Chapter 20: Question 18Q (page 1161)
What is the meaning of “corridor amortization”?
Amortizationis a term usedto bifurcate the amount into multiple accounting yearstominimize the burden of rendering losses. Organizations amortize their loss tooffset the amount against the gain earned.
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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.
Identify the five components that comprise pension expense. Briefly explain the nature of each component.
What is the difference between the APBO and the EPBO? What are the components of post-retirement expense?
Lemke Company sponsors a defined benefit pension plan for its employees. The following data relate to the operation of the plan for the years 2017 and 2018. 2017 2018 Projected benefi t obligation, January 1 \(600,000 Plan assets (fair value and market-related value), January 1 410,000 Pension asset/liability, January 1 190,000 Cr. Prior service cost, January 1 160,000 Service cost 40,000 \) 59,000 Settlement rate 10% 10% Expected rate of return 10% 10% Actual return on plan assets 36,000 61,000 Amortization of prior service cost 70,000 50,000 Annual contributions 97,000 81,000 Benefits paid retirees 31,500 54,000 Increase in projected benefi t obligation due to changes in actuarial assumptions 87,000 –0– Accumulated benefi t obligation at December 31 721,800 789,000 Average service life of all employees 20 years Vested benefi t obligation at December 31 464,000 Instructions (a) Prepare a pension worksheet presenting both years 2017 and 2018 and accompanying computations and amortization of the loss (2018) using the corridor approach. (b) Prepare the journal entries (from the worksheet) to reflect all pension plan transactions and events at December 31 of each year. (c) For 2018, indicate the pension amounts reported in the financial statements.
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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