Final answer:
The loss on retirement of the bonds can be calculated by finding the carrying value of the bonds and comparing it to the amount at which they were retired. The loss in this case would be $161,600.
Step-by-step explanation:
The loss on retirement of the bonds can be calculated by finding the carrying value of the bonds and comparing it to the amount at which they were retired. The carrying value can be calculated by subtracting the unamortized bond premium from the carrying amount. In this case, the carrying amount of the bonds payable on December 31, 2020, was $54,200,000 and the face value was $4,040,000. Therefore, the unamortized bond premium would be $54,200,000 - $4,040,000 = $50,160,000. On June 30, 2021, the bonds were retired at 104% of the face value, which is $4,040,000 * 1.04 = $4,201,600. Adding the accrued interest to this amount gives $4,201,600 + $4,040,000 * 6% / 2 = $4,201,600 + $121,200 = $4,322,800.
The loss on retirement would be the difference between the carrying value and the amount at which the bonds were retired. In this case, the loss would be $50,160,000 - $4,322,800 = $45,837,200. Therefore, the correct answer is option c. $161,600.