Question & Answer

On May 1, 2014, Friendly Company issued 2,000 $1,000 bonds at 102. Each bond was issued with one detachable stock warrant. Shortly after issuance, the bonds were selling at 98, but the fair value of the warrants cannot be determined. Instructions (a) Prepare the entry to record the issuance of the bonds and warrants. (b) Assume the same facts as part (a), except that the warrants had a fair value of $30. Prepare the entry to record the issuance of the bonds and warrants.

Hardly a day goes by without an article appearing on the crises affecting many of our financial institutions in the United States. It is estimated that the savings and loan (S&L) debacle of the 1980s, for example, ended up costing $500 billion ($2,000 for every man, woman, and child in the United States). Some argue that if the S&Ls had been required to report their investments at fair value instead of cost, large losses would have been reported earlier, which would have signaled regulators to close those S&Ls and, therefore, minimize the losses to U.S. taxpayers. Instructions Explain how reported accounting numbers might affect an individual’s perceptions and actions. Cite two examples.

What is the function of a mutual fund? Why are mutual funds popular among investors? How does a money market mutual fund differ from a stock or bond mutual fund? (LO3)

Samson Corporation issued a 4-year, $75,000, zero-interest-bearing note to Brown Company on January 1, 2014, and received cash of $47,664. The implicit interest rate is 12%. Prepare Samson’s journal entries for (a) the January 1 issuance and (b) the December 31 recognition of interest.

Ethical Decision making – inappropriate allocation of underapplied overhead82 The Australian government has contracted with alternative energy industry organisations to develop new energy technologies. These contracts are sometimes based on cost. Because these organisations are also developing technologies for non-government entities, incentives exist to shift overhead costs to the government, so that commercial operations become more competitive. Because cost allocations are private information, research provides only indirect evidence that this cost shifting occurs. The following vignette is fictional, but it illustrates potential ethical problems that arise when governments use cost-based contracts for product development.   Deep Water Hydro is an hydro-electricity energy company that focuses on innovative research and development solutions for alternative energy supply for both commercial and government agencies. Because one of its commercial contracts fell through last year, the company had fewer jobs than anticipated. Consequently, the company’s overhead costs were underapplied at the end of the year, so an adjustment was made to increase cost of goods sold (also called cost of sales).   Deep Water’s policy is to allocate production overhead as a percentage of direct labour costs for each contract. One of the government contracts completed last year was to develop a hydroelectricity generator that would supply energy from sea water entering Port Philip Bay in Melbourne. The job contract was based on cost-plus-fixed-fee for a total cost of $245 million. The hydro-electricity project was Deep Water’s only government contract last year. Commercial business completed was $105 million, so cost of goods sold (COGS) totalled $350 million.   Disagreement about underapplied overhead adjustment The government official in charge of the contract complained to the federal contract auditor that Deep Water’s underapplied overhead should not have been closed to COGS. Instead, he argued that it should have been allocated on a pro rata basis among the contracts in progress, finished goods, and COGS. The auditor asked to see the cost accounting records and financial statements for the period. Following is an analysis of the direct costs and cost allocations (in millions):   The $350 million in COGS included $245 million for the government contract. When the underapplied overhead ($100 million) was closed to COGS, the government portion of underapplied overhead was $70 million [$100 ´ ($245 ¸ $350)]. Because the contract specified that the government would pay costs plus a fixed amount, the overhead adjustment effectively increased the revenue under the contract by $70 million.   Actual direct labour costs were $150 million, and the pre-adjustment allocated overhead was $300 million. Therefore, the original allocation rate was 200 per cent ($300 ¸ $150) of direct labour cost. Total actual overhead turned out to be $400 million (the $300 million plus the $100 million underapplied). If Deep Water accountants could have perfectly estimated overhead at $400 million and direct labour cost at $150 million, they would have used 267 per cent ($400 ¸ $150) as the allocation rate.   The underapplied overhead amount was material ($100 million out of $400 million, or 25 per cent). Therefore, the government auditor decided that it should have been allocated on a pro rata basis among the three accounts that reflected work done this period: contracts in progress, finished goods, and cost of goods sold. Had this method been used, the adjustment would have been prorated as follows: The government's share of the COGS adjustment would be ($245 ¸ $350) ´ $29.4 million = $20.6 million. When the auditor compared this to the original adjustment of $70 million, she knew the government had been overcharged.   Alternative methods for allocating overapplied or underapplied overhead The auditor offered Deep Water three alternatives for allocating the overhead adjustment. Under governmental contracts, underapplied overhead could be allocated based on direct materials cost, direct labour cost, or total direct costs. If Deep Water uses direct materials, COGS is increased by $25 million, of which the government portion is $17.5 million. If direct labour cost is used, COGS is increased by $33.3 million, of which the government portion is $23.3 million. If total direct cost is used, COGS is increased by $27.3 million, of which the government portion is $20.1 million.   The government and Deep Water must now negotiate to determine the most appropriate proration method.   Required (a)     Is allocating proportionately more cost to government contracts an ethical problem for Deep Water? Why? (b)     When the government pays more than commercial customers pay for work done, does this situation pose a business problem, a social problem or both? Explain. (c)     Discuss the preferences of various stakeholders for this problem, including: ·                     Deep Water managers ·                     Deep Water shareholders ·                     Deep Water commercial customers ·                     Deep Water governmental customers ·                     Deep Water competitors ·                     Australian taxpayers (d)     Is it fair for the government to pay more for products and services than commercial customers pay? Is it fair for taxes to subsidise the overhead costs for a private business? (e)     How can an organisation monitor whether its accounting practices are ethical?             (LO2, 3 and 4)

Kaymer Corporation issued 300 shares of $10 par value ordinary shares for $4,500. Prepare Kaymer’s journal entry.

The current assets and current liabilities sections of the balance sheet of Allessandro Scarlatti Company appear as follows.   The following errors in the corporation’s accounting have been discovered: 1. January 2015 cash disbursements entered as of December 2014 included payments of accounts payable in the amount of $39,000, on which a cash discount of 2% was taken. 2. The inventory included $27,000 of merchandise that had been received at December 31 but for which no purchase invoices had been received or entered. Of this amount, $12,000 had been received on consignment; the remainder was purchased f.o.b. destination, terms 2/10, n/30. 3. Sales for the first four days in January 2015 in the amount of $30,000 were entered in the sales journal as of December 31, 2014. Of these, $21,500 were sales on account and the remainder were cash sales. 4. Cash, not including cash sales, collected in January 2015 and entered as of December 31, 2014, totaled $35,324. Of this amount, $23,324 was received on account after cash discounts of 2% had been deducted; the remainder represented the proceeds of a bank loan. Instructions (a) Restate the current assets and current liabilities sections of the balance sheet in accordance with good accounting practice. (Assume that both accounts receivable and accounts payable are recorded gross.) (b) State the net effect of your adjustments on Allessandro Scarlatti Company’s retained earnings balance.

Merrito Inc. is a large U.S. firm that issued bonds several years ago. Its bond ratings declined over time and, about a year ago, the bonds were rated in the junk bond classification. Nevertheless, investors continued to buy the bonds in the secondary market because of the attractive yield they offered. Last week, Merrito defaulted on its bonds, and the prices of most other junk bonds declined abruptly on the same day. Explain why news of Meritto’s financial problems could cause the prices of junk bonds issued by other firms to decrease, even when those firms had no business relationships with Merrito. Explain why the prices of those junk bonds with less liquidity declined more than those with a high degree of liquidity. (LO2)

Explain the motivation behind the Fed’s policy of purchasing massive amounts of mortgage-backed securities during the 2008 credit crisis. What could this policy accomplish that the Fed’s traditional monetary policy might not accomplish? (LO2, LO3)

A sufficient amount of pure copper is to be heated for casting a large plate in an open mold. The plate has dimensions: length = 20 in, width = 10 in, and thickness = 3 in. Compute the amount of heat that must be added to the metal to heat it to a temperature of 2150°F for pouring. Assume that the amount of metal heated will be 10% more than what is needed to fill the mold cavity. Properties of the metal are: density = 0.324 lbm/in3 , melting point = 1981°F, specific heat of the metal = 0.093 Btu/lbm-F in the solid state and 0.090 Btu/lbm-F in the liquid state, and heat of fusion = 80 Btu/lbm.

Janice Traylor is single. She has an 18-year-old son named Marty. Marty is Janice’s only child. Marty has lived with Janice his entire life. However, Marty recently joined the Marines and was sent on a special assignment to Australia. During the current year, Marty spent nine months in Australia. Marty was extremely homesick while in Australia because he had never lived away from home. However, Marty knew this assignment was only temporary, and he couldn’t wait to come home and find his room just the way he left it. Janice has always filed as head of household, and Marty has always been considered a qualifying child (and he continues to meet all the tests with the possible exception of the residence test due to his stay in Australia). However, this year Janice is unsure whether she qualifies as head of household due to Marty’s nine-month absence during the year. Janice has come to you for advice on whether she qualifies for head of household filing status. How would you advise her?

For the following independent cases, determine whether economic income is present and, if so, whether it must be included in gross income (i.e., is it realized and recognized for tax purposes?).

Is business income allocated from a flow-through business entity to its owners self-employment income? Explain.

In forming Parts Inc. as a corporation, Candice transferred inventory to Parts Inc. in exchange for 30 percent of the corporation's stock (60 shares valued at $130,000). The inventory's fair market value was $147,000 and its tax basis to Candice was $75,000. The inventory was subject to a $17,000 liability that Parts Inc. assumed on the transfer. Candice borrowed the $17,000 from the bank (using the inventory as collateral) shortly before transferring the inventory to Parts Inc., and she used the loan proceeds to pay for a family vacation to Europe.  a. Assuming the transfer qualifies under §351 and that the liability has a tax-avoidance purpose, what gain or loss will Candice recognize on the transfer?  b. Assuming the transfer qualifies under §351  and that the liability has a tax-avoidance purpose, what is Candice's basis in the stock she received in the exchange? c. Suppose the liability does not have a tax-avoidance purpose. What gain will Candice recognize on the transfer?  d. Assuming the liability does not have a tax-avoidance purpose,  what is Candice's basis in the stock she received in the exchange?

Tiny and Tim each owns half of the 100 outstanding shares of Flower Corporation. This year, Flower reported taxable income of $10,000.  In addition, Flower received $20,000 of life insurance proceeds due to the death of an employee (Flower paid $900 in life insurance premiums this year). Flower had $5,000 of accumulated E&P at the beginning of the year.

The following is a record of Pervis Ellison Company’s transactions for Boston Teapots for the month of May 2014. May 1 Balance 400 units @ $20 May 10 Sale 300 units @ $38 12 Purchase 600 units @ $25 20 Sale 540 units @ $38 28 Purchase 400 units @ $30 Instructions (a) Assuming that perpetual inventories are not maintained and that a physical count at the end of the month shows 560 units on hand, what is the cost of the ending inventory using (1) FIFO and (2) LIFO? (b) Assuming that perpetual records are maintained and they tie into the general ledger, calculate the ending inventory using (1) FIFO and (2) LIFO.

In what sense is the at-risk loss limitation rule more restrictive than the tax-basis loss limitation rule?

A national company, Fast Print, decided to expand into several developing countries. The company has been managed under a centralised organisational form, but is considering changing to a decentralised form. List the advantages and disadvantages of making this change.

1.       : Most companies have policies that regulate employees’ personal use of work computers during work hours. Some even monitor employee e-mails and track the Web sites that have been visited. Do you consider this type of surveillance to be an invasion of privacy? What are some advantages and disadvantages of restricting employee use of the Internet and e-mail at work?

Wertz Construction Company decided at the beginning of 2014 to change from the completedcontract method to the percentage-of-completion method for financial reporting purposes. The company will continue to use the completed-contract method for tax purposes. For years prior to 2014, pretax income under the two methods was as follows: percentage-of-completion $120,000, and completed-contract $80,000. The tax rate is 35%. Prepare Wertz’s 2014 journal entry to record the change in accounting principle.

As discussed in Chapter 1, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) develops accounting standards for many international companies. The IASB also has developed a conceptual frameworkto help guide the setting of accounting standards. While the FASB and IASB have issued converged concepts statements on the objective and qualitative characteristics, other parts of their frameworks differ. Instructions Briefly discuss the similarities and differences between the FASB and IASB conceptual frameworks as  related to elements and their definitions.

Why does a partner’s tax basis in a partnership interest need to be adjusted annually?

Explain how estimation of service lives can result in unrealistically high carrying values for fixed assets.

According to the video on sheet-metal shearing, what is the blade rake angle?

1.       : Research on team interactions indicates that when people eat lunch at 12-person tables, they are more talkative and collaborative than when they eat at 4-person tables, even if they aren’t eating with their own team members. What do you think would explain this finding?