Question

On October 1 of the current year, a US company sold merchandise on account to a British company for 2,000 pounds (exchange rate, 1 pound = $1.43). At the company’s December 31 fiscal year‐end, the exchange rate was 1 pound = $1.45. The exchange rate was 1 pound = $1.50 on collection in January of the subsequent year. What amount would the company recognize as a gain (loss) from foreign currency translation when the receivable is collected?

Answer 1

Answer:  The amount the company would recognize is $100 as a gain from foreign currency translation.

Explanation: On October 1, a receivable of $2,860 (2,000 pounds x $1.43) would have been recorded. However, this amount of receivable has to be revalued using the year-end rate of $1.45, based on the principles of IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates. Year-end receivable would then be $2,900 (2,000 pounds x $1.45). A foreign exchange gain of $40 would be recognised by debiting receivable and crediting gain on foreign currency translation (which reports in income statement) with $40 ($2,900 - $2,860). This is necessary to revalue the receivable using the year-end rate. Subsequently, the spot rate moved to $1.50 at the point of collection, this simply means the company has made a $100 exchange gain (2,000 pounds x $1.50 = $3,000 - $2,900). The journal entries to be raised would be Debit Cash $3,000; Credit Receivable $2,900, Credit Exchange gain (income statement) $100.