The actuary for the pension plan of Gustafson Inc. calculated the following net gains and losses. Incurred during the Year (Gain) or Loss 2017 \(300,000 2018 480,000 2019 (210,000) 2020 (290,000) Other information about the company’s pension obligation and plan assets is as follows. Projected Benefit Plan Assets As of January 1, Obligation (market-related asset value) 2017 \)4,000,000 $2,400,000 2018 4,520,000 2,200,000 2019 5,000,000 2,600,000 2020 4,240,000 3,040,000 Gustafson Inc. has a stable labor force of 400 employees who are expected to receive benefits under the plan. The total serviceyears for all participating employees is 5,600. The beginning balance of accumulated OCI (G/L) is zero on January 1, 2017. The market-related value and the fair value of plan assets are the same for the 4-year period. Use the average remaining service life per employee as the basis for amortization.

Instructions (Round to the nearest dollar.) Prepare a schedule which reflects the minimum amount of accumulated OCI (G/L) amortized as a component of net periodic pension expense for each of the years 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Apply the “corridor” approach in determining the amount to be amortized each year.

Short Answer

Expert verified

Theaverage remaining service life per employee is used when an organization calculates an estimated value ofthe number of years leftfor an employeeuntil their retirementto ascertain theirpension expense.

Step by step solution

01

Computation of average remaining service life per employee.

Averageremaniningservicelifeperemployee=ExpectedfutureyearsofserviceNumberofemployees=5,600400=14years

02

Calculation of minimum amortization of gain or loss for the years 2019 and 2020 along with the accumulated OCI for the year 2020.

MinimumamortizationofGain/Loss2019=AccumulatedOCI2019-Projectedbenefitobligation2019×10100Averageremainingservicelifeperemployee=$780,000-$5,000,000×1010014years=$20,000AccumulatedOCI2020=AccumulatedOCI2019-MinimumamortizationofGain/Loss2019-Gainorloss2019=$780,000-$20,000-$210,000=$550,000MinimumamortizationofGain/Loss2020=AccumulatedOCI2020-(Projectedbenefitobligation2020×10100)Averageremainingservicelifeperemployee=$550,000-($4,240,000×10100)14years=$9,000

03

Schedule showing the minimum profit/loss amortized

Particulars

2017

2018

2019

2020

Projected benefit obligation

$4,000,000

$4,520,000

$5,000,000

$4,240,000

Plan Assets

$2,400,000

$2,200,000

$2,600,000

$3,040,000

Corridor (10% of PBO)

$400,000

$452,000

$500,000

$424,000

Accumulated OCI (Gain/Loss)

0

$300,000

$780,000

$550,000

Minimum amortization of gain/loss

0

0

$20,000

$9,000

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Many business organizations have been concerned with providing for the retirement of employees since the late 1800s. Increase in this concern resulted in the establishment of private pension plans in most large companies and in many medium- and small-sized ones. The substantial growth of these plans, both in numbers of employees covered and in amounts of retirement benefits, has increased the significance of pension costs in relation to the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of many companies. In examining the costs of pension plans, a CPA encounters certain terms. The components of pension costs that the terms represent must be dealt with appropriately if generally accepted accounting principles are to be reflected in the financial statements of entities with pension plans.

Instructions

(a) Define a private pension plan. How does a contributory pension plan differ from a noncontributory plan?

(b) Differentiate between “accounting for the employer” and “accounting for the pension fund.”

(c) Explain the terms “funded” and “pension liability” as they relate to: (1) The pension fund. (2) The employer.

(d) (1) Discuss the theoretical justification for accrual recognition of pension costs. (2) Discuss the relative objectivity of the measurement process of accrual versus cash (pay-as-you-go) accounting for annual pension costs.

(e) Distinguish among the following as they relate to pension plans. (1) Service cost. (2) Prior service costs. (3) Vested benefits.

If pension expense recognized in a period exceeds the current amount funded by the employer, what kind of account arises, and how should it be reported in the financial statements? If the reverse occurs—that is, current funding by the employer exceeds the amount recognized as pension expense—what kind of account arises, and how should it be reported?

Lemke Company sponsors a defined benefit pension plan for its employees. The following data relate to the operation of the plan for the years 2017 and 2018. 2017 2018 Projected benefi t obligation, January 1 \(600,000 Plan assets (fair value and market-related value), January 1 410,000 Pension asset/liability, January 1 190,000 Cr. Prior service cost, January 1 160,000 Service cost 40,000 \) 59,000 Settlement rate 10% 10% Expected rate of return 10% 10% Actual return on plan assets 36,000 61,000 Amortization of prior service cost 70,000 50,000 Annual contributions 97,000 81,000 Benefits paid retirees 31,500 54,000 Increase in projected benefi t obligation due to changes in actuarial assumptions 87,000 –0– Accumulated benefi t obligation at December 31 721,800 789,000 Average service life of all employees 20 years Vested benefi t obligation at December 31 464,000 Instructions (a) Prepare a pension worksheet presenting both years 2017 and 2018 and accompanying computations and amortization of the loss (2018) using the corridor approach. (b) Prepare the journal entries (from the worksheet) to reflect all pension plan transactions and events at December 31 of each year. (c) For 2018, indicate the pension amounts reported in the financial statements.

Differentiate between “accounting for the employer” and “accounting for the pension fund.”

Using the information in E20-2, prepare a pension worksheet inserting January 1, 2017, balances, showing December 31, 2017, balances, and the journal entry recording pension expense.

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