(Depreciation Choice—Ethics) Jerry Prior, Beeler Corporation’s controller, is concerned that net income may be lower this year. He is afraid upper-level management might recommend cost reductions by laying off accounting staff, including him.
Prior knows that depreciation is a major expense for Beeler. The company currently uses the double-declining-balance method for both financial reporting and tax purposes, and he’s thinking of selling equipment that, given its age, is primarily used when there are periodic spikes in demand. The equipment has a carrying value of \(2,000,000 and a fair value of \)2,180,000. The gain on the sale would be reported in the income statement. He doesn’t want to highlight this method of increasing income. He thinks, “Why don’t I increase the estimated useful lives and the salvage values? That will decrease depreciation expense and require less extensive disclosure, since the changes are accounted for prospectively. I may be able to save my job and those of my staff.”
Instructions
Answer the following questions.
- Who are the stakeholders in this situation?
- What are the ethical issues involved?
- What should Prior do?
Cominsky Company purchased a machine on July 1, 2018, for \(28,000. Cominsky paid \)200 in title fees and county property tax of \(125 on the machine. In addition, Cominsky paid \)500 shipping charges for delivery, and \(475 was paid to a local contractor to build and wire a platform for the machine on the plant floor. The machine has an estimated useful life of 6 years with a salvage value of \)3,000. Determine the depreciation base of Cominsky’s new machine. Cominsky uses straightline depreciation.
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