Juan was considering purchasing an interest in a tax-exempt bond fund for $100,000 when he discovered that the interest must be included on his state income tax return. The interest rate is 5%. His marginal Federal tax rate is 35%, and his marginal state income tax rate is 10%. Juan itemizes his deductions on his Federal income tax return. As an alternative, Juan can purchase a state bond (a double-exempt bond) yielding 4.9% interest that is exempt from both Federal and state income tax. Which investment would yield the greater after-tax return?

The double-exempt bond is the preferred investment because it has a higher after-tax return Tax benefit .

Explanation:

Calculatation of the after-tax return on both bonds

1)The double-exempt bond does not pay state or federal income taxes.

After-tax return =

Before-tax return = 4.9%

2)The tax-exempt bond is the state income taxes, but not federal in which the states can decide whether to tax their bonds or not.

Interest Income (100,000 * 5%) 5,000

Less: State taxes at 10% (5,000* 10%) (500)

Tax benefit from deduction of state taxes on federal return (500 * 35%) 175

After-tax Income 4,675

After-tax return = 4,675/100,000 = 4.675%

Therefore the double-exempt bond is the preferred investment because it has a higher after-tax return Tax benefit .

Hence the state income tax will be deductible on Juan’s federal tax return and Juan’s federal taxable income will be lower or lesser by $500 which will produces tax savings at his federal marginal tax rate of $500 * 35% = $175.

the correct answer is economics is a game without winners or losers.

unlike sports or games economic is a game without losers or winner rather it is a game where everyone wins. parties of business doing businesses exchange money with each other and hence exchange is done on the basis of goods. one party takes the goods and other sales it so there is winner on both sides. each party values more highly the good it gets than the good it gives up. both sides exchange only because both intend to increase their value. so there is no concept of lose or win.