Question

On January 1, 2021, Weaver Corporation purchased a patent for $210,000. The remaining legal life is 20 years, but the company estimates the patent will be useful for only six more years. In January 2023, the company incurred legal fees of $30,000 in successfully defending a patent infringement suit. The successful defense did not change the company’s estimate of useful life. Weaver Corporation’s year-end is December 31.

Answer 1

Answer:

Requirement 1. Journal for purchasing Patent:

Jan 01, 2021    Patent Rights (Debit)                    210,000

                                  Cash/Bank (Credit)                            210,000

Requirement 2. Journal for amortization expense for the year ended 31 Dec, 2021:

Dec 31, 2021    Amortization expense - Patent    35,000

                                   Accumulated amortization                 35,000

Requirement 3. Journal for amortization expense for the year ended 31 Dec, 2022:

Dec 31, 2022    Amortization expense - Patent    35,000

                                   Accumulated amortization                 35,000

Requirement 4. Journal for incurring legal fees

Jan 31, 2023     Legal fees                                      30,000

                                    Cash/Bank                                          30,000

Requirement 5. Journal for amortization expense for the year ended 31 Dec, 2023:

Dec 31, 2023    Amortization expense - Patent    35,000

                                   Accumulated amortization                 35,000

Explanation:

Requirement 1.

Since Weaver corporation purchases a patent, it costs the company cash or bank balance. As the patent is a non-current intangible asset, it is a debit. On the other hand, as cash decreases due to the purchase of patent, the cash is a credit. In this journal, an asset (Non-current asset) increases, and another asset (Current asset) decreases. There will be no effect on the total asset.

Requirement 2, 3 and 5. All the calculations will be the same as it is a straight-line method of amortization. Straight-line depreciation (amortization) is a method of expense on an asset over a long period. The expense is the same over the period as the expense is calculated as the total cost divided by the useful number of years. Again, as the patent is an intangible asset; therefore, the asset has to be amortized instead of depreciated.

The amortization expense of patent is = $210,000/6 = $35,000

Since, the company estimates the patent's useful life will be 6 years. Therefore, the amortization expense will be $35,000 for each year.

Requirement 4: Since legal fees is an expense, the company pays for this due to the occurrence of legal issues. The expense decreases the cash; therefore, it is a credit. On the contrary, the legal fees are a debit as it decreases net income. The legal fees, however, does not affect the amortization expense as it is not adding to the cost of the patent.