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Kristin is evaluating a capital budgeting project that should last for 4 years.

ID: 2768335 • Letter: K

Question

Kristin is evaluating a capital budgeting project that should last for 4 years. The project requires $375,000 of equipment. She is unsure what depreciation method to use in her analysis, straight-line or the 3-year MACRS accelerated method. Under straight-line depreciation, the cost of the equipment would be depreciated evenly over its 4-year life (ignore the half-year convention for the straight-line method). The applicable MACRS depreciation rates are 33%, 45%, 15%, and 7%. The company's WACC is 12%, and its tax rate is 30%. What would the depreciation expense be each year under each method? Round your answers to the nearest cent.

Explanation / Answer

Straight line depreciation method:

Under this method amount of depreciation would be same each year:

Annual depreciation = (cost of asset – salvage value)/ life

                                         = (375,000 -0)/4

                                         = 93,750

MARRS method:

year

Depreciation basis

MACRS rate

Depreciation

1

375000

33%

123750

2

375000

45%

168750

3

375000

15%

56250

4

375000

7%

26250

year

Depreciation basis

MACRS rate

Depreciation

1

375000

33%

123750

2

375000

45%

168750

3

375000

15%

56250

4

375000

7%

26250