Question

Isabel, a calendar-year taxpayer, uses the cash method of accounting for her sole proprietorship. In late December she received a $20,000 bill from her accountant for consulting services related to her small business. Isabel can pay the $20,000 bill anytime before January 30 of next year without penalty. Assume her marginal tax rate is 37 percent this year and next year, and that she can earn an after-tax rate of return of 8 percent on her investments
Required:
a. What is the after-tax cost if Isabel pays the $19,000 bill in December?
b. What is the after-tax cost if Isabel pays the $19,000 bill in January?
c. Based on requirement a and b, should Isabel pay the $19,000 bill in December or January?

Answer 1

Answer:

A. $11,970

B. $11,890

C. January

Explanation:

a. Calculation for the after-tax cost if Isabel pays the $19,000 bill in December

After-tax cost=$19,000 - ($19,000 x 37%)

After-tax cost= $19,000 - $7,030

After-tax cost= $11,970

Therefore the after-tax cost if Isabel pays the $19,000 bill in December will be $11,970

b. Calculation for the after-tax cost if Isabel pays the $19,000 bill in January

First step is to calculate the cost before taxes

Cost before taxes = $19,000 - ($19,000 x 8%/12) Cost before taxes= $19,000 - $127

Cost before taxes= $18,873

Now let calculate the After-tax cost

After-tax cost = $18,873 - ($18,873 x 37%)

After-tax cost= $18,873 - $6,983

After-tax cost = $11,890

Therefore the after-tax cost if Isabel pays the $19,000 bill in January will be $11,890

c. Based on the above calculation for both a and b, Isabel should pay the amount of $19,000 bill in January reason that it has the lowest cost of debt of the amount of $11,890 compare to December which has the cost of debt of the amount of $11,970.