Answer:
The cost of underestimating the expenses is $240.
Explanation:
A flexible benefits program can be described as a spending plan in which an employee agrees to a lower cash compensation when the employer has also agreed to pay some costs which the employer can pay without the need for the employee to recognize gross income. Therefore, the medical expenses of the employee for the next year will be estimated by the employee and he or she will accept a deduction equal to the estimated expenses from his or her salary.
From the question, the following are given:
Amount put into flexible benefits account by Rosa = $4,000
Rosa's Actual expenses = $5,000
Marginal tax rate = 24%
Therefore, we have:
Amount by which the account is underestimated by Rosa = Rosa's Actual expenses - Amount put into flexible benefits account by Rosa = $5,000 - $4,000 = $1,000
Rosa's cost of underestimating the expenses = Amount by which the account is underestimated by Rosa * Marginal tax rate = $1,000 * 24% = $240
Therefore, the cost of underestimating the expenses is $240.
