Accounting for revaluations

On 1 January 2016. Good Ltd acquired a block of land for $100 000 cash, and on the same day Better Ltd purchased the adjacent block, which was virtually identical to the block purchased by Good Ltd. also for $100, 000 cash. Both companies intended construct industrial warehouses on these properties. For the next two years. The property market went through a boom period and. coincidence, on 30 June 2018. Both companies obtained independent valuations of $180 000 for their blocks of land.

Good Ltd has decided to adopt the revaluation model for land in the accounts on the last day of the year ended 30 June 2018 by following the requirements of LAS 16/AASB 116. Better Ltd decided to use the cost model.

On 30 April 2019, each company sold its block of land for $200 000 cash.

Required

A. In relation to the land, how much profit would each company report for the years ended 10 Jane 2018 and 30 June 2019?

B. Give reasons for the discrepancy in profit figures between the two companies. Does the existence of the discrepancy make sense? What message is being conveyed to users about the performance of both companies? Discuss fully. How can the discrepancy be avoided?

C. What profit would Good Ltd have made for the year ended 30 June 2019 if the revaluation of land had occurred on 29 April 2019, instead of on 30 June 2018? Compare this with the profit made by Better Ltd in the same year, and explain who her you regard the differences as satisfactory reporting.

COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP

Research and development costs

GeneTech Ltd is a biological research company that is developing gene technology in the hope of finding a vaccine for skin cancer. During the last financial year, GeneTech Ltd spent $1.2 million on research. The scientists involved in the project believe they may be on the right track with the research, although many other companies are claiming the same thing and as yet no one has patented a vaccine.