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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

Davis Corporation is a medium-sized manufacturer of paperboard containers and boxes. The corporation sponsors a noncontributory, defined benefit pension plan that covers its 250 employees. Sid Cole has recently been hired as president of Davis Corporation. While reviewing last year’s financial statements with Carol Dilbeck, controller, Cole expressed confusion about several of the items in the footnote to the financial statements relating to the pension plan. In part, the footnote reads as follows. Note J. The company has a defi nedbenefi t pension plan covering substantially all of its employees. The benefits are based on years of service and the employee’s compensation during the last four years of employment. The company’s funding policy is to contribute annually the maximum amount allowed under the federal tax code. Contributions are intended to provide for benefits expected to be earned in the future as well as those earned to date. The net periodic pension expense on Davis Corporation’s comparative income statement was \(72,000 in 2017 and \)57,680 in 2016. The following are selected figures from the plan’s funded status and amounts recognized in the Davis Corporation’s Statement of Financial Position at December 31, 2017 (\(000 omitted). Actuarial present value of benefi t obligations: Accumulated benefi t obligation (including vested benefits of \)636) \( (870) Projected benefi t obligation \)(1,200) Plan assets at fair value 1,050 Projected benefi t obligation in excess of plan assets $ (150) Given that Davis Corporation’s work force has been stable for the last 6 years, Cole could not understand the increase in the net periodic pension expense. Dilbeck explained that the net periodic pension expense consists of several elements, some of which may increase or decrease the net expense. Instructions (a) The determination of the net periodic pension expense is a function of five elements. List and briefly describe each of the elements. (b) Describe the major difference and the major similarity between the accumulated benefit obligation and the projected benefit obligation. (c) (1) Explain why pension gains and losses are not recognized on the income statement in the period in which they arise. (2) Briefly describe how pension gains and losses are recognized.

Taveras Enterprises provides the following information relative to its defined benefit pension plan. Balances or Values at December 31, 2017 Projected benefit obligation \(2,737,000 Accumulated benefit obligation 1,980,000 Fair value of plan assets 2,278,329 Accumulated OCI (PSC) 210,000 Accumulated OCI—Net loss (1/1/17 balance, –0–) 45,680 Pension liability 458,671 Other pension plan data for 2017: Service cost 94,000 Prior service cost amortization 42,000 Actual return on plan assets 130,000 Expected return on plan assets 175,680 Interest on January 1, 2017, projected benefi t obligation 253,000 Contributions to plan 93,329 Benefi ts paid 140,000

Instructions (a) Prepare the note disclosing the components of pension expense for the year 2017. (b) Determine the amounts of other comprehensive income and comprehensive income for 2017. Net income for 2017 is \)35,000. (c) Compute the amount of accumulated other comprehensive income reported at December 31, 2017.

At January 1, 2017, Wembley Company had plan assets of \(250,000 and a defined benefit obligation of the same amount. During 2017, service cost was \)27,500, the discount rate was 10%, actual return on plan assets was \(25,000, contributions were \)20,000, and benefits paid were \(17,500. Based on this information, what would be the defined benefit obligation for Wembley Company at December 31, 2017? (a) \)277,500. (c) \(27,500. (b) \)285,000. (d) $302,500.

Given the following items and amounts, compute the actual return on plan assets: fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the period \(9,500,000; benefits paid during the period \)1,400,000; contributions made during the period \(1,000,000; and fair value of the plan assets at the end of the period \)10,150,000.

Using the information in E20-22, prepare a worksheet inserting January 1, 2017, balances, showing December 31, 2017, balances, and the journal entry recording postretirement benefit expense
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