CPA Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) : CPA Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for CPA Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)

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Example Questions

Example Question #121 : Cpa Financial Accounting And Reporting (Far)

A company starts a defined benefit pension plan on January 1, Year 1. The service cost for the year is $250,000 and plan funding each year is $175,000 (made each January 1). Interest on the projected benefit obligation is 8% while the expected return on plan assets is 10%. How much is pension expense in Year 2?

Possible Answers:

$233,250

$192,500

$210,750

$250,000

Correct answer:

$233,250

Explanation:

Pension service cost is recorded at the end of each Year, with the PBO determined at that time. PBO at the end of Year 1 is equal to $250K. Plan assets at the end of Year 1 are equal to the $175K deposited in January plus the assets earnings over Year 1 of $17,500 ($175K x 10%). Pension expense in Year 2 is equal to $250K service cost + $20K ($250K PBO x 8%) - $36,750K ($367,500 x 10%)

Example Question #122 : Cpa Financial Accounting And Reporting (Far)

The Capstone Company has a defined benefit pension plan. On January 1, Year 12, the plan is amended, causing the projected benefit obligation to increase by $600,000. At that time, the covered employees are expected to work another 8 years on average. How will this amendment be reported in the Year 12 financial statements?

Possible Answers:

$600,000 is reported as pension expense

$600,000 is reported within accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholder's equity

$525,000 is reported within accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholder's equity and $75,000 is reported as pension expense

$525,000 is reported as a plan asset and $75,000 is reported as pension expense

Correct answer:

$525,000 is reported within accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholder's equity and $75,000 is reported as pension expense

Explanation:

Changes in pension plans and assumptions are initially reported in AOCI, and then amortized to pension expense. The company will expense $75K of this amendment ($600K / 8 years) and leave the remaining $525K in AOCI.

Example Question #123 : Cpa Financial Accounting And Reporting (Far)

Investments must be reported at fair value in the financial statements of pension plans and trusts.

Possible Answers:

Net realizable value

Fair value

Historical cost

Lower of cost or market

Correct answer:

Fair value

Explanation:

In the financial statements of employee benefit pension plans, the plan investments are reported at which valuation?

Example Question #124 : Cpa Financial Accounting And Reporting (Far)

The differences between executive and nonexecutive plans is not a disclosure that is required.

Possible Answers:

The differences in executive and nonexecutive plans

The amount of unrecognized prior service cost

The components of net periodic pension cost

A detailed description of the plan including employee groups covered

Correct answer:

The differences in executive and nonexecutive plans

Explanation:

Footnote disclosures in the financial statements for pensions do not require inclusion of which of the following?

Example Question #1 : Accrued Payroll Expense

The net periodic pension cost for the year of a defined benefit pension plan would be reported on:

Possible Answers:

Both

Income statement

Statement of changes in net assets

Neither

Correct answer:

Income statement

Explanation:

A company would only report the net periodic pension cost on the income statement.

Example Question #1 : Software, R&D Costs

Which of the following costs will be expensed rather than capitalized?

Possible Answers:

Costs incurred to develop software for internal use, up until the preliminary project state

Costs incurred to customize software purchased off the shelf for internal use

Costs incurred to developed software, which will be sold to customers, after technological feasibility is established

Costs incurred to develop software for internal use, after the project has reached the preliminary project state

Correct answer:

Costs incurred to develop software for internal use, up until the preliminary project state

Explanation:

Costs incurred to develop software for internal use will be expensed up until the project has reached the preliminary project state. After this point, costs incurred will be capitalized. Costs incurred to customize purchased software and costs to develop software to sell, after the point of technological feasibility, will be capitalized.

Example Question #2 : Software, R&D Costs

During Year 5, BioTech, Inc incurred $500,000 of research and development costs to develop a product for which a patent was granted on August 1, Year 5. Legal fees and other costs associated with the patent totaled $85,000. BioTech estimates the useful life of the patent to be 15 years. What amount should BioTech capitalize for the patent on August 1, Year 1?

Possible Answers:

$585,000

$500,000

$0

$85,000

Correct answer:

$85,000

Explanation:

Research and development costs that resulted in a patented product will be expensed, but legal fees to establish the patent will be capitalized. Therefore, only the $85K in legal fees will be capitalized.

Example Question #3 : Software, R&D Costs

Coleman Inc produces software for sale and internal use. In the current year, Coleman incurred the following costs: research & development costs outsourced to a third party of $30,000; design and testing of preproduction prototypes of $110,000; testing in search for new products of $15,000; and quality control costs of $18,000. What amount of costs should be expensed as research & development in the current year?

Possible Answers:

$155,000

$173,000

$188,000

$140,000

Correct answer:

$155,000

Explanation:

All of the listed costs will be expensed, however, the $18K in quality control costs will be exposed as quality control costs, not research and development. All other costs will be expensed as research and development costs.

Example Question #4 : Software, R&D Costs

ABC incurred organization costs of $3,000 at the beginning of its first year of operations. How should ABC treat the organization costs in its financial statements?

Possible Answers:

Amortized over 50 years

Expensed immediately

Never amortized

Amortized over 180 months

Correct answer:

Expensed immediately

Explanation:

Organization costs are expensed for US GAAP financial income but deducted later for tax purposes.

Example Question #5 : Software, R&D Costs

ABC company incurred legal fees in defending its patent rights. These legal fees should be capitalize when the outcome of the litigation is:

Possible Answers:

Unsuccessful

Neither

Successful

Both

Correct answer:

Successful

Explanation:

The accounting treatment for legal fees depends on the defense of a legal outcome. If successful the costs are capitalized, the preferable treatment.

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