Determinants of actuarial cost method changes for pension accounting and funding
Article Abstract:
The promulgation process of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 87, Employers' Accounting for Pensions, involved deliberations over the choice of the most appropriate actuarial cost methods. Actuarial cost methods for accruing periodic pension expenses and determining the funding of pension plans are classified into cost allocation methods and benefit-allocation methods. Research reveals that the switch from cost-allocation to benefit allocation actuarial cost methods was developed to decrease pension expense and the amount funded to pension plans because benefit allocation methods have lower pension liabilities than cost-allocation methods. The reduction in pension funding and financial statement considerations are established by reducing pension funding by using higher interest rates to reduce pension liabilities and by switching to benefit allocation, which decreases pension liabilities.
Publication Name: Accounting Review
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0001-4826
Year: 1990
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Understanding the accounting for defined benefit pension plans
Article Abstract:
Defined benefit pension plan accounting under Financial Accounting Statement number 87 is a complicated procedure calling for a number of complex calculations. A four-step process is presented which can simplify the process. The four steps include calculation of pension expense or income; preparation of needed journal entries for income-expense and contributions; computation of any other pension liability; and accumulation of necessary disclosure data. The computation of pension income or expense is divided into interest expense, actual plan assets return, deferred asset loss or gain, amortization of earlier service cost, amortization of gain or loss, and amortization of unrecognized net asset or net obligation.
Publication Name: Management Accounting (USA)
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0025-1690
Year: 1988
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