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Chapter 20: Q3CA. (page 1180)

In examining the costs of pension plans, Helen Kaufman, 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) (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. (b) Explain the following terms as they apply to accounting for pension plans. (1) Market-related asset value. (2) Projected benefit obligation. (3) Corridor approach. (c) What information should be disclosed about a company’s pension plans in its financial statements and its notes?

Short Answer

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Accounting principles are those rules an organization should follow while reporting the amount under each financial statement during the fiscal year.

Step by step solution

01

(a) Discussions

1. Accrual recognition of pension costs:

The accrual recognition of the total pension cost of an organization strictly depends upon the total pension expense incurred. These types of costs are incurred during the employment service of an employee.

2. Accrual versus cash (pay-as-you-go) accounting:

The cash (pay-as-you-go) accounting concept does not consider the total pension cost earned during the year. It is magnified at the end of the computation of annual pension costs. The Accrual accounting concept always provides a greater source of objectivity than the cash accounting concept.

02

(b) Explanation of the following terms

1. Market-related asset value:

The market-related asset value or the fair value of the assets determines the actual value of plan assets during a period of an accounting year. Organizations generally use the actuarial value of the plan assets to report an accurate pension value.

2. Projected benefit obligation:

Projected benefit obligation is defined under the IAS 19, where the pension benefits depend upon the number of years of service of an employee and its future expected salary.

3. Corridor approach:

The corridor approach is used to calculate the unrecognized net gain or loss earned from the pension obligation during the year. The rate of corridor approach as prescribed under IASB is 10%.

03

(c) Information to be disclosed under the pension plans

(1) The components of the pension expense.

(2) The amount of defined benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets

(3) A detailed study of the pension plan and the accounting principles used.

(4) The discount rates and settlement rates measure the pension benefit amount.

(5) The total contributions made by the employer and the employee.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Latoya Company provides the following selected information related to its defined benefit pension plan for 2017. Pension asset/liability (January 1) \( 25,000 Cr. Accumulated benefit obligation (December 31) 400,000 Actual and expected return on plan assets 10,000 Contributions (funding) in 2017 150,000 Fair value of plan assets (December 31) 800,000 Settlement rate 10% Projected benefit obligation (January 1) 700,000 Service cost 80,000 Instructions (a) Compute pension expense and prepare the journal entry to record pension expense and the employer’s contribution to the pension plan in 2017. Preparation of a pension worksheet is not required. Benefits paid in 2017 were \)35,000. (b) Indicate the pension-related amounts that would be reported in the company’s income statement and balance sheet for 2017.

Hobbs Co. has the following defined benefit pension plan balances on January 1, 2017. Projected benefit obligation \(4,600,000 Fair value of plan assets 4,600,000 The interest (settlement) rate applicable to the plan is 10%. On January 1, 2018, the company amends its pension agreement so that prior service costs of \)600,000 are created. Other data related to the pension plan are: 2017 2018 Service cost \(150,000 \)170,000 Prior service cost amortization –0– 90,000 Contributions (funding) to the plan 200,000 184,658 Benefits paid 220,000 280,000 Actual return on plan assets 252,000 350,000 Expected rate of return on assets 6% 8% Instructions (a) Prepare a pension worksheet for the pension plan in 2017. (b) Prepare any journal entries related to the pension plan that would be needed at December 31, 2017. (c) Prepare a pension worksheet for 2018 and any journal entries related to the pension plan as of December 31, 2018. (d) Indicate the pension-related amounts reported in the 2018 financial statements.

Garner Inc. provides the following information related to its postretirement benefits for the year 2017. Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at January 1, 2017 $710,000 Actual and expected return on plan assets 34,000 Prior service cost amortization 21,000 Discount rate 10% Service cost 83,000

Instructions Compute postretirement benefit expense for 2017.

Keeton Company sponsors a defined benefit pension plan for its 600 employees. The company’s actuary provided the following information about the plan. January 1, December 31, 2017 2017 2018 Projected benefi t obligation \(2,800,000 \)3,650,000 \(4,195,000 Accumulated benefi t obligation 1,900,000 2,430,000 2,900,000 Plan assets (fair value and market-related asset value) 1,700,000 2,900,000 3,790,000 Accumulated net (gain) or loss (for purposes of the corridor calculation) –0– 198,000 (24,000) Discount rate (current settlement rate) 9% 8% Actual and expected asset return rate 10% 10% Contributions 1,030,000 600,000 The average remaining service life per employee is 10.5 years. The service cost component of net periodic pension expense for employee services rendered amounted to \)400,000 in 2017 and \(475,000 in 2018. The accumulated OCI (PSC) on January 1, 2017, was \)1,260,000. No benefits have been paid. Instructions (Round to the nearest dollar.)

(a) Compute the amount of accumulated OCI (PSC) to be amortized as a component of net periodic pension expense for each of the years 2017 and 2018.

(b) Prepare a schedule which reflects the amount of accumulated OCI (G/L) to be amortized as a component of pension expense for 2017 and 2018.

(c) Determine the total amount of pension expense to be recognized by Keeton Company in 2017 and 2018.

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.
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