Banner Publications was organized early in 2019 with authorization to issue 10,000 shares of $100 par value preferred stock and 1 million shares of $1 par value common stock. All of the preferred stock was issued at par, and 400,000 shares of common stock were sold for $15 per share. The preferred stock pays a 10 percent cumulative dividend.
During the first five years of operations (2019 through 2023) the corporation earned a total of $4,100,000 and paid dividends of $0.80 per share each year on the common stock. In 2024, however, the corporation reported a net loss of $1,250,000 and paid no dividends.

Instructions

a. Prepare the stockholders’ equity section of the balance sheet at December 31, 2024. Include a supporting schedule showing your computation of retained earnings at the balance sheet date.

b. Draft a note to accompany the financial statements disclosing any dividends in arrears at the end of 2024.

c. Do the dividends in arrears appear as a liability of the corporation as of the end of 2024? Explain.