Problem
On July 1, 2015, ABC Co. issued 10-year, $4,574 million maturity value, 3% coupon bonds when the market rate was 2% for a cash price of $4,994 million. Interest was payable semi-annually on Dec. 31 and June 30. ABC also issued $3,527 million face value, 20-year, zero coupon bonds on July 1, 2017, that matured on June 30, 2037, for a cash price of $2,619million. The effective market interest rate at issuance was 1.5%. ABC repurchased $1,143 million face value coupon bonds on June 30, 2020 for $1,220 million cash (after interest was paid) and $582 million in face value of the zero-coupon bonds on June 30, 2021 for a purchase price of $432 million cash.
Interest expense is deductible on the corporate tax return. Assuming a corporate tax rate of 19% in 2019, how much did ABC save in taxes by deducting the interest expense? What was the after-tax interest cost in 2019?