Clean Aire Anti-Pollution Company is suffering declining sales of its principal product, non-biodegradable plastic cartons. The president, Wade Truman, instructs his controller, Kate Rollins, to lengthen asset lives to reduce depreciation expense. A processing line of automated plastic extruding equipment, purchased for $3.5 million in January 2022, was originally estimated to have a useful life of 8 years and a salvage value of $400,000. Depreciation has been recorded for 2 years on that basis. Wade wants the estimated life changed to 12 years total and the straight-line method continued with no change in the salvage value. Kate is hesitant to make the change, believing it is unethical to increase net income in this manner. Wade says, Hey, the life is only an estimate, and Ive heard that our competition uses a 12-year life on their production equipment.

Instructions

Who are the stakeholders in this situation?

Is the proposed change in asset life unethical, or is it simply a good business practice by an astute president?

What is the effect of Wades proposed change on net income in the year of change?

Kimmel, P. D., Weygandt, J. J., & Mitchell, J. E. (2020). Financial and Managerial Accounting, Enhanced eText (4th Edition). Wiley Global Education US.

CT9.7 Ciesin Are Ave-Poluton Conpany is sutloring declining sales of its principa product, non-biodegradable plastic cartons. The president, Wade Thaman, inatructe his controle, Kate Rolins, instructions Who are the stachohsers in this sauatori? Is the dropored charge in aisel ile uoeinicad, of is it sirply a good business proctce by an astite presedent? What in the aftec of waous seripotod change on rien income in the yese of change? CT9.7 Ciesin Are Ave-Poluton Conpany is sutloring declining sales of its principa product, non-biodegradable plastic cartons. The president, Wade Thaman, inatructe his controle, Kate Rolins, instructions Who are the stachohsers in this sauatori? Is the dropored charge in aisel ile uoeinicad, of is it sirply a good business proctce by an astite presedent? What in the aftec of waous seripotod change on rien income in the yese of change