Imagine a Monopoly company called Hat Co. was managed by you…
Imagine a Monopoly company called Hat Co. was managed by your friend Steve. Hat Co. had income tax expenses of $10 in year 1, $50 in year 2, and $140 in year 3. Remember that Monopoly companies pay 10% in income taxes on their first $1,000 of income and 20% in income taxes on income between $1,001 and $2,000. During year 2, Hat Co. traded away one railroad and received New York Avenue (with a value on the board of $200) in exchange. Hat Co. estimated that New York Avenue had a “fair value” of $200. Steve finishes ACG 5005 and becomes an Accounting God in October. One night in November, Steve is visited by the ghost of income taxes, who tells him that Hat Co. could have reduced its total income tax expenses over the course of the three years of the game by having a higher “fair value” estimate for New York Avenue when it was acquired in year 2, and then by “writing down” its value to $200 in year 3 (this write down to a book value of $200 would be required because of the “mandatory write down” rule). The ghost sends Steve back in time to play Monopoly again and commands him to change New York Avenue’s “fair value” estimate when it is acquired in year 2 to minimize Hat Co.’s total income tax expenses. What “fair value” for New York Avenue should Steve choose in year 2 (when it was acquired) to minimized the total income taxes Hat Co. pays over the course of the three years of the game?
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