For what reasons should the percentage-of-completion method be used over the completed-contract method whenever possible?

Short Answer

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The percentage-of-completion method is used to calculate income, representing the production effort more accurately. Income is recognized regularly depending on the proportion of the project completed, rather than simply when the entire assignment is completed.

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of Percentage-of-Completion

The percentage-of-completion method tracksrevenues, expenditures, and gross profit as a company nears the end of a long-term contract. Deferring recognition of these items till the conclusion of the contract distorts the accounting periods' efforts (costs) and accomplishments (revenues).

A corporation must have some foundation or standard for gauging progress toward completion at specific intermediate dates to use the percentage-of-complete technique.

02

Use of percentage-of-completion

Income is provided using the percentage-of-completion technique, which reflects the manufacturing effort more properly. Rather than only when the full task is finished, income is recognized regularly based on the proportion of the job accomplished. The main problem of the completed-contract technique is that it may cause earnings to be distorted since no attempt is made to represent current performance when the contract duration spans many accounting periods.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Jupiter Company sells goods to Danone Inc. by accepting a note receivable on January 2, 2017. The goods have a sales price of \(610,000 (cost of \)500,000). The terms are net 30. If Danone pays within 5 days, however, it receives a cash discount of $10,000. Past history indicates that the cash discount will be taken. On January 28, 2017, Danone makes payment to Jupiter for the full sales price.

Instructions

(a) Prepare the journal entry(ies) to record the sale and related cost of goods sold for Jupiter Company on January 2, 2017, and the payment on January 28, 2017. Assume that Jupiter Company records the January 2, 2017, transaction using the net method.

(b) Prepare the journal entry(ies) to record the sale and related cost of goods sold for Jupiter Company on January 2, 2017, and the payment on January 28, 2017. Assume that Jupiter Company records the January 2, 2017, transaction using the gross method.

Describe the conditions when contract assets and liabilities are recognized and presented in financial statements.

(Allocate Transaction Price) Appliance Center is an experienced home appliance dealer. Appliance Center also offers a number of services for the home appliances that it sells. Assume that Appliance Center sells ovens on a standalone basis. Appliance Center also sells installation services and maintenance services for ovens. However, Appliance Center does not offer installation or maintenance services to customers who buy ovens from other vendors. Pricing for ovens is as follows.

Oven only \( 800

Oven with installation service 850

Oven with maintenance services 975

Oven with installation and maintenance services 1,000

In each instance in which maintenance services are provided, the maintenance service is separately priced within the arrangement at \)175. Additionally, the incremental amount charged by Appliance Center for installation approximates the amount charged by independent third parties. Ovens are sold subject to a general right of return. If a customer purchases an oven with installation and/or maintenance services, in the event Appliance Center does not complete the service satisfactorily, the customer is only entitled to a refund of the portion of the fee that exceeds \(800.

Instructions

(a) Assume that a customer purchases an oven with both installation and maintenance services for \)1,000. Based on its experience, Appliance Center believes that it is probable that the installation of the equipment will be performed satisfactorily to the customer. Assume that the maintenance services are priced separately (i.e., the three components are distinct). Identify the separate performance obligations related to the Appliance Center revenue arrangement.

(b) Indicate the amount of revenue that should be allocated to the oven, the installation, and to the maintenance contract.

When must multiple performance obligations in a revenue arrangement be accounted for separately?

(Sales with Returns) On March 10, 2017, Steele Company sold to Barr Hardware 200 tool sets at a price of \(50 each (cost \)30 per set) with terms of n/60, f.o.b. shipping point. Steele allows Barr to return any unused tool sets within 60 days of purchase. Steele estimates that (1) 10 sets will be returned, (2) the cost of recovering the products will be immaterial, and (3) the returned tools sets can be resold at a profit. On March 25, 2017, Barr returned six tool sets and received a credit to its account.

Instructions

(a) Prepare journal entries for Steele to record (1) the sale on March 10, 2017, (2) the return on March 25, 2017, and (c) any adjusting entries required on March 31, 2017 (when Steele prepares financial statements). Steele believes the original estimate of returns is correct.

(b) Indicate the income statement and balance sheet reporting by Steele at March 31, 2017, of the information related to the Barr sales transaction.

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