Final answer:
Expenditures that qualify for inclusion in the cost of plant assets, such as computing equipment, generally include the purchase price of the equipment, any applicable discounts, and any costs incurred to get the equipment ready for use.
Step-by-step explanation:
Expenditures that qualify for inclusion in the cost of plant assets, such as computing equipment, generally include the purchase price of the equipment, any applicable discounts, and any costs incurred to get the equipment ready for use. In the case of Hamlet College's equipment purchase, the list price of $285,000 minus the education discount of $25,000 gives a net purchase price of $260,000. The cash payment of $50,000 and the three-month, 9 percent note payable for the remaining balance ($260,000 - $50,000) would be included in the cost of the equipment. In addition, any accrued interest charges on the note (in this case, $4,500) would also be included.
Furthermore, sales taxes of $15,000, freight charges of $1,000, and installation costs of $5,000 would be included in the cost. However, the $500 repair cost for the damaged computer terminal and the $4,000 payment for printing admissions brochures featuring the new equipment would not be included in the cost of the equipment, as they are considered separate expenses related to the incident and advertising, respectively.