AICPA CPA-Financial Exam Questions

On January 2, 1993, Quo, Inc. hired Reed to be its controller. During the year, Reed, working closely with Quo's president and outside accountants, made changes in accounting policies, corrected several errors dating from 1992 and before, and instituted new accounting policies.

Quo's 1993 financial statements will be presented in comparative form with its 1992 financial statements.

This question represents one of Quo's transactions. List A represents possible clarifications of these transactions as: a change in accounting principle, a change in accounting estimate, a correction of an error in previously presented financial statements, or neither an accounting change nor an accounting error.

Item to Be Answered

During 1993, Quo determined that an insurance premium paid and entirely expensed in 1992 was for the period January 1, 1992, through January 1, 1994.

List A (Select one)

Conn Co. reported a retained earnings balance of $400,000 at December 31, 1991. In August 1992, Conn determined that insurance premiums of $60,000 for the three-year period beginning January 1, 1991, had been paid and fully expensed in 1991. Conn has a 30% income tax rate. What amount should Conn report as adjusted beginning retained earnings in its 1992 statement of retained earnings?

On January 2, 1993, Quo, Inc. hired Reed to be its controller. During the year, Reed, working closely with Quo's president and outside accountants, made changes in accounting policies, corrected several errors dating from 1992 and before, and instituted new accounting policies.

Quo's 1993 financial statements will be presented in comparative form with its 1992 financial statements.

This question represents one of Quo's transactions. List B represents the general accounting treatment required for these transactions. These treatments are:

* Cumulative effect approach - Include the cumulative effect of the adjustment resulting from the accounting change or error correction in the 1993 financial statements, and do not restate the 1992 financial statements.

* Retroactive or retrospective restatement approach - Restate the 1992 financial statements and adjust 1992 beginning retained earnings if the error or change affects a period prior to 1992.

* Prospective approach - Report 1993 and future financial statements on the new basis but do not restate 1992 financial statements.

Item to Be Answered

During 1993, Quo determined that an insurance premium paid and entirely expensed in 1992 was for the period January 1, 1992, through January 1, 1994.

List B (Select one)

Advertising costs may be accrued or deferred to provide an appropriate expense in each period for:

A planned volume variance in the first quarter, which is expected to be absorbed by the end of the fiscal period, ordinarily should be deferred at the end of the first quarter if it is: