Response to the following problem:
On January 3, 20X4, Tim Flanagan, Inc., paid $224,000 for equipment used in manufacturing automotive supplies. In addition to the basic purchase price, the company paid $700 transportation charges, $100 insurance for the equipment while in transit, $12,100 sales tax, and $3,100 for a special platform on which to place the equipment in the plant. Flanagan management estimates that the equipment will remain in service five years and have a residual value of $20,000. The equipment will produce 50,000 units the first year, with annual production decreasing by 5,000 units during each of the next four years (that is, 45,000 units in year 2; 40,000 units in year 3; and so on-a total of 200,000 units. In trying to decide which depreciation method to use, Flanagan has requested a depreciation schedule for each of three depreciation methods (straight-line, units-ofproduction, and double-declining-balance).
Required:
1. For each depreciation method, prepare a depreciation schedule showing asset cost, depreciation expense, accumulated depreciation, and asset book value. For the unitsof-production method, round depreciation per unit to three decimal places.
2. Flanagan prepares financial statements using the depreciation method that reports the highest income in the early years of asset use. For income tax purposes, the company uses the depreciation method that minimizes income taxes in the early years. Consider the first year Flanagan uses the equipment.
Identify the depreciation methods that meet Flanagan's objectives, assuming the income tax authorities permit the use of any of the methods.