CHAPTER 03—FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CASH FLOW, AND TAXES
59. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
Since companies can deduct dividends paid but not interest paid, our tax system favors the use of equity
financing over debt financing, and this causes companies’ debt ratios to be lower than they would be if interest
and dividends were both deductible.
Interest paid to an individual is counted as income for federal tax purposes and taxed at the individual’s regular
tax rate, which in 2014 could go up to 39.6%, but qualified dividends received were taxed at a maximum tax
rate of 15% for individuals earning less than $400,000 and married taxpayers filing jointly earning less than
$450,000.
The maximum federal tax rate on corporate income in 2014 was 50%.
Corporations obtain capital for use in their operations by borrowing and by raising equity capital, either by
selling new common stock or by retaining earnings. The cost of debt capital is the interest paid on the debt,
and the cost of the equity is the dividends paid on the stock. Both of these costs are deductible from income
when calculating income for tax purposes.
The maximum federal tax rate on personal income in 2014 was 50%.
FOFM.BRIG.16.03.09 – Income taxes
United States – BUSPROG.FOFM.BRIG.16.06 – Reflective thinking
United States – OH – DISC.FOFM.BRIG.16.05 – Financial analysis and cash flows
Multiple Choice: Conceptual
60. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
The income of certain small corporations that qualify under the Tax Code is completely exempt from
corporate income taxes. Thus, the federal government receives no tax revenue from these businesses, even
though they report high accounting profits.
All businesses, regardless of their legal form of organization, are taxed under the Business Tax Provisions of
the Internal Revenue Code.
Small corporations that qualify under the Tax Code can elect not to pay corporate taxes, but then each
stockholder must report his or her pro rata shares of the firm’s income as personal income and pay taxes on
that income.
Congress recently changed the tax laws to make dividend income received by individuals exempt from income
taxes. Prior to the enactment of that law, corporate income was subject to double taxation, where the firm was
first taxed on the corporation’s income and stockholders were taxed again on this income when it was paid to
them as dividends.
All corporations other than non-profits are subject to corporate income taxes, which are 15% for the lowest
amounts of income and 38% for the highest income amounts.
FOFM.BRIG.16.03.09 – Income taxes
Multiple Choice: Conceptual