Chapter 20: Q4IFRS (page 1192)
Question: Bill Haley is learning about pension accounting. He is convinced that in years when companies record liability gains and losses, total comprehensive income will not be affected. Is Bill correct? Explain.
Answer
According to the stated situation, the assumption ofBill is not correct.
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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.
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.
Question: What is net interest? Identify the elements of net interest and explain how they are computed.
Henning Company sponsors a defined benefit pension plan for its employees. The following data relate to the operation of the plan for the year 2017 in which no benefits were paid. 1. The actuarial present value of future benefits earned by employees for services rendered in 2017 amounted to \(56,000. 2. The company’s funding policy requires a contribution to the pension trustee amounting to \)145,000 for 2017. 3. As of January 1, 2017, the company had a projected benefit obligation of \(900,000, an accumulated benefit obligation of \)800,000, and a debit balance of \(400,000 in accumulated OCI (PSC). The fair value of pension plan assets amounted to \)600,000 at the beginning of the year. The actual and expected return on plan assets was \(54,000. The settlement rate was 9%. No gains or losses occurred in 2017 and no benefits were paid. 4. Amortization of prior service cost was \)50,000 in 2017. Amortization of net gain or loss was not required in 2017. Instructions (a) Determine the amounts of the components of pension expense that should be recognized by the company in 2017. (b) Prepare the journal entry or entries to record pension expense and the employer’s contribution to the pension trustee in 2017. (c) Indicate the amounts that would be reported on the income statement and the balance sheet for the year 2017.
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.
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