Answer:
1) Dec. 31, 2024 — Amortization Expense (Patents) debit $9,912; Accumulated Amortization—Patent credit $9,912.
2) Jan. 2026 (when legal costs incurred) — Patent (asset) debit $23,600; Cash credit $23,600.
3) Dec. 31, 2026 — Amortization Expense (Patents) debit $12,862; Accumulated Amortization—Patent credit $12,862.
Explanation:
Subject: Accounting (Intangible assets / amortization).
Key concepts: straight-line amortization of an intangible asset, capitalization of costs that extend or protect the asset (legal defense costs), and adjusting amortization when the asset’s carrying amount and remaining useful life change.
Method used: Straight-line amortization = (capitalized cost) / (useful life). Legal defense costs that successfully defend a patent are capitalized to the patent and amortized over the remaining useful life.
Steps:
- Compute annual amortization from initial purchase (2024):
- Cost = $99,120; useful life = 10 years (company’s estimate).
- Annual amortization = \(99{,}120 \div 10 = 9{,}912\).
- Entry (Dec. 31, 2024): Debit Amortization Expense $9,912; Credit Accumulated Amortization—Patent $9,912.
- Record the legal defense cost in January 2026 (capitalize because it successfully defended the patent):
- Debit Patent $23,600; Credit Cash $23,600.
- Compute amortization for 2026 after capitalization:
- Carrying amount at Jan 1, 2026 before capitalization = $79,296 (given) = $99,120 − 2×$9,912.
- New carrying (capitalized cost) = $79,296 + $23,600 = $102,896.
- Remaining life after Jan 1, 2026 = through end of 2033 = 8 years.
- Annual amortization for 2026 = \(102{,}896 \div 8 = 12{,}862\).
- Entry (Dec. 31, 2026): Debit Amortization Expense $12,862; Credit Accumulated Amortization—Patent $12,862.
(After the 2026 entries accumulated amortization would total $9,912 + 9,912 + 12,862 = $32,686.)