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Chapter 10

Introduction to Liabilities: Economic

Consequences, Current Liabilities

and Contingencies

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Liabilities

What is a liability?

– “Probable future sacrifice of economic benefits

arising from present obligations of a particular

entity to transfer assets or provide services to

other entities in the future as a result of past

transactions or events.”

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Liabilities

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Reporting Liabilities on the Balance Sheet:

Economic Consequences

Shareholders and investors – interest expense is tax deductible, but more debt means

more risk to shareholders

– equity ownership is subordinated to creditors

Creditors – restrictive covenants regarding debt limits

Management – wants to minimize debt on the balance sheet

– often looks for “off-balance sheet” financing

– less debt now improves ability to borrow in the future

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Current Liabilities

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Current Liabilities

Classification

– expected to require the use of current assets (or the

creation of other current liabilities) to settle the

obligation.

Valuing current liabilities on the balance sheet

– Ignore present value (report at face value)

Reporting current liabilities

– Primary problem is ensuring that all existing current

liabilities are reported on the balance sheet.

Figure 10-3

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Determinable Current Liabilities

1. Accounts payable (Ch 7)

2. Short-term notes

3. Current maturities of long-term debts

4. Dividends payable

5. Unearned revenues (Ch 5)

6. Sales tax payable

7. Income taxes payable (App 10B)

8. Payroll taxes payable

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Determinable CL - continued Accrued liabilities - accrue expense and liability at

the end of the current period, and usually paid

sometime during the next year. For each item,

debit expense and credit liability. Examples

include:

– Wages payable

– Salary payable

– Interest payable

– Rent payable

– Insurance payable

– Property taxes payable

– Employee bonuses

Incentive Compensation

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Contingent Liabilities

Contingent on some future event or activity in order to know the exact amount.

Examples: warranties, coupons and lawsuits

Changes in estimate may be made in subsequent periods, when future event is concluded.

Under IFRS, much of these transactions are reported in a balance sheet account called “provisions”. – Provisions are more readily booked than contingent

liabilities because IFRS provisions are accrued when the obligation is “more likely than not,” while under US GAAP contingent liabilities are accrued when “highly probable,” which is a much higher threshold.

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Figure 10-5

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Contingent Liabilities Warranties

– Uncertain future costs

– Record estimated expense and liability when products

are sold (matching concept):

Warranty Expense xx

Estimated Warranty Liability xx

– As costs are incurred (usually in subsequent periods),

charge expenditure to warranty liability:

Estimated Warranty Liability xx

Cash, etc. xx

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Class Problem: P10-4, Parts a & b:

Issues and recommendations: - Likelihood? Probable - Disclose? Yes - Disclosure? Indicate range and level of probability (250,000 – 1.5 million) - Accrue? Since probable (or greater) and estimable, accrual is required, based on best estimate.

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Class Problem: P10-4, Part c:

Adjusting journal entry for 2011:

Estimated loss 742,000

Estimated liability 742,000

(Best guess in the range)

Journal entry at settlement (8/12/12):

Estimated liability 742,000

Recovery of estimated loss 52,000

Cash 690,000

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Warranty A promise by a manufacturer or seller to ensure

the quality or performance of the product for a

specific period of time

Almost Honest

JOHN’S

Used Cars

I’ll stand behind it

for 50 miles

or 50 minutes

whichever comes first

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Class Exercise: E10-10(a) (1) GJE to record sale in 2011 (200 @ $250 each):

Cash 50,000

Sales revenue 50,000

(2) AJE in 2011 to record estimated warranty for the sales (200 @ $20):

Warranty expense 4,000

Estimated Warr. Liability 4,000

(3) GJE to record payment in 2011 for repairs:

Est. Warr. Liability 1,400

Cash 1,400

GJE to record payment in 2012 for repairs:

Est. Warr. Liability 2,600

Cash 2,600

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Class Exercise: E10-10(b)

Income effects for the revenue and warranty expense under the two alternative for recognition of expense (expressed in thousands):

Accrue Expense Expense as Paid

2011 2012 2011 2012

Revenues 50,000 --- 50,000 ---

Warr. Expense (4,000) --- (1,400) (2,600)

Note that the accrual method recognizes the expense in the same period as the revenues generated by the sale.

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Retirement Costs (App 10A) Defined Contribution Plans

– Less expensive than Defined Benefit Plans

– 401(k), 403(b), 457

– The entry to record period contributions is very simple:

Dr. Pension Expense

Cr. Cash

Defined Benefit Plans – Benefits must be predicted, therefore several assumptions

and estimates are required

– Social Security is form of Defined Benefit Plan

– The entry to record the estimated liability is simple, but the calculations can be quite complicated:

Dr. Pension Expense

Cr. Pension Liability

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Deferred Taxes (App 10B) Generated by the discrepancy between income and

expenses for taxation (specified by IRS) and financial reporting (specified by GAAP).

Example:

– Equipment purchased on 1/1/09 for $9,000

– 3-year useful life

– no salvage value

– DDB for income tax purposes

– SL for financial reporting purposes

– Income tax rate of 30%

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Depreciation Schedules

2009 Deferred income tax liability $900

2010 Deferred income tax benefit $300

2011 Deferred income tax benefit $600

Year DDB SL Diff Rate Tax Benefit

(Disbenefit)

2009 $6000 - 3000 = $3000 X 30% = $900

2010 2000 - 3000 = (1000) X 30% = (300)

2011 1000 - 3000 = (2000) X 30% = (600)

Total $9000 $9000 $0 $0

Deferred Income Tax Liability

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The Conservatism Ratio

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The Conservatism Ratio

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Copyright

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