Question

Hank, a calendar-year taxpayer, uses the cash method of accounting for his sole proprietorship. In late December, he performed $20,000 of legal services for a client. Hank typically requires his clients to pay his bills immediately upon receipt. Assume his marginal tax rate is 30 percent this year and will be 33 percent next year, and that he can earn an after-tax rate of return of 12 percent on his investments.a. What is the after-tax income if Hank sends his client the bill in December?After- tax income ?b. What is the after-tax income if Hank sends his client the bill in January? (Do not round intermediate calculations. Round "PV Factor" to 3 decimal places. Round your answer to 2 decimal places.)after-tax income ?c. Should Hank send his client the bill in December or January?DecemberJanuaryd. What is the after-tax income if Hank expects his marginal tax rate to be 25 percent next year and sends his client the bill in January? (Round "PV Factor" to 3 decimal places. Round your answer to 2 decimal places.)

Answer 1

Answer: a. $14,000

b. $14,106

c. January

2. $15,535

Explanation:

a. If Hank sends the bill in December.

Tax rate is 30% this year.

Amount is $20,000

After Tax Income = 20,000 * (1 - tax)

= 20,000 ( 1 - 30%)

= $14,000

b. If Hank pays Next year

Tax rate is 33%

After tax return rate of 12%

Amount is 20,000

Tax = 20,000 * 33%

= $6,600.

Because this is next year, the present value of the tax needs to be computed for better comparison.

With an after tax return of 12%, the PV will be,

= 6,600 * PV factor ( 12%, 1 period)

= 6,600 * 0.893

=  $5,894

The income therefore will be,

= $20,000 - 5,894

= $14,106

c. Hank should pay in January as he would make more income.

2. Tax rate is 25% next year and income is to be received next year.

Tax = 20,000 * 25%

= $5,000

PV of $5,000 = 5,000 * PV Factor (12%, 1 period)

= 5,000 * 0.893

= $4,465

After tax income = 20,000 - 4,465

= $15,535