Question

In keeping with a modernization of corporate statutes in its home state, UMC Corporation decided in 2018 to discontinue accounting for reacquired shares as treasury stock. Instead, shares repurchased will be viewed as having been retired, reassuming the status of unissued shares. As part of the change, treasury shares held were reclassified as retired stock. At December 31, 2017, UMC’s balance sheet reported the following shareholders’ equity:

	($ in millions)
Common stock, $1 par		$	250
Paid-in capital—excess of par			1,000
Retained earnings			1,056
Treasury stock (5.0 million shares at cost)			(75	)
Total shareholders’ equity		$	2,231

  
Required:
Identify the type of accounting change this decision represents and prepare the journal entry to effect the reclassification of treasury shares as retired shares.

Answer 1