Question

(Pension Expense, Journal Entries, Amortization of Loss) Gottschalk Company sponsors a defined benefit plan for its 100 employees. On January 1, 2017, the company’s actuary provided the following information.
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (PSC) $150,000
Pension plan assets (fair value and market-related asset value) 200,000
Accumulated benefit obligation 260,000
Projected benefi t obligation 380,000
The average remaining service period for the participating employees is 10 years. All employees are expected to receive benefits under the plan. On December 31, 2017, the actuary calculated that the present value of future benefits earned for employee services rendered in the current year amounted to $52,000; the projected benefit obligation was $490,000; fair value of pension assets was $276,000; the accumulated benefit obligation amounted to $365,000. The expected return on plan assets and the discount rate on the projected benefit obligation were both 10%. The actual return on plan assets is $11,000. The company’s current year’s contribution to the pension plan amounted to $65,000. No benefits were paid during the year.
Instructions
(a) Determine the components of pension expense that the company would recognize in 2017. (With only one year involved, you need not prepare a worksheet.)
(b) Prepare the journal entry to record the pension expense and the company’s funding of the pension plan in 2017.
(c) Compute the amount of the 2017 increase/decrease in gains or losses and the amount to be amortized in 2017 and 2018.
(d) Indicate the pension amounts reported in the financial statement as of December 31, 2017.

Answer 1

Answer: See attachment and explanation.

Explanation:

a. Determine the components of pension expense that the company would recognize in 2017.

Service cost = $52,000

Add: Interest on projected benefit obligation = $380,000 × 10% = $38,000

Less: Actual return on plan asset = ($11000)

Less: Unexpected loss = 200,000 × 10% - 11,000 = ($9000)

Ammortization of prior service cost = $15000

Pension expense = $85,000

b. The journal entry to record the pension expense and the company’s funding of the pension plan in 2017 has been attached.

c. The amount of the 2017 increase/decrease in gains or losses and the amount to be amortized in 2017 and 2018 has been attached.

d. The pension amounts reported in the financial statement as of December 31, 2017 will be $85,000.