As a result, we can see that there is a small difference between the amortization of bond discount using the straight-line method and the one using the effective interest rate method. Hence, we need to make the amortization of the bond discount in order to have the carrying value of bonds payable equaling the face value of the bond at the end of the bond maturity. In this case, the carrying value of the bonds payable on the balance sheet will equal bonds payable minus the bond discount. At the end of year one, you have made 12 payments, most of the payments have been towards interest, and only $3,406 of the principal is paid off, leaving a loan balance of $396,593.

• We need to pay interest at the end of each year during the period of the bonds.
• Paying straight-line amortization of bond discount or premium over the life of the bond is very complicated and not recommended.
• For non-callable bonds and discount bonds, the stated yield will always equal the Yield to Maturity.

Treasury or a corporation sells, a bond instrument for a price that is different from the bond’s face amount, the actual interest rate earned is different from the bond’s stated interest rate. The bond may be trading at a premium or at a discount to its face value. In either case, the actual effective interest rate differs from the stated rate.

How comfortable are you with investing?

For example, assume that $500,000 in bonds were issued at a price of $540,000 on January 1, 2019, with the first annual interest payment to be made on December 31, 2019. Assume that the stated interest rate is 10% and the bond has a four-year life. If the straight-line method is used to amortize the $40,000 premium, you would divide the premium of $40,000 by the number of payments, in this case four, giving a $10,000 per year amortization of the premium. Figure 13.8 shows the effects of the premium amortization after all of the 2019 transactions are considered.

• It pays periodic interest payments i.e. coupon payments based on the stated interest rate.
• In other words, if the premium is so high, it might be worth the added yield as compared to the overall market.
• The effective interest rate method is commonly used for bond premiums amortization.
• In this journal entry, the carrying value of the bonds payable on the balance sheet is $485,000 as the $15,000 bond discount is a contra account to the $500,000 bonds payable.

The cash interest payment is the amount of interest the company must pay the bondholder. The company promised 5% when the market rate was 4% so it received more money. But the company is only paying interest on $100,000—not on the full amount received. The difference in the sale price was a result of the difference in the interest rates so both rates are used to compute the true interest expense.

Definition of Amortization of Bond Premium

At the end of the 3rd year, the $15,000 bond discount will be become zero ($15,000 – $5,000 – $5,000 – $5,000) and the carrying value of the bonds payable will equal $500,000 ($500,000 – $0). Over the life of the bond, the balance in the account Premium on Bonds Payable must be reduced to $0. In our example, the bond premium of $4,100 must be reduced to $0 during the bond’s 5-year life. By reducing the bond premium to $0, the bond’s book value will be decreasing from $104,100 on January 1, 2022 to $100,000 when the bonds mature on December 31, 2026. Reducing the bond premium in a logical and systematic manner is referred to as amortization. On December 31, year 1, the company will have to pay the bondholders $5,000 (0.05 × $100,000).

What is your current financial priority?

The difference between the price we sell it and the amount we have to pay back is recorded in a liability account called Premium on Bonds Payable. Just like with a discount, the premium amount will be removed over the life of the bond by amortizing (which simply means dividing) it over the life of the bond. The premium will decrease bond interest expense when we record the semiannual interest payment. Since we’re assuming a six-month accrual period, the yield and coupon rate will be divided by 2. It pays a 5% coupon rate semi-annually and has a yield to maturity of 3.5%.

For example, a bond that was issued at a face value of $1,000 might trade at $1,050 or a $50 premium. Even though the bond has yet to reach maturity, how to file taxes with irs form 1099 it can trade in the secondary market. In other words, investors can buy and sell a 10-year bond before the bond matures in ten years.

Methods of Amortization of Bond Premium

The coupon rate of bonds is 10%, and the market rate of interest stands at 8%. Once the bond premium is calculated, you need to decide how the bond premium shall be amortized. Based on your chosen method, you can amortize the bond premium in the books of accounts. Depending on the type of fixed-income security an investor purchases, there can be different tax implications for investing in bonds.

The obligation provides for unconditional payments of interest of $9,000, payable on January 15 of each year. C uses the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting, and C decides to use annual accrual periods ending on January 15 of each year. It helps the issuer write off the same interest expense over the bond’s life and claim tax benefits. The effective interest rate method is commonly used for bond premiums amortization.

Bond Premiums and Credit Ratings

The effective interest rate is a more accurate figure of actual interest earned on an investment or the interest paid on a loan. For example, effective interest rates are an important component of the effective interest method. The constant-yield method will give you a smaller amortization amount than the straight-line method in early years, with the constant-yield amortization figure growing in later years. That puts it at a overall disadvantage to the straight-line method from the taxpayer’s standpoint, which might be one reason why tax laws were changed to have newer bonds use the less favorable method. Founded in 1993, The Motley Fool is a financial services company dedicated to making the world smarter, happier, and richer.