Question

Ajax Computer Company is an accrual-method calendar-year taxpayer. Ajax has never advertised in the national media prior to this year. In November of this year, however, Ajax paid $3 million for television advertising time during a "super" sporting event scheduled to take place in early February of next year. In addition, in November of this year the company paid $2,500,000 for a one-time advertising blitz during a professional golf tournament in April of next year. What amount of these payments, if any, can Ajax deduct this year

Answer 1

Answer: No deduction can be claimed this year.

Explanation:

The options to the question are:

a. No deduction can be claimed this year.

b. $5.50 million

c. $2,500,000

d. $5.50 million only if the professional golf tournament is played before April 15.

Answer:

Since Ajax Computer company is an accrual method calender-year tax payer, the computer company would recognize the expenses only when such expenses are incurred and not at the time that cash is being paid for the the expenses

Ajax computer company already paid in advance for both advertisements the following year even though the advertisement eanst taking place that year. Therefore, the payments will not be considered to be an expense until advertisements has actually taken place. Because of this, Ajax cannot deduct the amounts paid for the advertisements next year and hence, no deduction will be claimed this year.