Question 3 In recent years Button Ltd has purchased three machines. Because of frequent employee turnover in the accounting department, a different accountant was in charge of selecting the depreciation method for each machine, and various methods have been used. Information concerning the machines is summarised in the table below. Machine Acquired Cost 1 1 Jan. 2015 $54 000 Residual value $10500 Useful life (in years) 10 Depreciation method Straight-line 2 1 Jan. 2016 38 400 9000 8 3 1 Jan. 2016 26 000 6000 5 Diminishing-balance* Units-of-production * Using 1 times the straight-line rate For the units-of-production method, total machine hours are expected to be 10 000. Actual hours of use in the first 3 years were: 2016, 1 000; 2017, 3 000; and 2018, 4 000. Required (a) Calculate the amount of accumulated depreciation on each machine at 31 December 2018. (b) For Machine 3 in 2018, which depreciation method is the preferred method for tax purposes? Explain why. (c) If you are the manager of Button Ltd and your bonus is linked to profit of the company, which depreciation method do you prefer for Machine 3 in 2018? Explain why in point form.