Math Problem Statement

You just bought a zero-coupon bond that matures one year from now. Its YTM is 10.4% (assuming semi-annual frequency) and its face value is $1,000. Assuming that you personal income tax rate is 29%, what is your after-tax cash flow one year from now?

Solution

To find your after-tax cash flow from the zero-coupon bond, we need to determine the bond's maturity value (face value), and then calculate the tax implications based on the income generated. Let’s walk through the steps systematically:


Step 1: Understanding the zero-coupon bond.

  • Face Value (FV): $1,000
  • Maturity: 1 year
  • YTM (yield to maturity): 10.4% annualized, with semi-annual compounding
  • Personal income tax rate: 29%

Since this is a zero-coupon bond, it pays no interest during the year, but you earn interest as the difference between the price you pay and the bond’s face value upon maturity.


Step 2: Calculate the purchase price of the bond.

A zero-coupon bond’s price is given by the formula:

Price=Face Value(1+r)n\text{Price} = \frac{\text{Face Value}}{(1 + r)^n}

where:

  • rr = semi-annual yield = 10.4%2=5.2%\frac{10.4\%}{2} = 5.2\% or 0.052
  • nn = 2 (since there are 2 semi-annual periods in one year)

Price=1,000(1+0.052)2\text{Price} = \frac{1,000}{(1 + 0.052)^2}

Price=1,0001.0522=1,0001.107903.45\text{Price} = \frac{1,000}{1.052^2} = \frac{1,000}{1.107} \approx 903.45

So, you buy the bond for approximately $903.45.


Step 3: Calculate the interest earned (imputed income).

The interest earned is the difference between the face value and the purchase price:

Interest earned=1,000903.45=96.55\text{Interest earned} = 1,000 - 903.45 = 96.55


Step 4: Calculate the tax owed on the interest.

Since your income tax rate is 29%, the tax on the interest earned is:

Tax=96.55×0.29=28.00\text{Tax} = 96.55 \times 0.29 = 28.00


Step 5: Calculate your after-tax cash flow.

At maturity, the bond pays the full face value of $1,000. After accounting for taxes, your after-tax cash flow becomes:

After-tax cash flow=1,00028.00=972.00\text{After-tax cash flow} = 1,000 - 28.00 = 972.00


Final Answer:

Your after-tax cash flow one year from now will be:

972.00\boxed{972.00}


Do you want further details or have any questions?


Here are 5 related questions:

  1. How would the after-tax cash flow change if the tax rate was 20% instead?
  2. What is the effective annual yield (EAY) for this bond given the semi-annual compounding?
  3. How does the price of a zero-coupon bond change with different interest rates?
  4. What if the bond had a maturity period of 5 years—how would that change the purchase price?
  5. How do different types of bonds (e.g., coupon bonds) affect taxable income?

Tip: The earlier you buy a zero-coupon bond (with longer maturity), the lower the purchase price, but the more sensitive it becomes to interest rate changes.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Bond Valuation
Time Value of Money
Yield to Maturity (YTM)
Taxation on Investment Income

Formulas

Price of a Zero-Coupon Bond: Price = Face Value / (1 + r)^n
Interest Earned: Interest = Face Value - Purchase Price
Tax on Interest: Tax = Interest × Tax Rate
After-Tax Cash Flow: After-Tax Cash Flow = Face Value - Tax

Theorems

Time Value of Money

Suitable Grade Level

College level - Finance or Investment courses