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Microlesson · 5-min read

AS 15 – Defined Benefit Plan: Plan Assets, Expected Return & Actual Return

## Plan Assets – Expected Return & Actual Return

### Plan Assets

Investments specifically set aside to fund the DBO. Always measured at fair value (not cost).

Contribution to Plan Assets:

```

Dr Plan Assets ×××

Cr Bank ×××

```

Benefits paid from Plan Assets:

```

Dr DBO ××× (obligation extinguished)

Cr Plan Assets ××× (fund pays)

```

### Expected Return on Plan Assets

Use the same discount rate as that applied to the DBO.

There are two accepted computation methods:

#### ICAI Method (Half-yearly compounding for net contributions)

```

Step 1: Half-year rate = √(1 + Annual rate) − 1

Step 2: Expected Return = (Opening PA × Annual rate) + (Net contribution × Half-year rate)

where Net contribution = Contributions received − Benefits paid

```

#### Simplified Method (6-month mid-year assumption)

```

Expected Return = (Opening PA × Annual rate) + (Net contribution × Annual rate × 6/12)

```

### Actual Return & Reconciliation

```

Actual Return = Expected Return + Actuarial Gain on PA

(or) Expected Return − Actuarial Loss on PA

FV of PA (closing) = Opening PA + Expected Return + Contributions − Benefits Paid + Actuarial G/L

```

### P&L Recognition

```

Dr Plan Assets (Expected Return) ×××

Cr P&L – Income from Plan Assets ×××

Dr Plan Assets (Actuarial Gain, if any) ×××

Cr P&L – Actuarial Gain on PA ×××

```

Worked example

### Example 1

Expected Return – Two Methods Compared:

Opening Plan Assets = ₹1,00,000. Discount rate = 10.25% p.a.

Contributions received on 30/09: ₹49,000. Benefits paid on 30/09: ₹19,000.

Net contribution = ₹30,000. Fair Value of PA at year-end = ₹1,50,000.

ICAI Method:

  • Half-year rate = √(1.1025) − 1 = 5%
  • Return on opening PA = 1,00,000 × 10.25% = ₹10,250
  • Return on net contribution = 30,000 × 5% = ₹1,500
  • Expected Return = ₹11,750
  • Actuarial Gain = 1,50,000 − (1,00,000 + 11,750 + 49,000 − 19,000) = ₹8,250
  • Actual Return = 11,750 + 8,250 = ₹20,000

Simplified Method:

  • Return on net contribution = 30,000 × 10.25% × 6/12 = ₹1,538
  • Expected Return = ₹11,788
  • Actuarial Gain = 1,50,000 − (1,00,000 + 11,788 + 49,000 − 19,000) = ₹8,212
  • Actual Return = 11,788 + 8,212 = ₹20,000

Both methods arrive at the same Actual Return of ₹20,000.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Using a different rate for plan asset return vs DBO discounting – both must use the same discount rate
  • Treating plan assets at cost rather than fair value
  • Computing expected return only on opening balance, ignoring the return on net contributions made during the year
  • Treating total contributions (not net of benefits paid) as the mid-year addition when computing expected return on net contribution
Bare-Act text Para 7 – Definitions (Plan Assets) & Para 105 – Expected Return · AS 15 (Revised 2005) – ICAI · click to expand
Plan assets are assets held by a long-term employee benefit fund. Plan assets are not available to the reporting enterprise's own creditors and cannot be returned to the reporting enterprise unless the remaining assets of the fund are sufficient to meet all the related employee benefit obligations.
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