Question

During 2020, Morefield Building Company constructed various assets at a total cost of $14,700,000. The weighted average accumulated expenditures on assets qualifying for capitalization of interest during 2020 were $10,700,000. The company had the following debt outstanding at December 31, 2020:
1. 10%, 5-year note to finance construction of various assets, dated January 1,
2020, with interest payable annually on January 1 $6,300,000
2. 12%, ten-year bonds issued at par on December 31, 2014, with interest payable
annually on December 31 7,000,000
3. 9%, 3-year note payable, dated January 1, 2019, with interest payable annually
on January 1 3,500,000
Instructions:
Compute the amounts of each of the following (show computations).
1. Avoidable interest.
2. Total interest to be capitalized during 2020.

Answer 1

Answer:

1. $1,015,000

2. $1,015,000

Explanation:

1. Computation for the Avoidable interest.

First step is to Compute the weighted average interest rate:

Principal Interest

12% ten-year bonds$ 7,000,000 $840,000

9% 3-year note $3,500,000 $315,000

Total $10,500,000 $1,155,000

Weighted average interest rate = $1,155,000 ÷ $10,500,000

Weighted average interest rate= 11%

Now let compute the Avoidable Interest

Weighted Average Accumulated Expenditures *Applicable interest rate = AVOIDABLE INTEREST

$6,300,000 *.10 = $630,000

$3,500,000 *.11= $385,000

Total $9,800,000 $1,015,000

Therefore the Avoidable Interest is $1,015,000

2. Computation for Total interest to be capitalized during 2020

2020 Actual interest cost

Construction note $6,300,000 × .10 =$630,000

12% ten-year bonds, $7,000,000 × .12 =$840,000

9% three-year note, $3,500,000 × .09=$315,000

Total $1,785,000

Therefore Total interest to be capitalized during 2020 will be $1,015,000 which is the LESSER of

$1,785,000