20-1
Change inAccounting Estimate and
Accounting Principle
Chapter 20Illustrated Solution: Problem 20-25Illustrated Solution: Problem 20-25
20-2
Problem IntroductionProblem Introduction
1. Change in depreciation methods on the equipment.
2. Change in the useful life of a building.
3. Change in the estimate of bad debts as a percent of credit sales.
20-3
Part 1—Accounting Treatment for ChangesPart 1—Accounting Treatment for Changes
The change from straight-line to sum-of-the-years’-digits method to depreciate the equipment is a change in accounting principle and requires a cumulative adjusting entry.
20-4
Part 1—Accounting Treatment for ChangesPart 1—Accounting Treatment for Changes
The change from straight-line to sum-of-the-years’-digits method to depreciate the equipment is a change in accounting principle and requires a cumulative adjusting entry.
The revision of the estimated life of the building is a change in estimate and should be accounted for prospectively.
20-5
Part 1—Accounting Treatment for ChangesPart 1—Accounting Treatment for Changes
The change from straight-line to sum-of-the-years’-digits method to depreciate the equipment is a change in accounting principle and requires a cumulative adjusting entry.
The revision of the estimated life of the building is a change in estimate and should be accounted for prospectively.
The change in the percentage of credit sales to expense to bad debts is a change in estimate and is also accounted for prospectively.
20-6
Part 2—Journal EntryPart 2—Journal Entry
To prepare the journal entry, we must first determine:
1. The amount of depreciation that has been recognized, and
2. The amount that would have been recognized had the new method been used.
20-7
Part 2—Journal EntryPart 2—Journal Entry
To prepare the journal entry, we must first determine:
1. The amount of depreciation that has been recognized, and
2. The amount that would have been recognized had the new method been used.
In this case, straight-line depreciation resulted in $17,200 being depreciated in years 1999 through 2002, computed as follows:
($48,000 - $5,000) 10 years = $4,300 per year; $4,300 x 4 years = $17,200
20-8
Part 2—Journal EntryPart 2—Journal Entry
Had the sum-of-the-years’ digits method been used, depreciation expense would have been $26,582, computed as follows:
1999 — $43,000 x 10/55 = $ 7,881
2000 — $43,000 x 9/55 = 7,036
2001 — $43,000 x 8/55 = 6,255
2002 — $43,000 x 7/55 = 5,473
$26,582
20-9
Part 2—Journal EntryPart 2—Journal Entry
The journal entry to record the change in accounting principle will increase the accumulated depreciation account for the difference between the depreciation that would have been taken using the sum-of-the-years’-digits method and the depreciation that was taken using the straight-line method.
This difference is equal to
$9,382 ($26,582 – $17,200 = $9,382)
20-10
Part 2—Journal EntryPart 2—Journal Entry
The journal entry to record the change in accounting principle will increase the accumulated depreciation account for the difference between the depreciation that would have been taken using the sum-of-the-years’-digits method and the depreciation that was taken using the straight-line method.
This difference is equal to
$9,382 ($26,582 – $17,200 = $9,382)
Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle… 9,382
Accumulated Depreciation…………………………. 9,382
20-11
Income Statement FormatIncome Statement Format
Revenue:SalesLess: Sales discounts
Sales returns and allowances Cost of goods sold:
Inventory—beginningNet purchases:
PurchasesLess: Purchase discounts
Purchase returns and allowancesFreight-inCost of goods available for saleLess: Inventory—ending
Gross profitOperating expenses:
Selling expenses:General and administrative expenses:
Operating incomeOther revenues and gains:Income from continuing operations before income taxesIncome tax expenseIncome from continuing operationsDiscontinued operations (net of taxes)Extraordinary items (net of taxes)Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles (net of taxes)Net income
20-12
Part 3 — Journal EntriesPart 3 — Journal Entries
The journal entry to record the depreciation expense on the equipment in year 2003 will continue using the sum-of-the-years’-digits method. In 2003, this will result in depreciation expense of $4,691
($43,000 6/55 = $4,691 rounded)
20-13
Part 3 — Journal EntriesPart 3 — Journal Entries
The journal entry to record the depreciation expense on the equipment in year 2003 will continue using the sum-of-the-years’-digits method. In 2003, this will result in depreciation expense of $4,691
($43,000 6/55 = $4,691 rounded)
Depreciation Expense…………………………………… 4,691
Accumulated Depreciation…………………………. 4,691
20-14
Part 3 — Journal EntriesPart 3 — Journal Entries
Because the change in useful life of the building is a change in estimate, we do not make any adjustments to past entries. The new annual depreciation expense for the building beginning in 2003 is computed as follows:
20-15
Part 3 — Journal EntriesPart 3 — Journal Entries
Because the change in useful life of the building is a change in estimate, we do not make any adjustments to past entries. The new annual depreciation expense for the building beginning in 2003 is computed as follows:
Book value on Jan. 1, 2003 $66,332 [$85,000 – (4 x $4,667)]
New remaining useful life 16 years
= New depreciation expense = $3,208 per year (rounded)
20-16
Part 3 — Journal EntriesPart 3 — Journal Entries
Because the change in useful life of the building is a change in estimate, we do not make any adjustments to past entries. The new annual depreciation expense for the building beginning in 2003 is computed as follows:
The journal entry to record the depreciation expense on the building is:
Book value on Jan. 1, 2003 $66,332 [$85,000 – (4 x $4,667)]
New remaining useful life 16 years
= New depreciation expense = $3,208 per year (rounded)
Depreciation Expense—Building…………………… 3,208
Accumulated Depreciation—Building ………… 3,208
20-17
Part 4 — Journal EntriesPart 4 — Journal Entries
Because Johnston Doors is using the allowance method, the entry to write off actual bad debts removes the actual amount from both the Accounts Receivable and the Allowance for Bad Debts. In this case, the actual amount for 2003 totaled $5,500.
20-18
Part 4 — Journal EntriesPart 4 — Journal Entries
Because Johnston Doors is using the allowance method, the entry to write off actual bad debts removes the actual amount from both the Accounts Receivable and the Allowance for Bad Debts. In this case, the actual amount for 2003 totaled $5,500.
Allowance for Bad Debts……………………………… 5,500
Accounts Receivable……………………………… 5,500
20-19
Part 4 — Journal EntriesPart 4 — Journal Entries
Johnston has decided to use 2% of credit sales as their best estimate of bad debt expenses the company incurs beginning in 2003. Credit sales for 2003 totaled $250,000 which results in a bad debt expense for the year of $5,000.
($250,000 x .02 = $5,000)
20-20
Part 4 — Journal EntriesPart 4 — Journal Entries
Johnston has decided to use 2% of credit sales as their best estimate of bad debt expenses the company incurs beginning in 2003. Credit sales for 2003 totaled $250,000 which results in a bad debt expense for the year of $5,000.
($250,000 x .02 = $5,000)
Bad Debt Expense……………………………………. 5,000
Allowance for Bad Debts…………………………. 5,000
20-21
Part 5Part 5
Because the change in percentage used to estimate bad debts is treated as a change in estimate, there is no cumulative adjustment to the allowance account at the beginning of 2003.
20-22
End of ProblemEnd of Problem