On January 1, 2018, Gillock Climbing Academy instituted a defined benefit pension plan for its employees. The annual service cost for each year of 2018 and 2019 was $600,000. The interest rate used to determine the projected benefit obligation is 10%. Both the actual and the expected return on plan assets are 8% for both years. Gillock funded the plan in the amount of $400,000 each January 1, beginning on January 1, 2018. What amount of pension expense should Gillock report in its income statement for the year ended December 31, 2019?

Pension Expense = EBE = $593440 for income statement

Explanation:

The opening balance of the Plan asset is made by the 40000 from 2018 plus interest of 32000 and the new 400000 made this year. Why include it? Because an opening balance are the funds in an account at the beginning of the year either from last year or are from current year but should be the first entry in the books of the current year.

                                                                 DBO                plan asset       EBE

opening balance                                   (600000)            832000             -

interest                                                   ( 60000)              66560            6560

current year's service cost                    (600000)                               (600000)

                                                            (  1260000 )            898560       593440

 balance sheet liability = 361440

The pension expense to be reported in the income statement of Gillock for the year ended 31st December,2019 is $593,440.00  

Explanation:

Find attached spreadsheet for detailed computation.