Assume that a company currently depreciates its fixed assets over 7 years. Which of the following would occur if a tax law change forced the company to depreciate its fixed assets over 10 years instead?

A. The company's tax payment would increase

B. The company's cash position would increase

C. The company's net income would increase.

D. Statements a and b are correct

E. Statements b and c are correct.

Answer: E. Statements b and c are correct.

Explanation:

Should the company begin to depreciate over a 10 year period as opposed to 7, that would mean that the depreciation expense per year will reduce as it is now spread over a longer period. Because Depreciation reduces the Net Income and therefore reduces the taxes on the Net Income, reducing depreciation means that there is more Net Income. This will mean that the company can be taxed more.

Also, as just mentioned, spreading Depreciation over a longer period will reduce the depreciation expense. This would translate to a lower reduction in the Net Income so the Net Income will increase by this change.

For example, if a $70,000 asset was to be depreciated to $0 over 7 years, those payments would be $10,000 each using the Straight line method. This would reduce Net Income by $10,000 every year. If the period was changed to 10 years, the amount drops to $7,000 per year which would mean only $7,000 to remove from the Net Income meaning there'll be more Net Income and hence, more taxes.

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