In: Accounting
Classifying Relevant and Irrelevant Items
The law firm of Hannan, Taylor, and Masteller has been asked to represent a local client. All legal
proceedings will be held out of town in Boston.
Required
The law firm’s accountant has asked you to help determine the incremental cost of accepting this client.
Classify each of the following items on the basis of their relationship to this engagement. Items may
have multiple classifications.
Relevant costs Irrelevant costs
Opportunity Outlay Outlay Sunk
1. The case will require three attorneys to stay four
nights in a Boston hotel. The predicted hotel bill
is $2,400.
2. Hannan, Taylor, and Masteller’s professional staff
is paid $2,000 per day for out-of-town assignments.
3. Last year, depreciation on Hannan, Taylor, and
Masteller’s office was $25,000.
4. Round-trip transportation to Boston is expected to
cost $250 per person.
5. The firm has recently accepted an engagement that
will require partners to spend two weeks in Chi-
cago. The predicted out-of-pocket costs of this trip
are $8,500.
6. The firm has a maintenance contract on its com-
puter equipment that will cost $2,200 next year.