• Interest expense in any given year is calculated by multiplying the market interest rate (at time of issuance) by the bond carrying value. For example, in year 1, interest expense = 9,625,989 × 0.065 = 625,689. Since the coupon payment = 10,000,000 × 0.056 = 560,000, the interest expense is “too high” by 65,689, and the carrying value of the bond is increased (through a decrease in the unamortized bond discount account) to $9,691,678. In year 2, using a similar calculation, the carrying value of the bond increases to $9,761,637. Thus, the interest expense in year 3 = 9,761,637 × 0.065 = 634,506, or approximately $0.635 million.

   

• Total interest expense is equal to the amount paid by the issuer less the amount received from the bondholder.

Amount paid by issuer = face value + total coupon payments
= 10,000,000 + (0.056 × 10,000,000 × 5) = 12,800,000
Total interest paid over the life = 12,800,000 – 9,625, 989 = 3,174,011, or approximately $3.2 million.