Question

Aquatic Equipment Corporation decided to switch from the LIFO method of costing inventories to the FIFO method at the beginning of 2021. The inventory as reported at the end of 2020 using LIFO would have been $68,000 higher using FIFO. Retained earnings at the end of 2020 was reported as $860,000 (reflecting the LIFO method). The tax rate is 35%. Required: 1. Calculate the balance in retained earnings at the time of the change (beginning of 2021) as it would have been reported if FIFO had been used in prior years. 2. Prepare the journal entry at the beginning of 2021 to record the change in accounting principle.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

The computation is shown below

1. The adjusted balance in the retained earning is shown below:

= beginning balance of retained earning + adjusted net income

where,

beginning balance of retained earning is $860,000

And, the adjusted net income is

= $68,000 × (1 - 0.35)

= $44,200

So, the adjusted balance in the retained earning is

= $860,000 + $44,200

= $904,200

2. Now the journal entry is

Inventory $68,000

      To Retained earning $44,200

      To Tax payable $23,800   ($68,000  × 35%)

(Being the adjustment of ending inventory is recorded)

It increased the inventory and along with it it also increased the equity and liabilities so the respective account is debited and credited