Ling, an audit manager, is planning the audit of Modern Technologies, Inc., (MT, Inc.) a manufacturer of electronic components. This is the first year that Ling€™s audit firm has performed the audit for MT, Inc. Ling set the preliminary judgment about materiality for the financial statements as a whole at $66,000 and is now in the process of setting performance materiality for asset accounts. Asset balances for the current year (unaudited) and prior year (audited) are listed on the next page, as well as Ling€™s initial determination of performance materiality for each account. Based on preliminary discussions with management, a tour of the production facility, and background reading about the electronic components industry, Ling determines that MT, Inc., has strong credit policies, and most customers pay their full balance on time. Competition in the electronic components industry is high and inventory can become obsolete quickly due to rapid technology changes (inventory turnover is a measure that analysts focus on when assessing performance for electronic component manufacturers). Production equipment is relatively specialized and additional investment is required when new electronic components are introduced.

a. What factors should Ling consider in setting performance materiality for the asset accounts?
b. Explain why Ling set performance materiality for cash at the lowest amount.
c. Explain why Ling set performance materiality for inventory at a lower amount as compared to accounts receivable, PP&E, and other assets.
d. Explain why Ling set performance materiality for accounts receivable at the highest amount.
e. Does setting materiality at a lower level result in collecting more or less audit evidence (as compared to setting materiality at a higherlevel)?

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Performance Materiality $10,000 25,000 15,000 Prior Year (audited) S 356,122 Current Year (unaudited) Cash Accounts receivable $ 397,565 net of allowance 2,583,991 1,953,845 4,935,401 2,166,787 1,555,782 4,078,69 Inventory Total current assets Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,556,342 153,000 $6,644,743 20,000 20,000 1,458,963 149,828 S5,687,482 Other assets Total assets