Question

Beale Management has a noncontributory, defined benefit pension plan. On December 31, 2021 (the end of Beale's fiscal year), the following pension-related data were available:

Projected Benefit Obligation ($ in millions)

Balance, January 1, 2021 $ 780

Service cost 80

Interest cost, discount rate, 5% 39

Gain due to changes in actuarial assumptions in 2021 (23 )

Pension benefits paid (39 )

Balance, December 31, 2021 $ 837

Plan Assets ($ in millions)

Balance, January 1, 2021 $ 800

Actual return on plan assets 49 (Expected return on plan assets, $54)

Cash contributions 90 Pension benefits paid (39 )

Balance, December 31, 2021 $ 900

January 1, 2021, balances: ($ in millions)

Pension asset $ 20

Prior service cost—AOCI (amortization $9 per year) 45

Net gain—AOCI (any amortization over 10 years) 120

Required: 1. to 3. Prepare the 2021 journal entries to record pension expense, to record any 2021 gains and losses and the contribution to plan assets and benefit payments to retirees.

4. Determine the balances at December 31, 2021, in the PBO, plan assets, the net gain—AOCI, and prior service cost—AOCI [Hint: You might find T-accounts useful.]

5. What amount will Beale report in its 2021 balance sheet as a net pension asset or net pension liability for the funded status of the plan?

Answer 1