
Answer: $648 thousand
Explanation:
When calculating the Service Cost of the following formula is used,
Service cost = PBO Ending + Retire benefits - interest cost - PBO beginning
The Interest cost is based on the Actuary's discount rate which is the current cost if future obligations and is set against the opening balance.
We subtract the opening PBO because the service fee is set for this year.
Plugging in the figures we have,
= 6,504 + 624 - ( 6,000*0.08) - 6,000
= $648
$648 thousand is supposed to be the Service cost but I do not see it in the options.
Perhaps these options are for calculating something else, say the Pension expense?