Answer:

a tax-rate for 33.33% will make both investment yield an equal return after-taxes

Explanation:

the municipal bonds aare tax free, while the J and K Corp.'s bond are subject to tax income.

threfore to be indifferent between these bonsd the tax rate will equal the corp bon rate after taxes with the municipal bond:

pretax x (1 - t ) = after tax

0.195 x (1-t) = 0.13

1 - 0.13/0.195 = t

t = 1/3 = 33.33%