Question

Change in Accounting Principle - Retroactive Approach

In 2017, The UC Construction Company changed from the completed-contract method to the percentage-of-completion method of accounting for long-term construction contracts. The company continued to use the completed-contract method for tax purposes. The tax rate is 30 percent. The comparative income statements issued previously (using the completed-contract method) showed the following:

	2017	2016	2015	2014
Construction revenue	$520,000	$480,000	$460,000	$350,000
Construction expenses	410,000	390,000	300,000	200,000
Income before taxes	110,000	90,000	160,000	150,000
Income tax expense	33,000	27,000	48,000	45,000
Net income	$77,000	$63,000	$112,000	$105,000

The comparative statements of retained earnings issued for the same years were:          

	2017	2016	2015	2014
Retained earnings, beg.	$1,040,000	$1,007,000	$955,000	$900,000
Net income	77,000	63,000	112,000	105,000
Dividends	(35,000)	(30,000)	(60,000)	(50,000)
Retained earnings, end	$1,082,000	$1,040,000	$1,007,000	$955,0000

For years before 2014, pretax income using the completed-contract method was $350,000. Pretax income computed for the percentage-of-completion and completed-contract methods are as follows:     

	Percentage
	Of	Completed		Cumulative
	Completion	Contract	Difference	Difference
Before 2014	$500,000	$350,000	$150,000	$150,000
2014	200,000	150,000	50,000	200,000
2015	150,000	160,000	(10,000)	190,000
2016	100,000	90,000	10,000	200,000
2017	110,000	100,000	10,000	210,000

Prepare comparative statements of retained earnings for the four years, assuming UC Construction changed its method of construction accounting from the completed-contract method to the percentage-of-completion method in 2017.

Answer 1

Statement of Retained earnings by completed contract method
	2017	2016	2015	2014
Retained earnings, beg.	$1,040,000	$1,007,000	$955,000	$900,000
Net income	70,000	63,000	112,000	105,000		Net income for 2017 = 100000*70%
Dividends	-35,000	-30,000	-60,000	-50,000
Retained earnings, end	$1,075,000	$1,040,000	$1,007,000	$9,550,000
Statement of Retained earnings by percentage of completion method
	2017	2016	2015	2014
Retained earnings, beg.	$1,180,000	$1,140,000	$1,095,000	$1,005,000		Add 105000 the difference for prior years to 2014 retained earnings
Net income	77,000	70,000	105,000	140,000
Dividends	-35,000	-30,000	-60,000	-50,000
Retained earnings, end	$1,222,000	$1,180,000	$1,140,000	$1,095,000
	Percentage
	Of	Completed		Cumulative	B=
	Completion	Contract	Difference(A)	Difference	A*30%	C=A-B
Before 2014	$500,000	$350,000	$150,000	$150,000	$45,000	$105,000		difference for prior years