On January $1,2024,$ the Ryder Company issued $$480,000($face value$)$ of eight$-$year bonds at $$540,294$ to yield an effective annual interest rate of $6\%.$ The stated $($face$)$ annual interest rate is $8\%,$ and interest will be paid semiannually on June $30$ and December $31.$ The Ryder Company uses the effective interest method to amortize bond discounts or premiums.

Required:

a$.$ Prepare the journal entry$($ies$)$ to record the issuance of the bonds on January $1,2024.$

b$.$ Prepare a bond premium amortization schedule for the first $2$ years of the bond life using the effective interest method.

c$.$ Prepare journal entries required on June $30$ and December $31,2024.$

d$.$ On January $1,2026,$ the company redeemed all $$480,000($face value$)$ of the bonds at $$504,000.$ Prepare the journal entries to record the bond redemption.