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ABC Corporation provides a defined benefit pension plan for its employees. A com

ID: 2451234 • Letter: A

Question

ABC Corporation provides a defined benefit pension plan for its employees. A combination adjusting entry should be made to correctly account for this type of pension plan given the following items of information for the 2014 plan year, including the recording of pension expense and the employer's contribution to the pension plan in 2014. Pension asset/liability (January 1) $0, Actual return on plan assets $40,000, Expected return on plan assets $20,000, Contributions (funding) in 2014 $35,000, Fair value of plan assets (December 31) $75,000, Settlement rate 10%, Projected benefit obligation (January 1) $0, Service cost $60,000, and Benefits paid in 2014 $0

Explanation / Answer

Pension expense = Service cost – Actual return + Deferred gain

              = $60,000 - $40,000 + $20,000

= $40,000

Projected benefit obligation = Service cost

                                             = $60,000

Fair value of pension fund = Actual return + Contribution

                                            = $40,000 + $35,000

                                            = $75,000

Pension related asset/liability = Projected benefit obligation – Fair value of pension fund

                                                = $60,000 - $75,000

                                                = -$15,000

The required journal entries are as below:

Date

Account titles

P.ref

Debit

Credit

2014

Pension expense

$40,000

Pension-related Asset/Liability

$15,000

Accumulated other comprehensive income

$55,000

To record journal for pension expense.

2014

Pension-related Asset/Liability

$35,000

Cash

$35,000

To record pension fund contribution

Date

Account titles

P.ref

Debit

Credit

2014

Pension expense

$40,000

Pension-related Asset/Liability

$15,000

Accumulated other comprehensive income

$55,000

To record journal for pension expense.

2014

Pension-related Asset/Liability

$35,000

Cash

$35,000

To record pension fund contribution