Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, bool given in /var/www/html/web/app/themes/studypress-core-theme/template-parts/header/mobile-offcanvas.php on line 20

Identify the five components that comprise pension expense. Briefly explain the nature of each component.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The pension expense of an organization strictly depends upon its five components.These components are equally responsible for the overall enhancement of the projected defined benefit pension plan.

Step by step solution

01

The five components of the pension expense are

  1. Service cost
  2. Interest cost
  3. Actual return on plan assets
  4. Amortization of past services
  5. Gains and losses
02

Nature of each component

1. Service cost:Service cost measures the present value of pension benefits by using the pension benefit formula for the total number of years of service of an employee during the period of an accounting year.

2. Interest cost:It is calculated by multiplying the amount of projected benefit obligation with its settlement rate that measures the increase in the defined benefit obligation pension plan.

3. Actual return on plan assets:It measures the inevitable decrease in the pension cost for the investment made by an organization towards the pension plans. It is responsible for measuring the variation in the amount of plan value of assets.

4. Amortization of past services:It is a term used to measure the cost of benefits (retroactive) that are acceptable in the pension plan amendment of the organization.

5. Gains and losses:It measures the variation in the amount of defined benefit obligation and the plan assets of the organization. It arises due to the difference in the actual and the expected value of plan assets according to the actuarial assumptions.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

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 OCIโ€”Net loss (1/1/17 balance, โ€“0โ€“) 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.

Differentiate between โ€œaccounting for the employerโ€ and โ€œaccounting for the pension fund.โ€

Why didnโ€™t the FASB cover both types of post-retirement benefitsโ€”pensions and healthcareโ€”in the earlier pension accounting rules?

Mancuso Corporation amended its pension plan on January 1, 2017, and granted $160,000 of prior service costs to its employees. The employees are expected to provide 2,000 service years in the future, with 350 service years in 2017. Compute prior service cost amortization for 2017.

What are postretirement benefits other than pensions?

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Business Studies Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free