ASC 960-20: Actuarial Assumptions Journal Entries for Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Posted In | ASC Education | Gridlex AcademyThe Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 960, Plan Accounting, governs the financial reporting standards for employee benefit plans, including defined benefit pension plans. Specifically, ASC 960-20 focuses on the measurement of defined benefit pension plan obligations and the related actuarial assumptions. In this article, we will discuss the actuarial assumptions used in the valuation of a defined benefit pension plan's obligations, the importance of these assumptions, and the journal entries involved in the accounting process.
Actuarial Assumptions
Actuarial assumptions are the key inputs used by actuaries to estimate the present value of future pension obligations, as well as the periodic pension cost. These assumptions are based on demographic and economic factors, which can be divided into two categories:
Demographic Assumptions: These assumptions relate to the participant's characteristics, such as retirement age, mortality rates, turnover rates, and disability rates. Demographic assumptions are critical in estimating the timing and amount of future benefit payments.
Economic Assumptions: These assumptions relate to financial factors that impact the plan's future obligations, such as the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, and the rate of salary increase for plan participants. Economic assumptions help determine the present value of future benefit payments and the expected growth of plan assets.
Selecting appropriate actuarial assumptions is crucial for an accurate estimation of the plan's obligations and costs. Actuaries must consider historical data, current trends, and future expectations when making these assumptions.
Journal Entries for Actuarial Assumptions Transactions
The actuarial assumptions impact various components of the pension accounting process, such as the service cost, interest cost, and actuarial gains or losses. Let's assume a defined benefit pension plan has the following data for a specific period:
Service cost: $100,000
Interest cost: $50,000
Actual return on plan assets: $40,000
Expected return on plan assets: $30,000
Employer contributions: $90,000
The following journal entries can be used to record the pension transactions:
1. Record the service cost:
Dr. Pension Expense $100,000
Cr. Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO) $100,000
2. Record the interest cost:
Dr. Pension Expense $50,000
Cr. PBO $50,000
3. Record the expected return on plan assets:
Dr. Plan Assets $30,000
Cr. Pension Expense $30,000
4. Record the actuarial gain or loss:
Dr. Plan Assets $10,000 (Actual return of $40,000 - Expected return of $30,000)
Cr. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI) $10,000
5. Record the employer contributions:
Dr. Plan Assets $90,000
Cr. Cash $90,000
The net pension expense for the period can be calculated as:
Service cost: $100,000
Interest cost: $50,000
Less: Expected return on plan assets: $30,000
Net Pension Expense: $120,000
Accurate actuarial assumptions are essential for the measurement of defined benefit pension plan obligations and costs. The demographic and economic assumptions help actuaries estimate the present value of future benefit payments and the periodic pension costs. The journal entries associated with actuarial assumptions transactions provide a clear understanding of how these assumptions affect the pension accounting process.