Question

Fitzgerald Tech owns 20,000 shares of Buchanan Industries, which it purchased for $450,000 in 2016. On March 6, 2020, Fitzgerald declares a property dividend of all Buchanan shares on the basis of one share Buchanan for every 10 shares of Fitzgerald outstanding. At the declaration date, aggregate market price of the Buchanan shares held by Fitzgerald is $750,000. What should Fitzgerald’s debit to Retained Earnings be for this transaction?

Answer 1

Answer:

The debit to the retained earning should be $750,000 for this transaction because that is the market value of the asset to be distributed as dividend.

Explanation:

Property dividend is a form of dividend payout that involves distribution of company`s assets to equity holders as a form of return. These assets can be inventory, marketable securities or investment in a subsidiary.

For this distribution to be formal, it must be approved by the board of directors of the company. After approved and declared, the accounting entries can now be passed.

The accounting entries needed are:

Debit: Retained Earnings with the amount of the asset distributed.

Credit: Dividend Payable with the amount of the asset distributed.

It is important to note that  the market value of asset to be distributed should be considered i.e the market value of the asset must be recognized in the book. The difference in book value and market value of the investment will be recognized in respective asset ledger account prior transfer to retained earnings.So that the market value of the investment is recognized on the debit side of retained earnings

In the case of Fitzgerald, $750,000 will be debited to retained earnings since it is the market value of the asset to be distributed.