Allie, who was an accounting major in college, is the owner of a medium-size construction limited liability company. She prepares the company's Schedule C each year. Due to reporting a home construction contract using the completed contract method, the corporation is subject to the AMT in 2018. Allie files her 2018 tax return in early February 2019. Her total tax liability is $58,000 ($53,000 regular income tax liability + $5,000 AMT). Assume that Allie is in the 37% tax bracket.
In early March, Allie reads an article on minimizing income taxes. Based on this article, she decides that it would be beneficial for the company to report the home construction contract using the percentage of completion method on its 2018 return. Although this will increase her 2018 income tax liability, it will minimize the total income tax liability over the two-year construction period. Therefore, Allie files an amended return on March 14, 2019. Evaluate Allie's actions from both a tax avoidance and an ethical perspective.