Question

a. As far as the tax code is concerned, HeadBook will increase its expenses by $5,000 in either case. If it pays for the policy, it incurs a $5,000 health care expense. If it raises Vanessa’s salary by $5,000, it incurs $5,000 of salary expense. If HeadBook is profitable and pays corporate profit taxes at a marginal 35 percent rate, by how much will HeadBook’s tax liability be reduced in either case?

Answer 1

Answer: $1,750

Explanation:

Incurring a health insurance cost of $5,000 or increasing salaries by $5,000 will have the same effect on the taxes because they will both be removed from the income before the taxes are calculated.

The reduction in tax in either case is:

= Expense * Tax rate

= 5,000 * 35%

= $1,750