Eddie Zambrano Corporation began operations on January 1, 2017. During its first 3 years of operations, Zambrano reported net income and declared dividends as follows.
Net Income Dividends Declared
2017 $ 40,000 $ –0–
2018 125,000 50,000
2019 160,000 50,000
The following information relates to 2020.
Income before income tax $240,000
Prior period adjustment: understatement of 2018 depreciation expense (before taxes) $ 25,000
Cumulative decrease in income from change in inventory methods (before taxes) $ 35,000
Dividends declared (of this amount, $25,000 will be paid on Jan. 15, 2021) $100,000
Effective tax rate 20%
Instructions
a. Prepare a 2020 retained earnings statement for Eddie Zambrano Corporation.
b. Assume Eddie Zambrano Corporation restricted retained earnings in the amount of $70,000 on December 31, 2020. After this action, what would Zambrano report as total retained earnings in its December 31, 2020, balance sheet?

b. With the restricted retained earnings in the amount of $70,000, dividends declared cannot exceed $62,000 ($100,000 - $38,000), therefore the Retained earnings in its December 31, 2020 balance sheet would be $295,000.

Explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

Net Income Dividends Declared Cumulative Retained Earnings

2017 $ 40,000 $ –0– $40,000 ($40,000)

2018 125,000 50,000 115,000 ($40,000 + 75,000)

2019 160,000 50,000 225,000 ($115,000 + 110,000)

2020 Income before tax = $240,000

Tax for 2020 (20%) 48,000

2020 Income after tax = $192,000

Prior period adjustment: understatement of 2018 depreciation expense (before taxes) $ 25,000

Cumulative decrease in income from change in inventory methods (before taxes) $ 35,000

Dividends declared (of this amount, $25,000 will be paid on Jan. 15, 2021) $100,000

Total deductions = $160,000 ($25,000+35,000+100,000)

Retained earnings for 2020 = $32,000 ($192,000 - $160,000)

a. Retained Earnings Statement for the year ended December 31, 2020

Retained earnings, January 1, 2020 = $225,000

2020 Income after tax = $192,000

Prior period adjustment: understatement of 2018 depreciation expense (before taxes) ($ 25,000)

Cumulative decrease in income from change in inventory methods (before taxes) ($ 35,000)

Dividends declared (of this amount, $25,000 will be paid on Jan. 15, 2021)

($100,000)

Total deductions = $160,000

Retained earnings, December 31 $257,000

b. With the restricted retained earnings in the amount of $70,000, dividends declared cannot exceed $62,000 ($100,000 - $38,000), therefore the Retained earnings in its December 31, 2020 balance sheet would be $295,000 ($257,000 + $38,000).