Question & Answer

Why may managers choose to set prices that cover all costs including sunk costs.

Ortiz purchased a piece of equipment that cost $202,000 on January 1, 2014. The equipment has the following components. Component Cost Residual Value Estimated Useful Life A $70,000 $7,000 10 years B 50,000 5,000 5 years C 82,000 4,000 12 years Compute the depreciation expense for this equipment at December 31, 2014.

How can the market distortions argument be used to justify putting excise duties on specific goods such as petrol, alcohol and tobacco? Is this the only reason why excise duties are put on these particular products?

Cool Touch Cookware (CTC) has been in business for about 10 years now. Daisy and Kesha are each 50 percent owners of the business. They initially established the business with cash contributions. CTC manufactures unique cookware that remains cool to the touch when in use. CTC has been fairly profitable over the years. Daisy and Kesha have both been actively involved in managing the business. They have developed very good personal relationships with many customers (both wholesale and retail) that, Daisy and Kesha believe, keep the customers coming back.   On September 30 of the current year, CTC had all of its assets appraised. Below is CTC’s balance sheet, as of September 30, with the corresponding appraisals of the fair market value of all of its assets. Note that CTC has several depreciated assets. CTC uses the hybrid method of accounting. It accounts for its gross margin-related items under the accrual method, and it accounts for everything else using the cash method of accounting.     Assets Adjusted  Tax Basis FMV Cash $150,000 $150,000 Accounts receivable 20,000 15,000 Inventory* 90,000 300,000 Equipment 120,000 100,000 Investment in XYZ stock 40,000 120,000 Land (used in the business) 80,000 70,000 Building 200,000 180,000    Total Assets $700,000 $935,000**   Liabilities Accounts payable $ 40,000 Bank loan60,000 Mortgage on building100,000 Equity 500,000  Total liabilities and equity$700,000   *CTC uses the LIFO method for determining the adjusted basis of its inventory. Its basis in the inventory under the FIFO method would have been $110,000. **In addition, Daisy and Kesha had the entire business appraised at $1,135,000, which is $200,000 more than the value of the identifiable assets.   From January 1 of the current year through September 30, CTC reported the following income: Ordinary business income    $530,000 Dividends from XYZ stock    $12,000 Long-term capital losses $15,000 Interest income $ 3,000   Daisy and Kesha are considering changing the business form of CTC.   Required: a. Assume CTC is organized as a C corporation. Identify significant tax and nontax issues associated with converting CTC from a C corporation to an S corporation. [Hint: see §§1374 and 1363(d).] b. Assume CTC is organized as a C corporation. Identify significant tax and nontax issues associated with converting CTC from a C corporation to an LLC. Assume CTC converts to an LLC (taxed as a partnership) by distributing its assets to its shareholders, who then contribute the assets to a new LLC. [Hint: see §§331, 336, and 721(a).] c. Assume that CTC is a C corporation with a net operating loss carryforward as of the beginning of the year in the amount of $500,000 and that the NOL originated in 2019. Identify significant tax and nontax issues associated with converting CTC from a C corporation to an LLC (taxed as a partnership). Assume CTC converts to an LLC by distributing its assets to its shareholders, who then contribute the assets to a new LLC. [Hint: see §§172(a), 331, 336, and 721(a).]

Justine would like to clarify her understanding of a code section recently enacted by Congress.  What tax law sources are available to assist Justine?

} Reese, 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.  Reese can pay the $20,000 bill any time before January 30 of next year without penalty.  Assume Reese’s marginal tax rate is 30 percent this year and will be 40 percent next year, and that she can earn an after-tax rate of return of 12 percent on her investments.  When should she pay the $20,000 bill—this year or next?

A cold heading operation is performed to produce the head on a steel nail. The strength coefficient for this steel is 600 MPa, and the strain hardening exponent is 0.22. Coefficient of friction at the die-work interface is 0.14. The wire stock out of which the nail is made is 5.00 mm in diameter. The head is to have a diameter of 9.5 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm. The final length of the nail is 120 mm. (a) What length of stock must project out of the die in order to provide sufficient volume of material for this upsetting operation? (b) Compute the maximum force that the punch must apply to form the head in this open-die operation.

Garison Music Emporium carries a wide variety of musical instruments, sound reproduction equipment, recorded music, and sheet music. Garison uses two sales promotion techniques—warranties and premiums—to attract customers. Musical instruments and sound equipment are sold with a one-year warranty for replacement of parts and labor. The estimated warranty cost, based on past experience, is 2% of sales. The premium is offered on the recorded and sheet music. Customers receive a coupon for each dollar spent on recorded music or sheet music. Customers may exchange 200 coupons and $20 for a digital MP3 player. Garison pays $32 for each player and estimates that 60% of the coupons given to customers will be redeemed. Garison’s total sales for 2014 were $7,200,000—$5,700,000 from musical instruments and sound reproduction equipment and $1,500,000 from recorded music and sheet music. Replacement parts and labor for warranty work totaled $164,000 during 2014. A total of 6,500 players used in the premium program were purchased during the year and there were 1,200,000 coupons redeemed in 2014. The accrual method is used by Garison to account for the warranty and premium costs for financial reporting purposes. The balances in the accounts related to warranties and premiums on January 1, 2014, were as shown below. Inventory of Premiums $ 37,600 Premium Liability 44,800 Warranty Liability 136,000 Instructions Garison Music Emporium is preparing its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014. Determine the amounts that will be shown on the 2014 financial statements for the following. (a) Warranty Expense. (d) Inventory of Premiums. (b) Warranty Liability. (e) Premium Liability. (c) Premium Expense.

During pouring into a sand mold, the molten metal can be poured into the downsprue at a constant flow rate during the time it takes to fill the mold. At the end of pouring the sprue is filled and there is negligible metal in the pouring cup. The downsprue is 6.0 in long. Its cross-sectional area at the top = 0.8 in2 and at the base = 0.6 in2 . The cross-sectional area of the runner leading from the sprue also = 0.6 in2 , and it is 8.0 in long before leading into the mold cavity, whose volume = 65 in3 . The volume of the riser located along the runner near the mold cavity = 25 in3 . It takes a total of 3.0 sec to fill the entire mold (including cavity, riser, runner, and sprue. This is more than the theoretical time required, indicating a loss of velocity due to friction in the sprue and runner. Find (a) the theoretical velocity and flow rate at the base of the downsprue; (b) the total volume of the mold; (c) the actual velocity and flow rate at the base of the sprue; and (d) the loss of head in the gating system due to friction.

Do behavioural theories of the firm allow us to make any predictions about firms’ prices and output?

Which elements are the noble metals?

You have been hired as a benefit consultant by Jean Honore, the owner of Attic Angels. She wants to establish a retirement plan for herself and her three employees. Jean has provided the following information. The retirement plan is to be based upon annual salary for the last year before retirement and is to provide 50% of Jean’s last-year annual salary and 40% of the last-year annual salary for each employee. The plan will make annual payments at the beginning of each year for 20 years from the date of retirement. Jean wishes to fund the plan by making 15 annual deposits beginning January 1, 2014. Invested funds will earn 12% compounded annually. Information about plan participants as of January 1, 2014, is as follows. Jean Honore, owner: Current annual salary of $48,000; estimated retirement date January 1, 2039. Colin Davis, fl ower arranger: Current annual salary of $36,000; estimated retirement date January 1, 2044. Anita Baker, sales clerk: Current annual salary of $18,000; estimated retirement date January 1, 2034. Gavin Bryars, part-time bookkeeper: Current annual salary of $15,000; estimated retirement date January 1, 2029. In the past, Jean has given herself and each employee a year-end salary increase of 4%. Jean plans to continue this policy in the future. Instructions (a) Based upon the above information, what will be the annual retirement benefit for each plan participant? (Round to the nearest dollar.) (Hint: Jean will receive raises for 24 years.) (b) What amount must be on deposit at the end of 15 years to ensure that all benefits will be paid? (Round to the nearest dollar.) (c) What is the amount of each annual deposit Jean must make to the retirement plan?

How does the above argument about firms’ responses to a rise in demand relate to the shape of their marginal cost curves?

An 92% aluminum-8% copper alloy casting is made in a sand mold using a sand core that weighs 20 kg. Determine the buoyancy force in Newtons tending to lift the core during pouring. Sand density = 1.6

Describe the value-at-risk method for measuring risk. (LO4)

Bingaman Resources sold two depreciable §1231 assets during the year. One asset resulted in a large gain (the asset was sold for more than it was purchased) and the other resulted in a small loss. Describe the §1231 netting process for Bingaman.

Discuss the similarities and the differences between convertible debt and debt issued with stock warrants.

Identify the two recognized lease accounting methods for lessees and distinguish between them.

Sherry, who is 52 years of age, opened a Roth IRA three years ago. She has contributed a total of $12,000 to a Roth IRA ($4,000 a year). The current value of the Roth IRA is $16,300. In the current year, Sherry withdraws $14,000 of the account balance to purchase a car. Assuming Sherry’s marginal tax rate is 24 percent, how much of the $14,000 withdrawal will she retain after taxes to fund her car purchase?

Presented below is information related to Candlebox Enterprises. J an. 31 Feb. 28 M ar. 31 A pr. 30 Inventory at cost $15,000 $15,100 $17,000 $13,000 Inventory at the lower-of-cost-or-market 14,500 12,600 15,600 12,300 Purchases for the month 20,000 24,000 26,500 Sales revenue for the month 29,000 35,000 40,000 Instructions (a) From the information, prepare (as far as the data permit) monthly income statements in columnar form for February, March, and April. The inventory is to be shown in the statement at cost, the gain or loss due to market fluctuations is to be shown separately, and a valuation account is to be set up for the difference between cost and the lower of cost or market. (b) Prepare the journal entry required to establish the valuation account at January 31 and entries to adjust it monthly thereafter.

] Megan and Matthew are equal partners in the J & J Partnership (calendar-year-end entity). On January 1 of the current year, they decide to liquidate the partnership. Megan’s basis in her partnership interest is $100,000, and Matthew’s is $35,000. The two partners receive identical distributions, with each receiving the following assets: Tax BasisFMV Cash $ 30,000 $ 30,000 Inventory 5,000 6,000 Land 500 1,000    Totals $ 35,500 $37,000 a. What are the amount and character of Megan’s recognized gain or loss? b. What is Megan’s basis in the distributed assets? c. What are the amount and character of Matthew’s recognized gain or loss? d. What is Matthew’s basis in the distributed assets?

How do the tax consequences of being an employee differ from those of being self-employed?

Why might market-orientated supply-side policies have undesirable side effects on aggregate demand?

How do the economic policies of the major political parties differ? (If it is near an election you could refer to their manifestos.) How far can an economist go in assessing these policies?

Use the information provided in IFRS12-8. Assume that the recoverable amount of the division is estimated to be $750,000. Prepare Waters’ journal entry, if necessary, to record impairment of the goodwill.