Nguyên lý kế toán - Chapter 17: Pensions and other postretirement benefits

Pensions and Other Postretirement BenefitsChapter 17Nature of Pension PlansContributions are defined by agreement.Employer deposits an agreed-upon amount into an employee-directed investment fund.Employee bears all risk of pension fund performance.Plan CharacteristicsDefined Contribution Pension PlansEmployer is committed to specified retirement benefits.Retirement benefits are based on a formula that considers years of service, compensation level, and age.Employer bears all risk of pension fund performance.Plan CharacteristicsDefined Benefit Pension PlansPension Expense—An OverviewThe annual pension expense reflects changes in both the pension obligation and the plan assets.The Pension ObligationAccumulated benefit obligation (ABO) The actuary’s estimate of the total retirement benefits (at their discounted present value) earned so far by employees, applying the pension formula using existing compensation levels.Vested benefit obligation (VBO) The portion of the accumulated benefit obligation that plan participants are entitled to receive regardless of their continued employment.Projected benefit obligation (PBO) The actuary’s estimate of the total retirement benefit (at their discounted present value) earned so far by employees, applying the pension formula using estimated future compensation levels. (If the pension formula does not include future compensation levels, the PBO and the ABO are the same.)The Pension ObligationProjected Benefit ObligationPension Plan AssetsThe pension plan assets are not reported separately in the balance sheet but are netted together with the PBO to report either a net pension asset (debit balance) or a net pension liability (credit balance).The higher the expected return on plan assets, the less the employer must actually contribute. On the other hand, a relatively low expected return means the difference must be made up by higher contributions.Funded Status of the Pension Plan OVERFUNDED Market value of plan assets exceeds the actuarial present value of all benefits earned by participants. UNDERFUNDED Market value of plan assets is below the actuarial present value of all benefits earned by participants.Reporting the Funded Status of Pension Plan Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO) - Plan Assets at Fair Value Underfunded / Overfunded StatusThe Relationship Between Pension Expense and Changes in the PBO and Plan Assets Gains and LossesOnly if a net gain or net loss exceeds the “corridor” is a charge to pension expense allowed. Corridor AmountThe corridor amount is 10% of the greater ofPBO at the beginning of the period.Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the period.OrGains and LossesIf the beginning net unrecognized gain or loss exceeds the corridor amount, amortization is recognized using the following formula . . . Net unrecognized gain or loss at beginning of yearAverage remaining service period of activeemployees expected to receive benefits under the plan Corridor amount ־Comprehensive IncomeComprehensive income is a more expansive view of income than traditional net income.Comprehensive IncomePostretirement Benefits Other Than PensionsEstimated medicalcosts in eachyear of retirementEstimated netcost of benefitsRetireeshare ofcostMedicarepaymentsLess:Equals:Net Cost of BenefitsMany companies also furnish other postretirement benefits to their retired employees. Postretirement Benefit ObligationExpected Postretirement Benefit Obligation (EPBO) – The actuary's estimate of the total postretirement benefits (at their discounted present value) expected to be received by plan participants. Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation (APBO) – The portion of the EPBO attributed to employee service to date. Accounting for Postretirement Benefit Plans Other Than PensionsMeasuring Service CostAttribute a portion of the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation to each yearas the service cost for that year.End of Chapter 17