Judgment Case 10–8 Research and development • LO10–8 Prior to 1974, accepted practice was for companies to either expense or capitalize R&D costs. In 1974, the FASB issued a Standard that requires all research and development costs to be charged to expense when incurred. This was a controversial standard, opposed by many companies who preferred delaying the recognition of these expenses until later years when presumably the expenditures bear fruit. Several research studies have been conducted to determine if the Standard had any impact on the behavior of companies. One interesting finding was that, prior to 1974, companies that expensed R&D costs were significantly larger than those companies that capitalized R&D costs. Required: 1. Explain the FASB’s logic in deciding to require all companies to expense R&D costs in the period incurred. 2. Identify possible reasons to explain why, prior to 1974, companies that expensed R&D costs were significantly larger than those companies that capitalized R&D costs.
Judgment Case 10–8 Research and development • LO10–8 Prior to 1974, accepted practice was for companies to either expense or capitalize R&D costs. In 1974, the FASB issued a Standard that requires all research and development costs to be charged to expense when incurred. This was a controversial standard, opposed by many companies who preferred delaying the recognition of these expenses until later years when presumably the expenditures bear fruit. Several research studies have been conducted to determine if the Standard had any impact on the behavior of companies. One interesting finding was that, prior to 1974, companies that expensed R&D costs were significantly larger than those companies that capitalized R&D costs. Required: 1. Explain the FASB’s logic in deciding to require all companies to expense R&D costs in the period incurred. 2. Identify possible reasons to explain why, prior to 1974, companies that expensed R&D costs were significantly larger than those companies that capitalized R&D costs.
Solution Summary: The author explains the financial accounting standards board's logic in requiring all companies to expense R&D costs in the period incurred. Larger firms prefer to use accounting methods which would help them in reporting reduced income.
Prior to 1974, accepted practice was for companies to either expense or capitalize R&D costs. In 1974, the FASB issued a Standard that requires all research and development costs to be charged to expense when incurred. This was a controversial standard, opposed by many companies who preferred delaying the recognition of these expenses until later years when presumably the expenditures bear fruit. Several research studies have been conducted to determine if the Standard had any impact on the behavior of companies. One interesting finding was that, prior to 1974, companies that expensed R&D costs were significantly larger than those companies that capitalized R&D costs.
Required:
1. Explain the FASB’s logic in deciding to require all companies to expense R&D costs in the period incurred.
2. Identify possible reasons to explain why, prior to 1974, companies that expensed R&D costs were significantly larger than those companies that capitalized R&D costs.
Mead Incorporated began operations in Year 1. Following is a series of transactions and events involving its long-term debt investments in available-for-sale securities.
Year 1
January 20
Purchased Johnson & Johnson bonds for $20,500.
February 9
Purchased Sony notes for $55,440.
June 12
Purchased Mattel bonds for $40,500.
December 31
Fair values for debt in the portfolio are Johnson & Johnson, $21,500; Sony, $52,500; and Mattel, $46,350.
Year 2
April 15
Sold all of the Johnson & Johnson bonds for $23,500.
July 5
Sold all of the Mattel bonds for $35,850.
July 22
Purchased Sara Lee notes for $13,500.
August 19
Purchased Kodak bonds for $15,300.
December 31
Fair values for debt in the portfolio are Kodak, $17,325; Sara Lee, $12,000; and Sony, $60,000.
Year 3
February 27
Purchased Microsoft bonds for $160,800.
June 21
Sold all of the Sony notes for $57,600.
June 30
Purchased Black & Decker bonds for $50,400.
August 3
Sold all of the Sara…
What is the ending inventory?
Maple industries uses the straight line method solution general accounting question
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