Chapter 17, Problem 17.27E

(1)

To determine

Other postretirement benefits: The postretirement benefits which are provided by employers, other than pensions, like medical insurance, life insurance, and legal services, and healthcare benefits, are referred to as other postretirement benefits.

The following are the ways to measure other postretirement benefits:

• Expected postretirement benefit obligation (EPBO): This is the present value of future retirement benefits, which is estimated to be received by the participants.
• Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO): This is the portion of EPBO recognized by the employee till date.

Postretirement benefit expense: This is an expense to the employer paid as compensation after the completion of services performed by the employees for the other postretirement benefits.

To determine: Postretirement benefit expense for 2016.

(2)

To determine

Journal entry: Journal entry is a set of economic events which can be measured in monetary terms. These are recorded chronologically and systematically.

Debit and credit rules:

• Debit an increase in asset account, increase in expense account, decrease in liability account, and decrease in stockholders’ equity accounts.
• Credit decrease in asset account, increase in revenue account, increase in liability account, and increase in stockholders’ equity accounts.

To journalize: Entries related to postretirement benefit expense, funding, and retiree benefits paid