(Lease Capitalization, Bargain-Purchase Option) Baden Corporation entered into a lease agreement for 10 photocopy machines for its corporate headquarters. The lease agreement qualifies as an operating lease in all terms except there is a bargain-purchase option. After the 5-year lease term, the corporation can purchase each copier for \(1,000, when the anticipated fair value is \)2,500.

Jerry Suffolk, the financial vice president, thinks the financial statements must recognize the lease agreement as a capital lease because of the bargain-purchase option. The controller, Diane Buchanan, disagrees: “Although I don’t know much about the copiers themselves, there is a way to avoid recording the lease liability.” She argues that the corporation might claim that copier technology advances rapidly and that by the end of the lease term the machines will most likely not be worth the $1,000 bargain price.

Instructions

Answer the following questions.

(a) What ethical issue is at stake?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Answer

The ethical issues are fairness and integrity of financial reporting.

Step by step solution

01

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Meaning of Accounting Ethics

Accounting ethics are principles and laws that must be observed while conducting accounting transactions. Since the function of each organization is unique, the accountant must conduct each transaction by following certain principles so that the user of accounting cannot be manipulated.

02

Explaining the ethical issue that is at stake

Fairness and honesty of financial reporting versus profitability and perhaps deceptive financial statements are the ethical challenges. On the one hand, if Buchanan can verify her claim, the deal may be classified as an operational lease. Buchanan, on the other hand, would look to be attempting to distort the financial records for some purpose, potentially debt covenants or minimum levels of specific ratios, if she cannot or will not offer evidence.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Describe the effect of a “bargain-purchase option” on accounting for a capital lease transaction by a lessee.

Use the information for Rick Kleckner Corporation from BE21-3. Assume that at December 31, 2017, Kleckner made an adjusting entry to accrue interest expense of \(29,530 on the lease. Prepare Kleckner’s January 1, 2018, journal entry to record the second lease payment of \)53,920.

Rick Kleckner Corporation recorded a capital lease at \(300,000 on January 1, 2017. The interest rate is 12%. Kleckner Corporation made the first lease payment of \)53,920 on January 1, 2017. The lease requires eight annual payments. The equipment has a useful life of 8 years with no salvage value. Prepare Kleckner Corporation’s December 31, 2017, adjusting entries.

Question: (Balance Sheet and Income Statement Disclosure—Lessee) The following facts pertain to a noncancelable lease agreement between Alschuler Leasing Company and McKee Electronics, a lessee, for a computer system.

Inception date

October 1, 2017

Lease term

6 years

Economic life of leased equipment

6 years

Fair value of asset at October 1, 2017

\(300,383

Residual value at end of lease term

–0–

Lessor’s implicit rate

10%

Lessee’s incremental borrowing rate

10%

Annual lease payment due at the beginning of each year, beginning with October 1, 2017

\)62,700

The collectibility of the lease payments is reasonably predictable, and there are no important uncertainties surrounding the costs yet to be incurred by the lessor. The lessee assumes responsibility for all executory costs, which amount to \(5,500 per year and are to be paid each October 1, beginning October 1, 2017. (This \)5,500 is not included in the rental payment of \(62,700.) The asset will revert to the lessor at the end of the lease term. The straight-line depreciation method is used for all equipment.

The following amortization schedule has been prepared correctly for use by both the lessor and the lessee in accounting for this lease. The lease is to be accounted for properly as a capital lease by the lessee and as a direct-financing lease by the lessor.

Date

Annual lease payments/Receipt

Interest (10%)

On Unpaid liability/Receivable

Reduction of Lease Liability?

Receivable

Balance of Lease Liability/Receivable

10/01/17

\)300,383

10/01/17

\(62,700

\)62,700

237,683

10/01/18

\(62,700

\)23,768

38,932

198,751

10/01/19

\(62,700

19,875

42,825

155,926

10/01/20

\)62,700

15,593

47,107

108,819

10/01/21

\(62,700

10,882

51,818

57,001

10/01/22

\)62,700

5,699*

57,001

0

\(376,200

\)75,817

\(300,383

*Rounding error is \)1.

Instructions

(a) Assuming the lessee’s accounting period ends on September 30, answer the following questions with respect to this lease agreement.


(3) What items and amounts will appear on the lessee’s income statement for the year ending September 30, 2019?

Lessor Computations and Entries, Sales-Type Lease with Guaranteed Residual Value) Amirante Inc. manufactures an X-ray machine with an estimated life of 12 years and leases it to Chambers Medical Center for a period of 10 years. The normal selling price of the machine is \(411,324, and its guaranteed residual value at the end of the noncancelable lease term is estimated to be \)15,000. The hospital will pay rents of \(60,000 at the beginning of each year and all maintenance, insurance, and taxes. Amirante Inc. incurred costs of \)250,000 in manufacturing the machine and $14,000 in negotiating and closing the lease. Amirante Inc. has determined that the collectibility of the lease payments is reasonably predictable, that there will be no additional costs incurred, and that the implicit interest rate is 10%.

Instructions

(a) Discuss the nature of this lease in relation to the lessor and compute the amount of each of the following items.

(2) Sales price.

(Operating Lease for Lessee and Lessor) On February 20, 2017, Barbara Brent Inc. purchased a machine for \(1,500,000 for the purpose of leasing it. The machine is expected to have a 10-year life, no residual value, and will be depreciated on the straight-line basis. The machine was leased to Rudy Company on March 1, 2017, for a 4-year period at a monthly rental of \)19,500. There is no provision for the renewal of the lease or purchase of the machine by the lessee at the expiration of the lease term. Brent paid $30,000 of commissions associated with negotiating the lease in February 2017.

Instructions

(b) What income or loss before income taxes should Brent record as a result of the facts above for the year ended December 31, 2017? (Hint: Amortize commissions over the life of the lease.)

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