Production equipment costing $500,000 has been purchased by a contract manufacturing company to meet the specific needs of a customer (Note: this equipment qualified for a 10% investment tax credit (ITC) at the time of purchase). The contracting award is for a 4-year contract with the possibility of extending the contract for another 4 years. The company plans to use MACRS to depreciate this equipment as a 7-year class property for tax purposes. The income tax rate for the company is 40%, and it expects to have an after-tax rate of return (MARR) of 12% for all its investments. The equipment has generated an annual income of $150,000 for the company for the first four years, however the customer decided not to renew the contract after 4 years. Consequently, the company has decided to sell the equipment for $200,000 at the end of 4 years. Required:
Use the short-cut method to determine if the company has reached their rate of return (IRR) goal on this contract and investment.