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AICPA CPA-Financial Exam Questions
CPA Financial Accounting and Reporting (Page 6 )

Updated On: 29-Apr-2026
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PDF with 163 Questions

On December 2, 20X1, Flint Corp.'s board of directors voted to discontinue operations of its frozen food division and to sell the division's assets on the open market as soon as possible. The division reported net operating losses of $20,000 in December and $30,000 in January. On February 26, 20X2, sale of the division's assets resulted in a gain of $90,000. Assuming that the frozen foods division qualifies as a component of the business and ignoring income taxes, what amount of gain/loss from discontinued operations should Flint recognize in its income statement for 20X2?

  1. $0
  2. $40,000
  3. $60,000
  4. $90,000

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Choice "c" is correct. The $60,000 gain from discontinued operations would be reported in Flint's 20X2 income statement. The operating loss for January would offset the gain from disposal in February, and the net amount would be reported as a gain (in this case) from discontinued operations.
The operating losses for December would have been reported in Flint's 20X1 income statement. Choice "a" is incorrect per the above. It would be correct if all of the gains and losses were included in 20X1 instead of 20X2. However, gains and losses from discontinued operations are included in the year they occur.
Choice "b" is incorrect. It includes the operating loss for December, 20X1 in with the 20X2 amounts. Choice "d" is incorrect. It ignores the January operating loss. Operating losses are included in gain/loss from discontinued operations, along with impairment losses and gains/losses on disposal.



At December 31, 1998, Off-Line Co. changed its method of accounting for demo costs from writing off the costs over two years to expensing the costs immediately. Off-Line made the change in recognition of an increasing number of demos placed with customers that did not result in sales. Off- Line had deferred demo costs of $500,000 at December 31, 1997, $300,000 of which were to be written off in 1998 and the remainder in 1999. Off-Line's income tax rate is 30%. In its 1998 financial statements, what amount should Off-Line report as cumulative effect of change in accounting principle?

  1. $0
  2. $200,000
  3. $350,000
  4. $500,000

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Choice "a" is correct. When a change in accounting principle is considered inseparable from a change in estimate, the change is handled as a change in estimate - prospectively. No cumulative effect adjustment is made.
Choices "b", "c", and "d" are incorrect since no cumulative effect adjustment is made.



How should the effect of a change in accounting principle that is inseparable from the effect of a change in accounting estimate be reported?

  1. As a component of income from continuing operations.
  2. By restating the financial statements of all prior periods presented.
  3. As a correction of an error.
  4. By footnote disclosure only.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Choice "a" is correct. When the effect of a change in accounting principle is inseparable from the effect of a change in accounting estimate, the reporting treatment for the overall effect is as a change in estimate.
Thus, the effect is reported prospectively as a component of income from continuing operations. Under SFAS No. 154, this type of change is now called a change in accounting estimate affected by a change in accounting principle.
Choice "b" is incorrect. Restatement of all prior periods is the retroactive accounting treatment that is applied to the correction of an error and the retrospective accounting treatment given to changes in accounting principle. However, a change in accounting principle that is inseparable from the effect of a change in accounting estimate is now treated as a change in accounting estimate. Choice "c" is incorrect. Correction of an error is given retroactive treatment as a prior period adjustment to retained earnings with restatement of prior periods. This is not the treatment appropriate for the effect of a change in accounting principle that is inseparable from the effect of a change in accounting estimate.
Choice "d" is incorrect. While footnote disclosure is always appropriate for an accounting change, such disclosure alone is never the appropriate accounting treatment.



In September 1996, Koff Co.'s operating plant was destroyed by an earthquake. Earthquakes are rare in the area in which the plant was located. The portion of the resultant loss not covered by insurance was $700,000. Koff's income tax rate for 1996 was 40%. In its 1996 income statement, what amount should Koff report as extraordinary loss?

  1. $0
  2. $280,000
  3. $420,000
  4. $700,000

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Choice "c" is correct. For a loss to be reported as an extraordinary loss, the event causing the loss must be both unusual in nature and infrequent in occurrence. The earthquake in this case does meet these criteria so the loss is reported net of income tax effect as an extraordinary loss of $420,000 (60% of the total $700,000 loss). APB 30.11, .19-.26
Choice "a" is incorrect. Review the criteria for reporting an extraordinary loss. Choice "b" is incorrect. This is the tax effect of the loss. Review your calculations. Choice "d" is incorrect. It is not appropriate to report the full loss as an extraordinary loss.



In April 30, 20X4, Deer Corp. approved a plan to dispose of a component of its business. For the period January 1 through April 30, 20X4, the component had revenues of $500,000 and expenses of $800,000.
The assets of the component were sold on October 15, 20X4 at a loss. In its income statement for the year ended December 31, 20X4, how should Deer report the component's operations from January 1 to April 30, 20X4?

  1. $500,000 and $800,000 should be included with revenues and expenses, respectively, as part of continuing operations.
  2. $300,000 should be reported as part of the loss on disposal of a component and included as part of continuing operations.
  3. $300,000 should be reported as an extraordinary loss.
  4. $300,000 should be reported as a loss from operations of a component and included in loss from discontinued operations.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Choice "d" is correct. Once the decision has been made to dispose of a component of a business and that component meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale, the operating results of the component for the period reported on, and any gain or loss from the disposal, should be reported separately from continuing operations, net of tax. In this question, the component was classified as held for sale and was sold in the same year.
Thus, in 20X4, the results of operations, the $300,000 ($500,000-$800,000) loss, are reported as a loss from discontinued operations. The loss on disposal would be reported as part of that loss from discontinued operations also.
Choice "a" is incorrect. The results of operations prior to the decision date, and also after the decision date, are reported separately from the results of continuing operations as a part of discontinued operations.
Choice "b" is incorrect. The results of operations prior to the decision date, and also after the
decision date, are reported separately from the results of continuing operations as a loss from operations of a component and included in loss from discontinued operations. Choice "c" is incorrect. The results of discontinued operations are not reported as an extraordinary item.



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