4) Prior to passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, most large corporations faced a 35% marginal
tax rate. Under the new tax law, the marginal tax rate is 21%. In terms of the effect of this tax
change on a firm’s decision to purchase assets that it will use for several years ________.
A) the tax change is beneficial because it lowers the after-tax cost of these assets
B) the tax change increases the tax benefits that the firm obtains when it acquires long-lived
assets, whether it immediately deducts the full cost of those assets or depreciates the cost over
time
C) the tax law reduces the tax benefits that a firm obtains when it acquires long-lived assets,
whether it immediately deducts the full cost of those assets or depreciates the cost over time
D) the tax change has no effect because depreciation does not affect a firm’s cash flow
5) If the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act requires a firm to fully deduct the cost of new equipment when it
is purchased rather than depreciating that cost over several years, the investment becomes less
attractive financially.
6) When a firm acquires a long-lived asset such as equipment, if the tax law allows it managers
would generally prefer to ________.
A) depreciate the equipment over a long life
B) depreciate the equipment over a short life
C) immediately take a deduction for the full cost of the asset when it is purchased
D) take no deduction at all for the cost of the equipment