Monitor Company uses the LIFO method for valuing its ending inventory. The following financial statement information is available for its first year of operation:

Income Statement

For the year ended Dec 31

Sales                                  50,0000

Cost of goods sold             23,000

Gross profit                        27,000

Expenses                           13,000

Income before taxes           14,000

Monitor's ending inventory using the LIFO method was $8,200. Monitor's accountant determined that, had the company used FIFO, the ending inventory would have been $8,500.

a)Determine what the income before taxes would have been, had Monitor used the FIFO method of inventory valuation instead of LIFO.

b)What would be the difference in income taxes between LIFO and FIFO, assuming a 30% tax rate?

c)If Monitor wanted to lower the amount of income taxes to be paid, which method would it choose?