In: Accounting
P21.3 Leader Enterprises Ltd. follows IFRS and has provided the following information:
In 2019, Leader was sued in a patent infringement suit, and in 2020, Leader lost the court case. Leader must now pay a competitor $50,000 to settle the suit. No previous entries had been recorded in the books relative to this case because Leader's management felt the company would win.
A review of the company's provision for uncollectible accounts during 2020 resulted in a determination that 1.5% of sales is the appropriate amount of bad debt expense to be charged to operations, rather than the 2% used for the preceding two years. Bad debt expense recognized in 2019 and 2018 was $33,200 and $14,300, respectively. The company would have recorded $19,800 of bad debt expense under the old rate for 2020. No entry has yet been made in 2020 for bad debt expense.
Leader acquired land on January 1, 2017, at a cost of $70,000. The land was charged to the Equipment account in error and has been depreciated since then on the basis of a five-year life with no residual value, using the straight-line method. Leader has already recorded the related 2020 depreciation expense using the straight-line method.
During 2020, the company changed from the double-declining-balance method of depreciation for its building to the straight-line method because of a change in the pattern of benefits received. The building cost $1.4 million to build in early 2018, and no residual value is expected after its 40-year life. Total depreciation under both methods for the past three years is as follows. Double-declining-balance depreciation has been recorded for 2020.
Straight-Line | Double-Declining-Balance | |||
2018 | $35,000 | $70,000 | ||
2019 | 35,000 | 66,500 | ||
2020 | 35,000 | 63,175 |
Late in 2020, Leader determined that a piece of specialized equipment purchased in January 2017 at a cost of $75,000 with an estimated useful life of five years and residual value of $5,000 is now expected to continue in use until the end of 2024 and have a residual value of $3,000 at that time. The company has been using straight-line depreciation for this equipment, and depreciation for 2020 has already been recognized based on the original estimates.
The company has determined that a $350,000 note payable that it issued in 2018 has been incorrectly classified on its statement of financial position. The note is payable in annual instalments of $50,000, but the full amount of the note has been shown as a long-term liability with no portion shown in current liabilities. Interest expense relating to the note has been properly recorded.
a. For each of the accounting changes, errors, or transactions, present the journal entry(ies) that Leader needs to make to correct or adjust the accounts, assuming the accounts for 2020 have not yet been closed. If no entry is required, write “none” and briefly explain why. Ignore income tax considerations.
b. Prepare the entries required in part (a) but, where retrospective adjustments are made, adjust the entry to include taxes at 25%.
c. For each of the accounting changes, identify the type of change involved and whether retrospective or prospective treatment is required.
Part A | |||
Date | Account Titles and Explanation | Debit | Credit |
1) | Litigation Expense | $ 50,000 | |
Litigation Liability | $ 50,000 | ||
2) | Bad Debt Expense (($18,000 ÷ 2%) X 1.5%) | $ 13,500 | |
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts | $ 13,500 | ||
3) | Land | $ 70,000 | |
Accumulated Depreciation—Equipment ($14,000 X 4 years) | $ 56,000 | ||
Depreciation Expense ($70,000 ÷ 5 ) | $ 14,000 | ||
Retained Earnings | $ 42,000 | ||
Equipment | $ 70,000 | ||
4) | Accumulated Depreciation—Buildings | $ 29,925 | |
Depreciation Expense ($63,175 – $33,250) | $ 29,925 | ||
Carrying amount of the building at January 1, 2021 | |||
Cost less accumulated depreciation to Dec. 31/2020 = $1,400,000 - $70,000 - $66,500 = | $ 1,263,500 | ||
Remaining useful life from Jan. 1/21 = | $ 38 | yrs | |
Correct Depreciation Expense, 2021 (straight-line basis) $1,263,500 ÷ 38 | $ 33,250 | ||
5) | Accumulated Depreciation—Equipment (14000 - 6000) | $ 8,000 | |
Depreciation Expense | $ 8,000 | ||
($75,000 – $5,000) ÷ 5 = $14,000 per year | |||
($75,000 – [$14,000 X 3] – $3,000) ÷ 5 = $6,000 | |||
6) | No entry required | ||
This is an error in classification. | |||
No amounts or items are missing in the financial statements. | |||
Part B | |||
1) | This item is an adjustment to the current year financial statements. It is not an error in a prior year’s financial statements and does not require retrospective adjustment | ||
2) | This is a change in estimate – prospective treatment | ||
3) | This is an error in a prior year – retrospective treatment. | ||
Land | $ 70,000 | ||
Accumulated Depreciation—Equipment | $ 56,000 | ||
Deferred Tax Liability ($42,000 X 25%) | $ 10,500 | ||
Depreciation Expense | $ 14,000 | ||
Retained Earnings [$42,000 X (1 – 25%)] | $ 31,500 | ||
Equipment | $ 70,000 | ||
4) | This is a change in estimate – prospective treatment | ||
5) | This is a change in estimate – prospective treatment | ||
6) | No journal entry and no adjustment to opening retained earnings are required. |