Module 6 SOLUTIONS FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FOR MBA'S

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Q6-1. When a company increases its allowance for uncollectible accounts, it also records bad debt expense in the income statement. If a company overestimates the allowance account, bad debt expense is too high and net income is understated. As well, accounts receivable (net of the allowance account) and total assets are both understated on the balance sheet. In future periods, the company will not need to add as much to its allowance account since it is already overestimated (or, it can reverse the excess existing allowance balance). As a result, future net income will be higher. On the other hand, if a company underestimates its allowance account, then current net income will be overstated. In future periods, however, net income will be understated as the company must add to the allowance account and report higher bad debts expense as accounts are written off. Q6-2. If inventory costs are stable, the per unit dollar cost of inventories (beginning or ending) tends to be approximately the same under different inventory costing methods and the choice of method does not materially affect net income. To see this, remember that FIFO profits include holding gains on inventories. If the inflation rate is low (or inventories turn quickly), there will be less holding gains (inflationary profit) in inventory. Q6-3. FIFO holding gains occur when the costs of earlier purchased inventory are matched against current selling prices. Holding gains on inventories increase with an increase in the inflation rate and a decrease in the inventory turnover rate. Conversely, if the inflation rate is low or inventories turn quickly, there will be fewer holding gains (inflationary profit) in inventory. © Cambridge Business Publishers, 2015 Solutions Manual, Module 6 6-1 Q6-4. If inventory costs are rising, (a) Last-in, first-out yields the lowest ending inventory (b) Last-in, first-out yields the lowest net income, (c) First-in, first-out yields the highest ending inventory, (d) First-in, first-out yields the highest net income, (e) Last in, firstout yields the highest cash flow because taxes are lowest. Q6-5. When costs are consistently rising, LIFO inventory costing method yields a significant tax benefit because LIFO increases COGS which reduces pretax income and taxes payable