Can someone please help me understand this question?
I thought when we have discount on bonds we debit it on initial purchase and credit later on every year – am I wrong? Thanks
On July 1, Year 1, Pell Co. purchased Green Corp. 10-year, 8% bonds with a face amount of $500,000 for $420,000. The bonds mature on June 30, Year 9, and pay interest semiannually on June 30 and December 31. Using the interest method, Pell recorded bond discount amortization of $1,800 for the six months ended December 31, Year 1. From this long-term investment, Pell should report Year 1 revenue of:
A.$16,800.
B. $18,200.
C.$20,000.
D.$21,800.
You answered B. The correct answer is D.
If bonds are purchased at a discount, then the discount is immediately recorded as a credit in the acquiring corporation’s books. As the discount is amortized, it is thus debited, to decrease it. When cash is received as interest, the additional debit to amortize the discount adds to the debit to cash to increase the total credit to recognized revenue.
Therefore, the total revenue for the year will be the cash received as interest over the semiannual period, $500,000 (face amount) × 0.08 (8%) × 6/12, or $20,000, plus the $1,800 discount amortized, for a total revenue for the year of $21,800.
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