Asked by Jayla Ashley on Jul 12, 2024

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The accountant for the Hilda Company recorded a purchase of merchandise on credit for the current year, but the merchandise was shipped FOB destination and did not arrive until after current year-end.Assuming a periodic inventory system, how would assets, liabilities, and retained earnings be affected on the year-end balance sheet? Asssets  Liabilities Retained Earming\hlineI. No effect  Understated  Understated II. Understated  Understated  Understated III. No effect  Overstated  Overstated IV. No effect  Overstated  Understated \begin{array}{lll}&\text {Asssets }&\text { Liabilities}&\text { Retained Earming}\\\hlineI.&\text { No effect } & \text { Understated } & \text { Understated } \\II.&\text { Understated } & \text { Understated } & \text { Understated } \\III.&\text { No effect } & \text { Overstated } & \text { Overstated } \\IV.&\text { No effect } & \text { Overstated } & \text { Understated } \end{array}\hlineI.II.III.IV.Asssets  No effect  Understated  No effect  No effect  Liabilities Understated  Understated  Overstated  Overstated  Retained Earming Understated  Understated  Overstated  Understated 

A) I
B) II
C) III
D) IV

FOB Destination

FOB Destination is a shipping term indicating the seller bears the shipping costs and maintains ownership until the goods reach the buyer's location.

Periodic Inventory System

An inventory accounting system where the inventory balance is updated at specific intervals, rather than continuously.

Retained Earnings

The portion of net income that is not distributed to shareholders but is kept by the company to be reinvested in its core business or to pay debt.

  • Evaluate the consequences of inventory valuation mistakes on financial disclosures.
  • Recognize how specific inventory entries affect assets, liabilities, and retained earnings in financial accounting.
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Verified Answer

JH
Jacob Hospelhorn

Jul 12, 2024

Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
Under FOB destination terms, the seller retains ownership until the goods are delivered. Therefore, the merchandise should not be included in the buyer's inventory until it arrives. Recording the purchase on credit before year-end overstates liabilities (as the payable is recorded without receiving the goods) but does not affect assets (since the inventory is not yet received and thus not recorded). Retained earnings are understated because expenses (cost of goods sold) are not recorded without the inventory, potentially overstating net income.