What is goodwill? Is goodwill amortized? What happens if the value of goodwill has decreased at the end of the year?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The excess amount is paid over the fair market value of the net assets in the acquisition process. A company reporting under GAAP cannot amortize the goodwill.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Amortization

The business entity spreads the cost invested in the intangible asset over the useful life, known as amortization. Amortization expenses reduce the value of the intangibles.

02

Description of goodwill

Goodwill: Goodwill can be defined as the excess of money paid by the business entity for acquiring any other business entity over the market value of the net assets.

Amortization of goodwill: According to the GAAP, a business cannot amortize its goodwill. A business entity must determine the market value of the goodwill each year.

If the value of the goodwill declines, the company must report it as an impairment loss. If the value increases, then the company does not record anything.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Question: Determining asset cost, preparing depreciation schedules (3 methods), and identifying depreciation results that meet management objectives

On January 3, 2018, Speedy Delivery Service purchased a truck at a cost of \(67,000. Before placing the truck in service, Speedy spent \)3,000 painting it, \(1,200 replacing tires, and \)3,500 overhauling the engine. The truck should remain in service for five years and have a residual value of $5,100. The truck’s annual mileage is expected to be 20,000 miles in each of the first four years and 12,800 miles in the fifth year—92,800 miles in total. In deciding which depreciation method to use, Alec Rivera, the general manager, requests a depreciation schedule for each of the depreciation methods (straight-line, units-of-production, and double-declining-balance).

Requirements

1. Prepare a depreciation schedule for each depreciation method, showing asset cost, depreciation expense, accumulated depreciation, and asset book value.

2. Speedy prepares financial statements using the depreciation method that reports the highest net income in the early years of asset use. Consider the first year that Speedy uses the truck. Identify the depreciation method that meets the company’s objectives.

Exchanging plant assets Micron Precision, Inc. purchased a computer for \(2,500, debiting Computer Equipment. During 2016 and 2017, Micron Precision, Inc. recorded total depreciation of \)1,600 on the computer. On January 1, 2018, Micron Precision, Inc. traded in the computer for a new one, paying \(2,100 cash. The fair market value of the new computer is \)3,900. Journalize Micron Precision, Inc.’s exchange of computers. Assume the exchange had commercial substance.

Accounting for goodwill

Decca Publishing paid \(230,000 to acquire Thrifty Nickel, a weekly advertising paper. At the time of the acquisition, Thrifty Nickel’s balance sheet reported total assets of \)130,000 and liabilities of \(70,000. The fair market value of Thrifty Nickel’s assets was \)100,000. The fair market value of Thrifty Nickel’s liabilities was $70,000.

Requirements

  1. How much goodwill did Decca Publishing purchase as part of the acquisition of Thrifty Nickel?
  2. Journalize Decca Publishing’s acquisition of Thrifty Nickel

This problem continues the Canyon Canoe Company situation from Chapter 8. Amber and Zack Wilson are continuing to review business practices. Currently, they are reviewing the company’s property, plant, and equipment and have gathered the following information:

Asset

Acquisition Date

Cost

Estimated Life

Estimated Residual value

Depreciation Method

Monthly Depreciation Expense

Canoes

Nov. 3, 2018

\(4,800

4 Years

\) 0

SL

$100

Land

Dec 1, 2018

85,000

n/a

Building

Dec 1, 2018

35,000

5 Years

5,000

SL

500

Canoes

Dec 2, 2018

7,200

4 Years

0

SL

150

Computer

Mar. 2, 2019

3,600

3 Years

300

DDB

Office Furniture

MAR. 3, 2019

3,000

5 Years

600

SL

*SL = Straight@line; DDB = Double@declining@balance

Requirements

1. Calculate the amount of monthly depreciation expense for the computer and office furniture for 2019.

2. For each asset, determine the book value as of December 31, 2018. Then, calculate the depreciation expense for the first six months of 2019 and the book value as of June 30, 2019.

3. Prepare a partial balance sheet showing Property, Plant, and Equipment as of June 30, 2019.

Computing depreciation—three methods Crispy Fried Chicken bought equipment on January 2, 2018, for \(33,000. The equipment was expected to remain in service for four years and to operate for 6,750 hours. At the end of the equipment’s useful life, Crispy’s estimates that its residual value will be \)6,000. The equipment operated for 675 hours the first year, 2,025 hours the second year, 2,700 hours the third year, and 1,350 hours the fourth year.

Requirements

1. Prepare a schedule of depreciation expense, accumulated depreciation, and book value per year for the equipment under the three depreciation methods: straight-line, unit’s of-production, and double-declining-balance. Show your computations. Note: Three depreciation schedules must be prepared.

2. Which method tracks the wear and tear on the equipment most closely?

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