Final answer:
The write-down of Standard Company's inventory will reduce the balance sheet inventory by $25,000 and increase the Cost of Goods Sold by the same amount, decreasing the pretax income.
Step-by-step explanation:
The required write-down of inventory from the Standard Company's books will have a two-fold effect on the year-end financial statements. Firstly, the inventory amount on the balance sheet will be reduced by $25,000, reflecting the decrease from the reported $365,000 to the net realizable value of $340,000. Secondly, this write-down will lead to an increase in Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) on the income statement by an identical amount ($25,000), effectively decreasing the company's pretax income by the same figure. It's important to note that the write-down will have no impact on the amount Standard Company owes to its inventory suppliers nor is it put off based on the possibility of future value increases. The primary intention of this adjustment is to adhere to the accounting principle of conservatism, ensuring that inventory is not overstated.