Grouper Company purchased an electric wax melter on April 30, 2020, by trading in its old gas model and paying the balance in cash. The following data relate to the purchase. List price of new melter $21,804
Cash paid 13,800
Cost of old melter (5-year life, $966 salvage value) 15,456
Accumulated Depreciation-old melter (straight-line) 8,694
Secondhand fair value of old melter 7,176

Required:
Prepare the journal entries necessary to record this exchange, assuming that the exchange (a) has commercial substance, and (b) lacks commercial substance. Sage’s fiscal year ends on December 31, and depreciation has been recorded through December 31, 2020.

Answer and Explanation:

The journal entries are shown below;

a. the exchange has commercial substance

Depreciation expense (($15,456 - $966) ÷ 5 × 4 ÷ 12 ) $966

         To Accumulate depreciation $966

(being depreciation expense is recorded)

New Melter ($13,800 + $7,176) $20,976

accumulated depreciation ($8,694 + $966) $9,660

      To loss on sale of melter $1,380

      To old melter $15,456

      To cash $13,800

(being equipment exchange is recorded)

b. The exchange lacks commercial substance

Depreciation expense (($15,456 - $966) ÷ 5 × 4 ÷ 12 ) $966

         To Accumulate depreciation $966

(being current depreciation expense is recorded)

New Melter ($13,800 + $7,176) $20,976

accumulated depreciation ($8,694 + $966) $9,660

      To loss on sale of melter $1,380

      To old melter $15,456

      To cash $13,800

(being equipment exchange is recorded)

answer; enforce the rules;