A firm is trying to determine whether to replace an existing asset. The proposed asset has a purchase price of $50,000 and has installation costs of $3,000. The asset will be depreciated over its five year life using the straight-line method. The new asset is expected to increase sales by $17,000 and non-depreciation expenses by $2,000 annually over the life of the asset. Due to the increase in sales, the firm expects an increase in working capital during the asset's life of $1,500, and the firm expects to be able to sell the asset for $6,000 at the end of its life. The existing asset was originally purchased three years ago for $25,000, has a remaining life of five years, and is being depreciated using the straight-line method. The expected salvage value at the end of the asset's life (i.e., five years from now) is $5,000; however, the current sale price of the existing asset is $20,000, and its current book value is $15,625. The firm's marginal tax rate is 34 percent and its required rate of return is 12 percent.
If the new machine is purchased, depreciation expense will increase or decrease by:
increase $8,000
increase $6,900
Increase $6,300
decrease $5,000