Asset Retirement Obligations

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CPA Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) › Asset Retirement Obligations

Questions 1 - 6
1

Which of the following would be included in the journal entry to retire a fixed asset?

A debit to accumulated depreciation

A debit to depreciation expense

A credit to sales revenue

A credit to accumulated depreciation

Explanation

When an asset is retired, the asset value and its related accumulated depreciation are reverse. This means a debit will be booked to accumulated depreciation to clear the account.

2

Of the following assets, which is an intangible that is subject to a recoverability test when testing for impairment?

Goodwill

R&D costs for a patent

A patent

A trademark with indefinite useful life

Explanation

The recoverability test is only performed on intangible assets with a limited life. A patent generally has a limited life.

3

Which situation would likely dictate use of units of production depreciation?

Machine which produces products

Land

Building

Truck

Explanation

Land is not depreciated, and a machine which produces products would incur damage, wear and tear, and usage only as it produces goods. Buildings and trucks would be depreciated throughout their lives.

4

Which of the following is not a common method of asset disposal?

Sale

Scrap

Conversion

Exchange

Explanation

The most common methods of asset disposal are sale, scrap, and exchange.

5

Which of the following is untrue regarding asset retirement obligations?

A business should recognize the fair value of an asset retirement obligations when it incurs the liability and if it can make a reasonable estimate of its fair value

If the fair value of an asset retirement obligation cannot initially be obtained, the liability can be recorded at a later date when the fair value is available

When estimating the fair value of an asset retirement obligation, a company should use a discounted cash flow model using a rate that factors in market risk

If a company acquires a fixed asset to which an asset retirement obligation is attached, the company should recognize a liability as of the acquisition date

Explanation

Companies do not need to discount cash flows when estimated asset retirement obligations.

6

Goodwill should be tested for value impairment at which of the following levels under US GAAP?

Each identifiable long term asset

Each acquisition unit

Each reporting unit

Entire business as a whole

Explanation

US GAAP requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level.

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