Question

Scobie Incorporated has one plant asset. The asset's original cost was $635,500. There is a $45,500 expected residual value and the estimated useful life is 20 years. On January 1 of the current year, following 10 full years of depreciation, the company determined that the asset will be useful for only another 5 years and reduced the expected residual value to $23,500. The change in estimate is needed to reflect advanced technology used in newer equipment currently available on the market. Scobie uses the straight-line method of depreciation. Prepare the journal entry to record the change in estimate, ignoring any tax effects. (Record debits first, then credits. Exclude explanations from any journal entries.)

Answer 1

Given data: Asset's original cost= $635,500Expected residual value= $45,500Estimated useful life= 20 years Depreciation rate= 1/20= 0.05 per year, straight-line method. Let "x" be the depreciation till the end of the 10th year After 10 years, the book value of the asset= Original cost - Accumulated depreciation= $635,500 - $317,750 = $317,750Depreciation for the next 5 years= (Book value at the end of 10th year - Expected residual value) / 5= ($317,750 - $23,500) / 5= $58,050 per year

Total depreciation for 15 years= $317,750 + (5 * $58,050) = $620,800Expected residual value reduced from $45,500 to $23,500, i.e. decreased by $22,000Journal Entry: Depreciation Expense Dr $22,000 Accumulated Depreciation - Plant Asset Cr $22,000The journal entry to record the change in estimate, ignoring any tax effects is: Depreciation Expense Dr $22,000Accumulated Depreciation - Plant Asset Cr $22,000

Explanation: The reason for the journal entry is the reduction of the estimated residual value of the plant asset, which is a change in the accounting estimate. The adjustment entry will be recorded by increasing the depreciation expense and decreasing the accumulated depreciation, thereby decreasing the book value of the asset.