The following information is available for Mitten Corporations pension plan. Mitten reports under private enterprise accounting standards.
Question:
On January 1, 2011, Mitten Corp. amended its pension plan, resulting in past service costs with a present value of $78,000. The amendment of the pension plan is expected to provide future benefits for three years.
Instructions
(a) Identify the plan€™s funded status as the asset or liability reported on the December 31, 2011, 2012, and 2013 balance sheets assuming that Mitten Corp. accounts for its pension with the deferral and amortization approach under PE GAAP.
(b) Calculate pension expense for 2011, 2012, and 2013 assuming that Mitten Corp. accounts for its pension with the deferral and amortization approach under PE GAAP.
(c) Identify the plan€™s funded status as the asset or liability reported on the December 31, 2011, 2012, and 2013 balance sheets assuming that Mitten Corp. accounts for its pension with the immediate recognition approach.
(d) Calculate pension expense for 2011, 2012, and 2013 assuming that Mitten Corp. accounts for its pension with the immediate recognition approach.
(e) Which method results in a better measure of expense over the three-year period?
(f) Which method results in a better measure of the funded status on the balance sheet?
Step by Step Answer:
Intermediate Accounting
ISBN: 978-0470161012
9th Canadian Edition, Volume 2
Authors: Donald E. Kieso, Jerry J. Weygandt, Terry D. Warfield.