Question

Assume US GAAP to answer this question. In 2017, $2 million in wages were earned and no cash wages were paid. In 2018, $8 million in wages were earned and $9 million in cash wages were paid. Cash wages were used to first pay wages earned in 2017 with the remainder used to pay wages earned in 2018. Any earned but unpaid wages will be paid during the first quarter of 2019. Using only the information provided, which of the following statements is most accurate?

a. Liabilities increased by $1.0 million in 2018
b. Liabilities increased by $3.0 million in 2018
c. Assets decreased by $5.0 million in 2018
d. Retained earnings decreased by $10.0 million in 2018
e. Retained earnings decreased by $7.0 million in 2018

Answer 1

Answer: a. Liabilities increased by $1.0 million in 2018

Explanation:

In 2018, $9 million was used to settle the wage debt of 2017 and the remainder was used to settle the wages in 2018.

The money remaining in cash after the wage settlement was:

= 9,000,000 - 2,000,000 - 8,000,000

= -$1,000,000

This means that $1,000,000 of wages was not settled in 2018 which means that this would have to go to the Wages Payable account to signify that the company owes wages.

This account is a liability account so liabilities in 2018 would increase by $1,000,000.