Accounting Final
Accounting Final
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Index
Chapter 1 .....................................................................................8 Consideration in selection of accounting policies 22
The Basic Accounting ..........................................................8 Change in accounting policies .....................................22
Key Concept ......................................................................8 Accounting Standards (AS) issued by the Institute
Definitions ..............................................................................9 of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) .................22
Complete omission ..................................................... 54 Transfer entries of profit and loss account .............75
Errors of Commission ................................................. 54 Net profit is earned for the year .............................75
Errors of Principle: ........................................................ 54 Company has a dividend payout for the year ...75
Accounting for Non-Profit Organisations ............... 89 Disclosure of Share Capital ........................................ 104
Need for preparing Receipts and Payments Issue of Shares For Cash.............................................. 105
Accounts of NPO .............................................................. 89 Receipt of Share Money in One Instalment: ... 105
Relevant Items of income and Expenditure............ 90 Share Money Received in Two or More
Items of Income ............................................................ 90 Instalments:.................................................................. 105
Debt Ratio .........................................................................135 Cash flow from operating activities (CFO) ....... 145
Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) ......................135 Cash from Investing Activities ................................... 145
The preferred dividend coverage ratio ..................136 Indirect Method .............................................................. 147
Debtors Turnover Ratio ................................................136 Minimum and maximum numbers of partners .. 149
Browse more Topics under Dissolution of Cost Classification by Production Process ....... 194
Partnership Firm .........................................................182 Cost Classification by Time .................................... 194
Realisation account ...................................................182 Cost Sheet – Definitions .............................................. 195
Partner’s Loan Account ............................................183 Importance and objectives of cost sheet .............. 196
Following entry is the entry on payment of Functional classification of elements of cost ....... 196
Partner’s loan ...............................................................183 Cost heads in a cost sheet .......................................... 196
Partners’ Capital Accounts ......................................183 Prime Cost .................................................................... 196
On transfer of undistributed profits/losses and Works Cost or Factory Cost ................................... 197
reserves ..........................................................................183
Cost of Production .................................................... 197
Transfer of Realisation profit/ loss ......................184
Total Cost ..................................................................... 198
For final settlement with partners........................184
Formulas ...................................................................... 199
Bank or Cash Account ..............................................185
CHAPTER 9 ............................................................................ 202
Questions ......................................................................185
Insurance claim for loss of stock and loss of profit 202
Chapter 8 ................................................................................189
Loss of stock .................................................................... 202
Nature and scope of cost accounting.....................189
Loss of profit .................................................................... 202
Functions of accounting ..............................................190
Value of Salvaged Stock ......................................... 204
Objections to Cost Accounting .................................190
Other Important Points ........................................... 204
It is Unnecessary .........................................................190
Consequential Loss Insurance ................................... 204
It is Expensive ..............................................................191
Computation of Claim .................................................. 205
Scope of Cost Accounting ...........................................191
Cost Classification by Nature.................................192
Chapter 1
The Basic Accounting
Introduction
Accounting is the process of recording financial transactions pertaining to a business. The accounting
process includes summarizing, analyzing, and reporting these transactions to oversight agencies, regulators,
and tax collection entities. The financial statements used in accounting are a concise summary of financial
transactions over an accounting period, summarizing a company's operations, financial position, and cash
flows.
Key Concept
Regardless of the size of a business, accounting is a necessary function for decision making, cost
planning, and measurement of economic performance.
A bookkeeper can handle basic accounting needs, but a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) should be
utilized for larger or more advanced accounting tasks.
Two important types of accounting for businesses are managerial accounting and cost accounting.
Managerial accounting helps management teams make business decisions, while cost accounting
helps business owners decide how much a product should cost.
Professional accountants follow a set of standards known as the Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles (GAAP) when preparing financial statements.
Accounting is an important function of strategic planning, external compliance, fundraising, and
operations management.
Definitions
American Accounting Association: "Accounting is the process of identifying, measuring, and
communicating economic information to permit informed judgments and decisions by users of the
information."
R. J. Chambers: "Accounting is a social science concerned with the measurement of economic
activity."
Warren Buffet: "Accounting is the language of business."
Robert Anthony: "Accounting is the process of recording, classifying, and summarizing economic
events to provide information that is useful in making decisions."
AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants): "Accounting is the art of recording,
classifying, and summarizing in a significant manner and in terms of money, transactions and events
which are, in part at least, of a financial character, and interpreting the results thereof."
Sidney Davidson: "Accounting is the process of collecting, recording, and reporting financial
information to enable informed decision-making."
Charles T. Horngren: "Accounting is the process of identifying, measuring, and communicating
economic information
Objectives of Accounting
Maintaining Records
As we mentioned, accounting is the spoken language of transactions. The human brain cannot store
endless information. And so accounting takes the charge of keeping the records of all the transactions
made within a firm.
Utility of Resources
Resources are a very crucial part of any organization and for a firm to function smoothly, they play a
significant role. The records hold the responsibility to report to the firm about the different activities along
with its timing. Hence, it becomes easy for the management to take note of the details before putting in the
money.
Recording transactions
The first step in the accounting procedure is to identify and record all business transactions. Organisations
have many transactions throughout the fiscal year and it is crucial to record individual transactions
accurately. Organisations use automated point of sale algorithms and software to record sales. Apart from
sales, transactions may include debt payments, employee payroll, purchases and reimbursements.
Transactions do not include creating purchase orders and signing contracts. Bookkeepers record exact
Double-entry bookkeeping requires you to record two entries for every transaction under two accounts that
have equal credits and debits. This is further classified into two types, accrual accounting, which involves
matching revenues with expenses, and cash accounting, for which you require documenting transactions
when the organisation receives cash for the transaction.
The accountant requires identifying inconsistencies in the ledger and rectifying them to maintain parity to
ensure both sections of the ledger are equal.
Using worksheets
Creating and analysing a worksheet is the fifth step of the accounting cycle. Accountants draft worksheets
to ensure a balance between debits and credits and make adjustments if there are any differences. In
addition, bookkeepers use worksheets as a visual aid to recognise typing errors, inconsistencies and entry
mistakes in the ledger and identify the adjustments to make. The bookkeeper makes adjustments and
explains the adjustments made in the ledger by using the worksheet.
Balancing entries
Bookkeepers adjust all ledger and journal entries based on accruals and deferrals in the sixth step of the
accounting procedure. Some financial transactions may take several days to process most times. So this
step helps accountants identify sales or expenditures that were not recorded in the journals. The
bookkeeper also adjusts the trial balance by reviewing past journal entries. It is a bookkeeper's job to
recognise unusual account activity and unaccounted balances and fix existing errors. This step also involves
It is important that an accountant prepares these financial documents in this order because they use gross
income from the income statement to prepare a statement of retained earnings. Accountants use the final
balance of the statement of retained earnings to prepare the balance sheet. Professionals prepare the cash
flow statement at the end, as it utilises data from the first three statements.
Closing
The last step of the accounting process includes the closing of temporary accounts and producing a closing
statement which delivers the analysis of the business's financial performance during the accounting period.
Accounts in the income statement are temporary accounts. The bookkeeper closes out or zeroes out these
accounts at the end of the fiscal year, meaning they transfer balances from these accounts to permanent
accounts on the balance sheets. The aim of this step is to reset debit and credit balances to zero and
document and organise data systematically.
Book Keeping
Bookkeeping is the process of recording and maintaining accurate financial transactions of a business. It
involves recording all transactions, classifying them into appropriate categories, and summarizing them in a
way that can be easily understood by stakeholders.
Bookkeeping begins with the identification of all financial transactions that take place within a business,
such as sales, purchases, payments, and receipts. These transactions are then recorded in a journal, which
includes the date, amount, and description of the transaction.
After transactions are recorded in the journal, they are then posted to respective ledger accounts. Each
ledger account shows the total transactions related to it, such as accounts receivable, accounts payable,
cash, and inventory.
Adjusting entries are made to update accounts for transactions or events that occurred during the
accounting period but were not recorded. Examples of adjusting entries include depreciation of fixed assets,
accruals for expenses, and prepayments for expenses.
After adjusting entries are made, an adjusted trial balance is prepared to ensure that the debits and credits
still balance. Financial statements, such as the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash
flows, are then prepared using the adjusted trial balance.
Finally, closing entries are made to transfer the balances of temporary accounts to retained earnings or
capital accounts. This process resets the temporary accounts to zero balances, ready for the next accounting
period.
Definition The process of recording financial The process of recording, classifying, summarizing, analyzing,
transactions. and interpreting financial transactions.
Objective To accurately record financial To provide useful financial information for decision-making.
transactions.
Focus Recording transactions and Analyzing financial information to provide insights and
maintaining accurate financial recommendations for business decisions.
records.
Scope Limited to recording and Broader, including financial statement analysis, tax planning,
classifying transactions. and financial forecasting.
Skills Attention to detail and basic Strong analytical skills and in-depth knowledge of accounting
Needed accounting knowledge. principles and practices.
Tools Used Ledgers, journals, and accounting Financial analysis software, accounting systems, and
software. databases.
Outputs Financial records, such as ledgers, Financial statements, such as the balance sheet, income
journals, and trial balances. statement, and statement of cash flows.
Role in Provides the foundation for Essential component of accounting, providing the basis for
Business accounting. financial analysis and decision-making.
Sub-fields of Accounting
Financial accounting: This sub-field of accounting focuses on the external reporting of financial
information to stakeholders, including investors, creditors, and regulatory bodies. Financial accountants
record financial transactions using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to prepare financial statements, such as the balance sheet, income
statement, and statement of cash flows. These financial statements provide stakeholders with information
about a company's financial position, performance, and cash flows.
Cost accounting: This sub-field of accounting focuses on tracking and analysing costs associated with a
company's products or services. Cost accountants analyse costs of production, including materials, labour,
and overhead, to determine the cost of goods sold and make pricing decisions. They use techniques such
as job costing, process costing, and activity-based costing to allocate costs to products and services and
identify areas where costs can be reduced.
Auditing: This sub-field of accounting focuses on verifying the accuracy of financial records and reports.
Auditors examine financial records to ensure they are in compliance with accounting standards and legal
regulations. They also provide assurance to stakeholders that financial statements are free from material
misstatement and are prepared in accordance with accounting principles.
Tax accounting: This sub-field of accounting focuses on preparing tax returns and ensuring compliance
with tax laws and regulations. Tax accountants work with individuals and businesses to minimize tax
liabilities and take advantage of tax incentives. They also provide advice on tax planning, tax compliance,
and tax disputes.
Forensic accounting: This sub-field of accounting focuses on investigating financial fraud and white-collar
crimes. Forensic accountants use accounting principles and investigative techniques to analyse financial
records and identify fraudulent activity. They also provide litigation support and expert testimony in legal
disputes.
Government accounting: This sub-field of accounting focuses on managing the financial resources of
government entities, including budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting. Government accountants
work in federal, state, and local governments and provide information to policymakers and the public about
the financial performance and accountability of government programs.
Non-profit accounting: This sub-field of accounting focuses on the unique financial reporting and
compliance requirements of non-profit organizations. Non-profit accountants prepare financial statements
using the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) standards and provide information about funding
sources, program expenses, and compliance with tax laws and regulations.
International accounting: This sub-field of accounting focuses on the unique financial reporting and
compliance requirements of international business operations. International accountants must understand
Creditors: Creditors use accounting information to evaluate the creditworthiness of a company before
lending it money. They use financial statements to determine a company's ability to repay its debts and
assess the risk of default.
Management: Managers use accounting information to make informed decisions about the operations of a
company. They use financial statements to track revenues, expenses, and profits and to monitor the
financial position of the company.
Employees: Employees use accounting information to understand the financial performance of the
company they work for. They use financial statements to assess the stability and profitability of the
company and to evaluate the impact of their work on the company's financial position.
Regulators: Regulators use accounting information to ensure compliance with laws and regulations. They
use financial statements to monitor the financial performance of companies in their jurisdiction and to
identify areas of potential fraud or misconduct.
Tax authorities: Tax authorities use accounting information to ensure compliance with tax laws and
regulations. They use financial statements to verify the accuracy of tax returns and to identify potential
areas of tax evasion.
Suppliers and customers: Suppliers and customers use accounting information to assess the financial
stability and creditworthiness of the companies they do business with. They use financial statements to
evaluate the ability of a company to pay its bills on time and to meet its financial obligations.
Accounting Conventions
Accounting conventions are guidelines used to help companies determine how to record certain business
transactions that have not yet been fully addressed by accounting standards. These procedures and
principles are not legally binding but are generally accepted by accounting bodies. Basically, they are
designed to promote consistency and help accountants overcome practical problems that can arise when
preparing financial statements.
Accounting conventions are guidelines used to help companies determine how to record business
transactions not yet fully covered by accounting standards.
They are generally accepted by accounting bodies but are not legally binding.
If an oversight organization sets forth a guideline that addresses the same topic as the accounting
convention, the accounting convention is no longer applicable.
There are four widely recognized accounting conventions: conservatism, consistency, full disclosure,
and materiality.
Example: Provision for Bad Debts, Discount on Debtors, Valuation of Inventories at lower of Cost or Market
Price whichever is Lower,
Full Disclosure: This convention says that all relevant and Realistic Information must be disclosed.
Disclosure should be in such a way that information is easily accessible to the Financial Statement user.
Normally needed Information is provided as Schedules, Annexures and Notes to the Financial Statements.
Underlying concept of disclosure is that Information must be disclosed at one place and in no case it should
be scattered. Information is provided for the decision making of the Financial Statement users.
Consistency: This convention is linked with the comparability of the Financial Statements. Accounting
Principles are followed Year to Year and uniformly in one Industries to make Financial Statements
comparable. Deviation from consistency is permissible if it is required by Law or any Accounting Standard
or it may give better presentation to the Financial Statements. Consistency refers to a company’s use of
accounting principles over time. When accounting principles allow a choice between multiple methods, a
company should apply the same accounting method over time or disclose its change in accounting method
in the footnotes to the financial statements
Materiality : Materiality is an accounting principle which states that all items that are reasonably likely to
impact investors’ decision-making must be recorded or reported in detail in a business’s financial
statements using GAAP standards. Materiality is a concept that defines why and how certain issues are
Accounting Concepts: Accounting concepts are the basic rules, assumptions, and conditions that define
the parameters and constraints within which the accounting operates. These are the basic “Assumptions on
the basis of which Financial Statements are prepared.” Concepts are Perceived/ Assumed and Accepted by
the governing Accounting body of a country.
Some Accounting concepts are applicable in recording stage (while Journal Entry) like Separate Entity,
Going Concern, Money Measurement, Dual Aspect, Cost Concept and Periodicity. Likewise some concepts
are applicable at the time of summarization (While making Financial Statements) like Accrual, Materiality
and Realization.
Accounting Principles
Set of doctrines generally associated with theory and procedure of accounting. Accounting principles are
the rules and guidelines that companies must follow when reporting financial data. The Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issues a standardized set of accounting principles in the U.S. referred to
as generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
Separate Entity: This concept says business is separate and businessman is separate. Further, the separate
entity concept states that we should always separately record the transactions of a business and its owners.
Effect: Capital A/c and Drawing A/c emerges in the account books of the organization.
Money Measurement: This concept says only events/transactions which are measurable in terms of money
are to be recorded in the account books. The monetary unit principle states that business transactions
should only be recorded if they can be expressed in terms of a currency. In other words, anything that is
non-quantifiable should not be recorded a business’ financial accounts. Over time, money has been
adopted as a measurement unit in accounting.
Example: Qualification and Experience of owner are not shown in Financial Statements and similarly value
of Human Resources are not shown in Financial Statements.
Periodicity: The periodicity concept, can be also called the time interval concept, is a period during which
business enterprises are required to prepare financial statement at specified intervals. Interim reporting
(Half yearly/Quarterly) cannot be termed as accounting period. Financial i.e. from 1st April to 31st March is
normally termed as Accounting Period for the business organizations. Accounting period is not just to know
the result (Profit/Loss) for period but it is also to conclude and not further recording should be possible for
that accounting period.
Accrual Concept: According to this concept Items and Events are recoded when they are earned/expended
and not received/paid. Because of this concept Outstanding/ Prepaid items arise in the financial statement.
The general concept of accrual accounting is that economic events are recognized by matching revenues to
expenses (the matching principle) at the time when the transaction occurs rather than when payment is
made or received.
Matching Concept: According to this concept Expenses are to be matched with the revenue to which they
pertains. The matching principle requires that revenues and any related expenses be recognized together in
the same reporting period. Thus, if there is a cause-and-effect relationship between revenue and certain
expenses, then record them at the same time.
Example: Royalty income of one period should be matched with the expenditure related with royalty
earning
Going Concern: According to this concept in accounting an enterprise is considered as Going Concern and
it is presumed that it will continue its operations for the forcible future. Further, it is also presumed that
there is no Intention/Need contrary to this concept exists.
Example: Because of this concept an asset is depreciated during the life time of asset and not business.
Cost Concept: Assets are to be recorded at their Historical Cost value and not on market value/opportunity
costs/realizable value. The cost principle is an accounting principle that records assets at their respective
cash amounts at the time the asset was purchased or acquired. The amount of the asset that is recorded
may not be increased for improvements in market value or inflation, nor can it be updated to reflect any
depreciation.
Effect: Fixed Assets are recorded at costs incurred up to the ready to put to use condition of the assets and
not on any other value.
Accounting equation
The accounting equation is the fundamental formula in accounting—it shows that assets are equal to
liabilities plus owner's equity. It's the reason why modern-day accounting uses double-entry bookkeeping
as transactions usually affect both sides of the equation. The accounting equation is an accounting
fundamental that bookkeepers need to master to be proficient.
Meaning
Accounting standards improve financial reporting transparency in all countries. International businesses
adhere to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which are established by the International
Accounting Standards Board and serve as a guideline for non-US GAAP companies reporting financial
statements.
In the United States, generally accepted accounting principles are widely used by both public and private
entities. The rest of the world follows IFRS. These standards must be followed by multinational
organisations. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) establishes and interprets accounting
standards used by international communities when preparing financial statements.
Accounting standards cover all aspects of a company’s finances, such as assets, liabilities, revenue,
expenses, and shareholders’ equity. Accounting standards involve revenue recognition, asset valuation,
The Companies Act, 2013 mandates that all companies, whether public or private, need to comply with the
accounting standards issued by ICAI while preparing their financial statements. The Act also empowers the
Ministry of Corporate Affairs to prescribe accounting standards that need to be followed by companies in
specific industries or sectors.
Compliance with accounting standards ensures that financial statements are prepared in a consistent and
transparent manner. This helps users of financial statements, such as investors, creditors, and other
stakeholders, to make informed decisions based on accurate and reliable financial information. Non-
compliance with accounting standards can result in penalties and legal action, including fines and
imprisonment, for company directors and officers.
Basis of preparation: This disclosure outlines the accounting framework used to prepare the
financial statements, such as Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) or Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles (GAAP).
Significant accounting policies: This disclosure outlines the specific accounting policies adopted
by the company, including policies related to revenue recognition, inventory valuation, depreciation
methods, etc.
Changes in accounting policies: If the company has changed its accounting policies during the
reporting period, the financial statements should disclose the nature and effect of such changes.
Judgments and estimates: The financial statements should disclose any significant judgments and
estimates made by management in applying accounting policies.
Impact of future changes in accounting policies: If there are any expected changes in accounting
policies that are likely to have a significant impact on the financial statements, the company should
disclose the nature and timing of such changes.
The disclosures related to accounting policies provide important information to users of financial
statements, such as investors, creditors, and other stakeholders, about the specific accounting methods and
procedures adopted by the company. This helps users to understand the financial statements better and
make informed decisions based on accurate and reliable financial information.
Accounting Title
Standard (AS)
AS 2 Valuation of Inventories
AS 5 Net Profit or Loss for the Period, Prior Period Items and Changes in Accounting Policies
AS 6 Depreciation Accounting
AS 7 Construction Contracts
AS 9 Revenue Recognition
AS 15 Employee Benefits
AS 16 Borrowing Costs
AS 17 Segment Reporting
AS 19 Leases
AS 24 Discontinuing Operations
AS 26 Intangible Assets
AS 28 Impairment of Assets
The IFRS system is sometimes confused with International Accounting Standards (IAS), which are the older
standards that IFRS replaced in 2001.
While both AS and IAS/IFRS aim to provide guidelines and principles for financial reporting, there are some
differences between them:
AS 4: Contingencies and Events IAS 10: Events After the Reporting Period
Occurring After the Balance Sheet
Date
AS 10: Accounting for Fixed Assets IAS 16: Property, Plant and Equipment
AS 11: The Effects of Changes in IAS 21: The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates
Foreign Exchange Rates
AS 12: Accounting for Government IAS 20: Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of
Grants Government Assistance
AS 13: Accounting for Investments IAS 39: Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement
AS23: Accounting for Investments in IAS 28:Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures
Associates in Consolidated Financial
Statements
AS24: Discontinuing Operations IFRS 5:Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued
Operations
AS29: Provisions, Contingent Liabilities IAS 37:Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets
and Contingent Assets
High-volume business transactions may be recorded in a special journal, such as the purchases journal or
sales journal. Once business transactions are entered into these journals, they are periodically aggregated
and posted to the general ledger. Lower-volume transactions are posted directly to the general ledger.
These transactions are eventually summarized into the firm's financial statements.
A business transaction should always be supported by a source document. For example, the purchase of
inventory from a supplier could be supported by a purchase order, while the payment of wages to an
employee could be supported by a timesheet.
Some events are not considered business transactions, such as giving a reporter a tour of company
facilities, since there is no tangible value associated with the event.
Journal
A journal is a detailed account that records all the financial transactions of a business, to be used for the
future reconciling of accounts and the transfer of information to other official accounting records, such as
This means that each journal entry is recorded with two columns. For example, if a business owner
purchases Rs1, 00,000 worth of inventory with cash, the bookkeeper records two transactions in a journal
entry. The cash account will show a credit of Rs1, 00,000, and the inventory account, which is a current asset,
will show a debit of Rs1, 00,000.
Kinds of accounts
Personal Account
Personal Accounts are related to individuals, firms, companies, etc.
Example: Debtor, Creditor, Banks, Outstanding account, prepaid accounts, accounts of customers, accounts
of goods suppliers, capital, drawings, etc.
Here giver and receiver will be individuals, firms, companies, etc. Here a person may either receive the
benefit of the transaction or give the benefit of the transaction. Therefore, the account of the person who
receives the benefit of the transaction is debited and the account of the person who gives the benefit of the
transaction is credited.
Natural persons are human beings. Therefore, include the accounts belonging to them under this head.
Example: Mr. Sharma’s Account, Mrs. Sita’s Account, capital a/c, drawings a/c, capital a/c, etc come under
the category of the natural personal account.
The second among three types of personal accounts is “Artificial” personal accounts. These accounts do not
have a physical existence however, they are recognized as persons in business dealings. Most often they are
legal entities created by human beings.
Example: Any Public or Private Company A/C, Bank A/C, Club A/C, Insurance Company A/C, NGO A/C,
Cooperative society A/C, etc. would fall under this category.
This account is different as compared to the other two types of a personal account as it refers to accounts
that represent a person or a group.
Example: Outstanding expense A/C, Prepaid expense A/C, Accrued Income A/C, Income received in advance
A/C, Unearned commission A/C, etc.
Real Account
All assets of a firm, which are tangible or intangible, fall under the category of ‘Real Accounts’. Real
Accounts are the ones that are related to properties, assets, or possessions. These properties can be both
physically existing as well as non-physical in nature. Thus, Real Accounts can be of two types: Tangible Real
Accounts and Intangible Real accounts.
Nominal Account
Accounts that are related to expenses, losses, incomes, or gains are called Nominal accounts.
Example – Purchase A/C, Salary A/C, Sales A/C, and Commission received A/C, Bad Debt A/C, etc. The final
result of all nominal accounts is either profit or loss which is then transferred to the capital account.
The basic principle behind the rules of debit and credit is that every financial transaction involves at least
two accounts - one account is debited (increased), and another account is credited (decreased). The total
debits must always equal the total credits for every transaction.
Assets (things that the company owns) are debited when they increase and credited when they
decrease.
Liabilities (debts or obligations the company owes) are credited when they increase and debited
when they decrease.
Equity (the owner's stake in the company) is credited when it increases and debited when it
decreases.
Revenue (money earned by the company) is credited when it increases and debited when it
decreases.
Expenses (costs incurred by the company) are debited when they increase and credited when they
decrease.
To simplify things, you can remember the acronym "AID-LE" which stands for:
A: Assets
I: Income (Revenue)
D: Decreases (credits)
L: Liabilities
E: Expenses
I: Increases (debits)
Remember that the rules of debit and credit apply to every financial transaction, and the goal is always to
ensure that the total debits equal the total credits. By following these rules, you can maintain accurate
records of a company's finances and ensure that all financial information is properly recorded.
Journal entry
Journal entries are how you record financial transactions. To make a journal entry, you enter details of a
transaction into your company’s books. In the second step of the accounting cycle, your journal entries get
put into the general ledger.
In this example, we are using the Indian accounting format, which includes the following columns:
For example, on April 1st, 2023, the company received INR 50,000 in cash, which is debited to the Cash
account and credited to the Capital account. Similarly, on April 5th, 2023, the company purchased goods
worth INR 10,000, which is debited to the Purchase of Goods account and credited to the Cash account.
In this entry, "Sales Returns" is the account that is debited and "Accounts Receivable/Customer" is the
account that is credited. The amount credited is the amount of the sales return.
Purchase return occurs when a company returns goods previously purchased from a supplier. This could
be due to various reasons such as defects in the product, non-compliance with the specifications or order,
or overstocking. When a purchase return occurs, the company must record the transaction in their books of
accounts. The entry for a purchase return is as follows:
In this entry, "Accounts Payable/Supplier" is the account that is debited and "Purchase Returns" is the
account that is credited. The amount debited is the amount of the purchase return.
Recording sales return and purchase return accurately is important for a company to maintain an accurate
record of their financial transactions. It also helps the company to identify any issues with their products or
suppliers, which can be addressed to improve customer satisfaction and business efficiency.
Discount Received
You want to receive a decent bargain whenever you buy products, components, or accessories from
providers. For your loyalty or to encourage you to make larger purchases, suppliers may occasionally
provide discounts. Here, we're referring to discounts that were obtained.
Consider that you are a clothing retailer and that you choose to make upfront purchases. The
vendor might give you a discount in exchange. To further lower your costs, he might possibly give
discounts on older items that he's attempting to get rid of from his inventory.
Discounts can also be used to encourage customers to make timely payments. In some cases,
companies may offer discounts for early payments to receive a greater level of interest income.
Discount received is recorded as a reduction to Accounts Receivable on a company's balance sheet.
For example, when a seller permits a discount, the drop in revenues is noted and is often credited to
a contra revenue account. For instance, the seller permits a ₹50 reduction from the ₹1,000 billed
price for services it has rendered to a customer. A debit of ₹950 is made to the cash account, a
credit of ₹1,000 is made to the accounts receivable account, and a debit of ₹50 is made to the sales
discount contra revenue account to reflect the cash received from the customer. As a result, the
transaction's overall result is a decrease in gross sales.
Difference
A discount allowed is a reduction in the Discount received is a reduction in the purchase price of
selling price of goods or services that is goods or services that is offered by the supplier to the
offered by the seller to the buyer. buyer.
A discount allowed may be offered for Discount received is typically offered as a result of
various reasons, such as to generate sales negotiations between the buyer and supplier.
or clear inventory.
Discounts allowed are often stated as a Discounts received are often stated as a percentage of the
percentage of the original selling price. original purchase price.
Discounts allowed may be offered at any Discounts received are typically offered at the time of
time during the sales process. purchase.
Compound Entry
A compound journal entry is an accounting entry in which there is more than one debit, more than one
credit, or more than one of both debits and credits. It is essentially a combination of several simple journal
entries; they are combined for either of the following reasons.
Bookkeeping Efficiency
It is more efficient from a bookkeeping perspective to aggregate the underlying business transactions into a
single entry. Examples of aggregation that may involve compound journal entries are:
All of the debits and credits relate to a single accounting event. Examples of accounting events that
frequently involve compound journal entries are:
Outstanding Expenses
Outstanding expenses refer to expenses that have been incurred but not yet paid. These expenses are
recorded as a liability in the company's balance sheet until they are paid. Examples of outstanding expenses
include rent, salaries, and utility bills.
For example, a company rents a warehouse for INR 10,000 per month. The rent for the month of March has
been incurred but has not been paid as of March 31st. The company records the outstanding rent expense
as follows:
In this entry, "Rent Outstanding" is the account that is debited, and "Rent Payable" is the account that is
credited.
For example, a company pays for insurance coverage for one year in advance for INR 24,000. The company
records the prepaid insurance expense as follows:
Cash 24,000.00
Outstanding expenses, prepaid expenses, accrued income, and advance income are important concepts in
accounting that reflect the timing of cash inflows and outflows. Let's take a closer look at each of them with
examples:
Outstanding Expenses
Outstanding expenses refer to expenses that have been incurred but not yet paid. These expenses are
recorded as a liability in the company's balance sheet until they are paid. Examples of outstanding expenses
include rent, salaries, and utility bills.
For example, a company rents a warehouse for INR 10,000 per month. The rent for the month of March has
been incurred but has not been paid as of March 31st. The company records the outstanding rent expense
as follows:
In this entry, "Rent Outstanding" is the account that is debited, and "Rent Payable" is the account that is
credited.
Prepaid Expenses
Prepaid expenses refer to expenses that have been paid in advance but have not yet been incurred. These
expenses are recorded as an asset in the company's balance sheet until they are incurred. Examples of
prepaid expenses include insurance premiums and prepaid rent.
For example, a company pays for insurance coverage for one year in advance for INR 24,000. The company
records the prepaid insurance expense as follows:
In this entry, "Prepaid Insurance" is the account that is debited, and "Cash" is the account that is credited.
Accrued Income
Accrued income refers to income that has been earned but not yet received. This income is recorded as an
asset in the company's balance sheet until it is received. Examples of accrued income include interest on
investments and rent receivable.
For example, a company rents out a property for INR 12,000 per month. The rent for the month of March
has been earned but not yet received as of March 31st. The company records the accrued rent income as
follows:
In this entry, "Rent Receivable" is the account that is debited, and "Rent Income Accrued" is the account
that is credited.
Advance Income
Advance income refers to income that has been received in advance but has not yet been earned. This
income is recorded as a liability in the company's balance sheet until it is earned. Examples of advance
income include subscriptions and retainers.
For example, a company receives INR 30,000 in advance for a service to be provided over the next three
months. The company records the advance income as follows:
In this entry, "Cash" is the account that is debited, and "Advance Income" is the account that is credited.
Ledger
Introduction
In accounting, a ledger is a book or a computerized record that contains all the transactions of a business or
an organization. It is an essential component of the double-entry accounting system and is used to record,
classify, and summarize financial transactions.
Balance sheet accounts include assets, liabilities, and equity accounts. These accounts show the financial
position of the business at a given point in time. For example, the cash account, accounts receivable
account, and inventory account are all balance sheet accounts.
Income statement accounts, on the other hand, include revenue and expense accounts. These accounts
show the profitability of the business over a period of time. For example, sales revenue, rent expense, and
salaries expense are all income statement accounts.
Every transaction is recorded in the appropriate account in the ledger using the double-entry accounting
system. This means that for every debit entry, there must be a corresponding credit entry. The total of all
debit entries must equal the total of all credit entries.
The ledger is used to create financial statements such as the balance sheet, income statement, and cash
flow statement. These statements provide an overview of the financial health of the business and are
essential for decision-making purposes.
Journal Ledger
Is the first book of original entry Is the second book of entry that contains a summary of
transactions
Includes the date, accounts affected, and Includes all the information related to a particular
amount of the transaction in a narrative transaction in a specific account
form
Used to record transactions as they occur Used to classify, summarize, and prepare financial
statements based on the recorded transactions
Provides a detailed record of all Provides an overview of the financial position and
transactions performance of the business
Provides a basis for transferring information Provides a basis for preparing financial statements
to the ledger
Does not contain running balances Contains running balances for each account
Ledger posting
Ledger posting refers to the process of transferring the information from the journal to the ledger. In
accounting, the journal is the first book of original entry where all financial transactions are initially
recorded, and the ledger is a book or a computerized record that contains all the transactions of a business
or an organization. The ledger is organized into various accounts, each of which represents a specific
financial transaction.
To post a journal entry to the ledger, the following steps are typically followed
Identify the accounts affected: The first step in ledger posting is to identify the accounts that have
been affected by the journal entry. For example, if the journal entry involves a cash sale, the
accounts affected may include the cash account, the sales revenue account, and the cost of goods
sold account.
Determine the type of account: Once the accounts have been identified, it is important to
determine the type of account, such as asset, liability, equity, revenue, or expense. This will help in
determining the correct debit and credit entries for each account.
Record the debit and credit entries: After determining the type of account, the next step is to
record the debit and credit entries in the appropriate accounts in the ledger. For example, if the cash
account is debited and the sales revenue account is credited, these entries would be recorded in the
appropriate accounts in the ledger.
Calculate the balance: Once the debit and credit entries have been recorded, the balance for each
account should be calculated. The balance is calculated by subtracting the credit entries from the
debit entries for each account.
Verify accuracy: Finally, it is important to verify the accuracy of the ledger posting by checking that
the total debit entries equal the total credit entries for each transaction.
Opening Entry
An opening entry, also known as an opening journal entry, is the initial entry recorded at the start of
an accounting period to reflect the beginning balances of various accounts.
This entry is made to ensure that the ledger accounts reflect the correct balances at the start of the
accounting period.
The opening entry is usually made on the first day of the accounting period and it is based on the
balances of the various accounts at the end of the previous accounting period.
The opening entry is typically a summary of all the accounts and balances from the previous period
that are carried forward to the new period.
Balancing of account
Balancing of an account in accounting refers to the process of ensuring that the total debit amount and
total credit amount of an account are equal. In other words, it is the process of verifying that all the
transactions recorded in the account have been correctly posted, and that the account is in balance.
Identify the account: The first step is to identify the account that needs to be balanced. This can be
done by reviewing the chart of accounts or the ledger.
Calculate the total debit and credit amounts: The next step is to calculate the total debit and
credit amounts for the account by adding up all the debit and credit entries made in the account.
Compare the totals: After calculating the total debit and credit amounts, the next step is to
compare the totals to ensure that they are equal. If the total debit amount is greater than the total
credit amount, it means that the account has a debit balance. Conversely, if the total credit amount
is greater than the total debit amount, it means that the account has a credit balance.
Adjust the account: If the totals do not match, adjustments must be made to ensure that the
account is in balance. This can be done by reviewing the transactions and identifying any errors or
omissions that may have occurred during the recording or posting process. Once the errors are
identified, appropriate adjustments can be made to correct them.
Verify accuracy: Finally, it is important to verify the accuracy of the balancing process by rechecking
the total debit and credit amounts to ensure that they are now equal.
Cash Book
Cash Book is the one in which all the cash receipts and cash payments, including the funds deposited in the
bank and funds withdrawn from the bank, are recorded according to the date of the transaction. All the
transactions recorded in the cash book have two sides, i.e., debit and credit.
The payment side of the cash book records the following entries
Salary paid
Expenses paid
Amount paid to the suppliers
Taxes paid.
The receipt side of the cash book contains the following entries
Cash sales
Advance received by a customer
Interest received
Types of cashbook
There are different types of cash books for different types of needs and complexities of the business. The
two major types of cash books are: General and Petty cash books.
Debit Credit
Debit Credit
Date Particulars R.No Lf Cash Bank Date Particulars R.No. LF Cash Bank
Deb Cred
it it
Dat Particula R.N L Cas Ban Discou Date Particula R.N L Cas Ban Discou
e rs o f h k nt rs o. F h k nt
given receive
d
The most important advantage of a cash book is that it saves time and labour in maintaining the
cash ledger separately.
Cash book makes it easy to find errors, mistakes and frauds. By cross-verifying cash in hand with the
closing balance of the cash book, one can easily detect mistakes and errors and correct them.
Sometimes the mismatch of cash in hand and closing balance might be a result of fraud.
A cash book facilitates ascertaining cash balances of any particular date.
It records transactions and maintains a chronological order, which helps in tracing back any
transaction at any time.
Subsidiary books
Subsidiary books are specialized accounting records used to record transactions of a specific type or source.
These books are maintained in addition to the general ledger and are used to keep track of specific types of
transactions.
Sales Journal: This is a subsidiary book used to record all credit sales made by the business.
Purchase Journal: This is a subsidiary book used to record all credit purchases made by the
business.
Cash Receipts Journal: This is a subsidiary book used to record all cash receipts received by the
business.
Cash Payments Journal: This is a subsidiary book used to record all cash payments made by the
business.
General Journal: This is a subsidiary book used to record all transactions that cannot be recorded in
any of the other subsidiary books.
Improved efficiency: By categorizing transactions into different subsidiary books, the recording
process becomes more efficient and streamlined.
Improved accuracy: Because transactions are recorded in specialized books, there is less chance of
errors being made.
Improved organization: Subsidiary books help to organize transactions by type or source, making
it easier to locate specific transactions when needed.
Sales Book
A sales book is a specialized accounting record used to record all credit sales made by a business. This book
is also known as a sales journal or sales daybook. It is one of the subsidiary books used to keep track of
specific types of transactions.
The sales book is usually divided into columns that record different types of information, such as the date of
the sale, the name of the customer, the amount of the sale, and any taxes or discounts that apply. This
information is then used to prepare financial statements, such as the income statement and the balance
sheet.
Improved accuracy: By recording sales in a specialized book, there is less chance of errors being
made.
Improved efficiency: By categorizing sales transactions into a specific book, the recording process
becomes more efficient and streamlined.
Improved organization: The sales book helps to organize sales transactions by date, customer, and
amount, making it easier to locate specific transactions when needed.
Simplified posting: By summarizing sales transactions in the sales book, it becomes easier to post
transactions to the general ledger.
Purchase book
A purchase book is a specialized accounting record used to record all credit purchases made by a business.
This book is also known as a purchase journal or purchase daybook. It is one of the subsidiary books used
to keep track of specific types of transactions.
The purchase book is usually divided into columns that record different types of information, such as the
date of the purchase, the name of the supplier, the amount of the purchase, and any taxes or discounts that
apply. This information is then used to prepare financial statements, such as the income statement and the
balance sheet.
Improved accuracy: By recording purchases in a specialized book, there is less chance of errors
being made.
Improved efficiency: By categorizing purchase transactions into a specific book, the recording
process becomes more efficient and streamlined.
Improved organization: The purchase book helps to organize purchase transactions by date,
supplier, and amount, making it easier to locate specific transactions when needed.
Simplified posting: By summarizing purchase transactions in the purchase book, it becomes easier
to post transactions to the general ledger.
The sales return book is usually divided into columns that record different types of information, such as the
date of the return, the name of the customer, the invoice number of the original sale, the quantity and value
of the returned goods, and any taxes or discounts that apply.
Improved accuracy: By recording returns in a specialized book, there is less chance of errors being
made.
Improved efficiency: By categorizing returns transactions into a specific book, the recording
process becomes more efficient and streamlined.
Improved organization: The sales return book helps to organize returns transactions by date,
customer, and invoice number, making it easier to locate specific transactions when needed.
Simplified posting: By summarizing returns transactions in the sales return book, it becomes easier
to post transactions to the general ledger.
The purchase return book is usually divided into columns that record different types of information, such as
the date of the return, the name of the supplier, the invoice number of the original purchase, the quantity
and value of the returned goods, and any taxes or discounts that apply.
Improved accuracy: By recording returns in a specialized book, there is less chance of errors being
made.
Improved efficiency: By categorizing returns transactions into a specific book, the recording
process becomes more efficient and streamlined.
Improved organization: The purchase return book helps to organize returns transactions by date,
supplier, and invoice number, making it easier to locate specific transactions when needed.
Simplified posting: By summarizing returns transactions in the purchase return book, it becomes
easier to post transactions to the general ledger.
Objective of accounting
Recording and maintaining financial transactions: The accounting process involves the recording
and maintenance of all financial transactions of a business. This includes transactions such as sales,
purchases, receipts, and expenses.
Providing financial information: The financial information generated through accounting is used
by stakeholders to make informed decisions. This information includes financial statements such as
the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.
Ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements: Accounting helps businesses to
comply with legal and regulatory requirements such as tax laws and financial reporting
requirements.
Facilitating planning and budgeting: Accounting information is used to develop budgets and
financial plans for the future.
Facilitating decision-making: Accounting information is used by stakeholders to make informed
decisions about the financial health and prospects of the business.
Questions
a) Sales account
b) Purchase account
c) Bank account
d) All of the above
a) Ledger book
b) Trial balance book
c) Sales book
d) Cash book
a) Income statement
b) Balance sheet
c) Cash flow statement
d) Trial balance
Answer Keys
1. Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: The accounting process involves identifying, recording, and summarizing
financial transactions of a business or organization.
2. Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: The trial balance is used to identify errors in accounting records, provide a
summary of all ledger account balances, and prepare financial statements.
3. Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Ledger accounts can include sales accounts, purchase accounts, bank accounts,
and many other types of accounts used to record financial transactions.
4. Answer: A) To record cash transactions
Explanation: A cash book is used to record cash transactions, such as cash receipts and cash
payments.
5. Answer: C) Sales book
Explanation: The sales book is an example of a subsidiary book used to record sales
transactions.
6. Answer: B) Balance sheet
Explanation: The balance sheet provides a summary of a business's financial position at a
specific point in time by showing its assets, liabilities, and equity.
Chapter 2
Trial balance
Introduction
The trial balance is a bookkeeping or accounting report in which the balances of all the general ledger
accounts of the organization are listed in separate credit and debit account columns. The balances are
usually listed to achieve equal values in the credit and debit account totals. Any deviation from expected
values helps to detect errors in the accounting exercise.
Trial balance is an important Step of the accounting cycle - which is a series of steps performed during an
accounting period to analyze, record, classify, summarize, and report financial information for generating
financial statements. The trial balance itself is not a financial statement, but comprises all the information
required for creating the three main financial statements—the cash flow statement, the balance sheet, and
the income statement. In the accounting cycle, preparing the trial balance comes right after posting journal
entries to the ledger’s accounts, and just before preparing the financial statements.
A trial balance gets prepared just before preparing final accounts, which includes a balance sheet, Profit and
loss statement, Cash flow, and notes to Accounts. In layman's terms, we can assume that it is the basic
structure behind preparing the final accounts. It is the third step in the road map to prepare final accounts
after the entries are passed in journal-register followed by classification and grouping of transactions to
their respective ledgers. These ledgers, i.e. the principal book containing all sets of accounts, are then
accumulated in a single place to constitute a Trial balance.
Objective
Bird Eye View: The trial balance gives the summary of all the ledgers. Since the net amount gets
displayed, you can save time by not viewing the concerned ledger again.
Pointing out Error: The trial balance aids in pointing out errors. It is also used to check the
arithmetical accuracy of books of accounts.
List down all the ledger accounts in the order they appear in the ledger.
Record the debit balance of each account in the debit column and the credit balance in the credit
column.
Calculate the total of the debit and credit columns.
Ensure that the total of the debit column is equal to the total of the credit column. If the totals do
not match, there may be an error in the ledger, and you need to identify and correct the error.
List down all the ledger accounts in the order they appear in the ledger.
Record the debit balance of each account in the debit column and the credit balance in the credit
column.
Adjust the balances for any necessary entries, such as accruals, prepayments, and depreciation.
Calculate the total of the debit and credit columns.
Account Name Debit (Rs.) - Net Credit (Rs.) - Net Debit (Rs.) - Gross Credit (Rs.) - Gross
Trial Balance Trial Balance Trial Balance Trial Balance
Meaning It is a trial balance that shows the net It is a trial balance that shows the gross
balances of all accounts after adjusting for balances of all accounts without
necessary adjustments. adjusting any entries.
Adjustments The balances of some accounts are adjusted There are no adjustments made to the
to their net amounts to reflect any necessary balances of any accounts.
adjustments.
Purpose It is used to prepare the financial statements It is used to prepare the financial
like the Income Statement and Balance Sheet. statements like the Income Statement
and Balance Sheet.
Types of Only nominal accounts like revenue, expenses, All accounts, including nominal, real,
Accounts gains, and losses are adjusted to their net and personal accounts, are listed with
amounts. their gross balances.
Presentation Debit balances are listed in one column and Debit balances are listed in one column,
credit balances in another column. The and credit balances are listed in another
difference between the two columns column, with no adjustments made.
represents the net balance.
Errors and It helps in identifying errors and omissions in It does not highlight any errors or
Omissions the nominal accounts because they are omissions in the trial balance because
adjusted to their net amounts. no adjustments are made.
Accounting It follows the accrual basis of accounting by It follows the cash basis of accounting
Treatment adjusting the balances of some accounts to by listing all the transactions without
their net amounts. making any adjustments.
There can be several reasons for a disagreement in trial balance, such as errors in journal entries, posting to
the wrong accounts, omitting an account or transaction, recording an incorrect amount, etc.
Classification of errors
Errors in accounting are broadly classified into two categories which are as follows:
Error of principle
Clerical errors
Error of Principle
Error of principle is said to occur when the accountant records a transaction that does not comply with the
rules of accounting. As per accounting rules, for every debit, there should be a corresponding credit.
When a transaction violates this rule, an error results from it and such an error is known as the error of
principle. Recording of such a transaction does not have an impact on the trial balance, it simply means
transactions are recorded but in incorrect accounts.
Clerical Errors
Clerical errors are those errors that are generated from the improper recording of transactions. Clerical
errors are further of three types and are discussed below
Errors of Omission
Errors of Commission
Compensating Errors
The second type of error is the partial omission, in which the accountant records the transaction in either
the debit or credit side and forgets to record the transaction on the opposite side.
Examples
Errors of Commission: These errors occur when an incorrect entry is made in the accounting records. This
can happen due to various reasons such as human error, incorrect information, or lack of knowledge. For
example, if a transaction is recorded in the wrong account, it can cause errors in the financial statements.
Errors of commission occur when an incorrect entry is made in the accounting records.
These errors can happen due to various reasons, such as human error, incorrect information, or lack of
knowledge.
Recording an incorrect amount for a transaction, such as recording a sale for Rs. 10,000 instead of
Rs. 1,000.
Recording a transaction in the wrong account, such as recording a payment for rent in the salaries
account.
Failing to record a discount given to a customer, which results in an incorrect accounts receivable
balance.
Recording a transaction in the wrong period, such as recording a payment made in March as being
made in April.
Recording a payment to a supplier as being made to the wrong supplier, resulting in incorrect
accounts payable balance.
Errors of commission can cause inaccuracies in financial statements, which can have serious consequences
for businesses, including legal and financial issues.
To prevent errors of commission, it is important to implement internal controls, such as regular review and
reconciliation of accounts, and to ensure that accounting staff have the necessary knowledge and training
to perform their duties accurately.
Compensating Errors: These errors occur when two or more errors are made that offset each other,
resulting in a trial balance that still balances. For example, if an expense is overstated by Rs1000 and
revenue is understated by Rs1000, the two errors offset each other and the trial balance still balances.
Errors of Principle: Errors of principle occur when a transaction is recorded in violation of generally
accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These errors are different from errors of commission, which are
caused by a mistake or oversight. Errors of principle occur when the accountant does not have the correct
For example, if a company records an expense as an asset, it violates the GAAP principle of matching
expenses with revenues. Similarly, if a company records an expense in the wrong period, it violates the
GAAP principle of periodicity. Errors of principle can have serious consequences for businesses, including
legal and financial issues, as well as damage to the company's reputation.
To prevent errors of principle, it is important to ensure that accounting staff have the necessary knowledge
and training to follow GAAP principles. Regular review and reconciliation of accounts can also help identify
and correct errors before they cause major issues. Additionally, implementing internal controls can help
prevent intentional manipulation of financial statements.
Errors of Original Entry: These errors occur when an incorrect amount is recorded in the original
accounting entry. This can happen if a mistake is made in recording the transaction, or if the person
entering the data types in the wrong amount. For example, if the amount of a sale is incorrectly recorded as
Rs 5000 instead of Rs 500, it can cause errors in the financial statements.
Errors of Reversal: These errors occur when the debits and credits are reversed for a transaction. For
example, if a debit entry is recorded as a credit entry, or vice versa, it can cause errors in the financial
statements.
Errors of Duplication: These errors occur when a transaction is recorded twice in the accounting records.
This can happen if a transaction is accidentally recorded twice, or if two people independently record the
same transaction without realizing it. For example, if a purchase is recorded twice, it can cause errors in the
financial statements.
Rectification of errors
Errors should be rectified; otherwise, a business enterprise will not be transparent. It will fail to be
creditworthy and not show the correct profit or loss. In other words, it will not show the true picture.
So, errors should be rectified; but are there other reasons for doing so?
Every business is interested in finding out its true results in terms of profit or loss from the operational
activities, as well as its true financial position at the end of the financial year.
Personnel in the accounts department will try to maintain the firm’s accounts accurately, ensuring that the
true profits or losses are determined and, furthermore, that the statement of affairs paints a correct picture.
On the basis of the principle that prevention is better than the cure, the early detection of errors is needed
to help businesses be transparent, creditworthy, and show the correct profit or loss, thereby painting an
accurate picture of their financial position.
Accountability
Reliability
Profitability
Manageability
Suppose that errors are left uncorrected. These errors will influence the profit and loss account and balance
sheet.
Although the trial balance is prepared to evaluate accuracy, it does not disclose every type of error.
Furthermore, it is possible that the trial balance was made to agree by entering the suspense account
balance.
In any case, if the errors are not rectified, they will have an adverse effect on the firm’s position in terms of
profits or losses and assets or liabilities.
Therefore, they must be rectified. Such rectification may be carried out with the help of the following steps:
Across the pre-trial balance, post-trial balance, and pre-final accounts stages, rectification is carried out by
modifying entries either directly or through a suspense account.
For the post-final accounts stage, rectification is carried out through profit and loss account adjustments.
When an error is identified, the amount in the suspense account is transferred to the correct account, and
the error is rectified. This process is known as rectification. Rectification involves identifying the error,
determining the correct amount, and transferring the amount from the suspense account to the correct
account. The steps involved in rectification depend on the type of error.
For example, if an error of commission is identified, the incorrect entry must be reversed, and a new entry
must be made in the correct account. If an error of principle is identified, the original entry must be
corrected to reflect the correct accounting principle.
Once the error is rectified, the suspense account is no longer needed, and the balance in the account
should be zero. The suspense account is closed by transferring the balance to the correct account.
Identify the error: The first step is to identify the error that needs to be rectified. This can be done
by comparing the opening balances of the previous year's books with the closing balances of the
current year's books.
Make necessary adjustments: Once the error has been identified, the necessary adjustments need
to be made in the accounts. This can be done by passing journal entries to correct the error. For
example, if an expense was recorded as an asset, then the journal entry should be passed to debit
the expense account and credit the asset account.
Prepare the suspense account: Since the books have already been closed, the error cannot be
corrected directly in the accounts. Instead, a suspense account needs to be prepared to record the
difference between the corrected balances and the balances shown in the books. The suspense
account will help maintain the balance of the books until the error is rectified.
Carry forward the suspense account balance: The balance in the suspense account needs to be
carried forward to the next year's books. This will ensure that the books are in balance, and the error
has been taken into account.
Correct the error in the next year's books: In the next year's books, the necessary adjustments
need to be made to correct the error. This can be done by passing adjusting journal entries.
Close the suspense account: Once the error has been corrected in the next year's books, the
balance in the suspense account can be transferred to the appropriate accounts, and the suspense
account can be closed.
Suppose in the year 2021, a company mistakenly recorded a payment of Rs. 10,000 as a credit sale.
However, this error was not identified until the books were closed for the year 2021. Now, in the year 2022,
the company wants to rectify this error.
The necessary steps for rectifying this error in the next year are as follows
Identify the error: The error that needs to be rectified is the recording of the payment of Rs. 10,000 as a
credit sale.
Make necessary adjustments: The journal entry to rectify this error in the year 2022 would be:
Prepare the suspense account: The balance in the sales account after this adjustment will be lower than
what is shown in the books. Therefore, a suspense account needs to be prepared to record the difference.
The journal entry to prepare the suspense account would be:
Carry forward the suspense account balance: The balance in the suspense account (Rs. 10,000) needs to
be carried forward to the year 2022.
Correct the error in the next year's books: In the year 2022, the necessary adjustments need to be made to
correct the error. This can be done by passing the following journal entry:
Close the suspense account: Once the error has been corrected, the balance in the suspense account can
be transferred to the appropriate accounts, and the suspense account can be closed.
In a computerized accounting system, financial transactions are entered into the software, which then
records and processes them. The system can generate invoices, record payments, track expenses, and
produce financial reports. It can also be used to manage payroll and inventory.
One of the main benefits of a computerized accounting system is that it saves time and reduces errors. The
software automates many of the tasks that would otherwise need to be done manually, such as posting
transactions to ledgers and creating financial reports. This reduces the risk of errors and frees up staff time
for other tasks.
General ledger module: This module maintains a record of all financial transactions that occur
within a company. It includes accounts for assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses.
Accounts payable module: This module is used to manage the company's payables. It tracks
vendor invoices and payments, and helps ensure that bills are paid on time.
Accounts receivable module: This module is used to manage the company's receivables. It tracks
customer invoices and payments, and helps ensure that invoices are paid on time.
Inventory module: This module is used to manage the company's inventory. It tracks inventory
levels, costs, and sales, and helps ensure that the right products are available when customers need
them.
Payroll module: This module is used to manage the company's payroll. It calculates employee
salaries, taxes, and benefits, and helps ensure that employees are paid on time.
Fixed assets module: This module is used to manage the company's fixed assets, such as buildings
and equipment. It tracks the value and depreciation of assets over time.
Financial reporting module: This module is used to produce financial reports, such as balance
sheets and income statements. It pulls data from the other modules to create a comprehensive view
of the company's financial position.
Questions
a) A transposition error
b) A posting error
c) A missed transaction
5. If an account has a credit balance on the trial balance, what does this mean?
a) Journal
b) Ledger
c) Financial statement
8. Which of the following errors will not be detected by the trial balance?
a) Error of omission
b) Error of commission
c) Error of principle
9. If the trial balance does not balance, what should be done first?
a) To record transactions
13. Which of the following errors will cause the trial balance to be out of balance?
a) A transposition error
b) A mathematical error
a) Debit
b) Credit
a) Debit
b) Credit
16. Which of the following errors would cause the trial balance to be out of balance?
a) An error of principle
b) A transposition error
c) A compensating error
d) A transposition error in different accounts
17. If the total of the debit column in a trial balance is higher than the credit column, which of the
following is true?
a) All transactions are included, regardless of whether they have been posted to the general ledger.
b) Only transactions that have been posted to the general ledger are included.
c) Only transactions that have been recorded in the journal are included.
d) Only transactions that have been approved by management are included.
21. Which of the following errors would cause the trial balance to be in balance even though an error
has occurred?
a) An error of commission
b) A transposition error
c) A compensating error
d) An error of omission
Answer Keys
1. Answer: b) A trial balance is a summary of all accounts in the ledger, showing their debit or credit
balances.
Explanation: A trial balance is prepared by listing all accounts in the ledger and their debit or credit
balances. The total of the debit balances should equal the total of the credit balances, which
indicates that the books are in balance. This serves as a preliminary step before preparing the
financial statements.
2. Answer: d) To record all transactions for the period
Explanation: A trial balance is not meant to record all transactions for the period, but rather to
summarize the ledger accounts and ensure that they are in balance. Its main purposes are to identify
errors in the ledger and to prepare the financial statements.
3. Answer: c) A missed transaction
CHAPTER 3
Financial statements
Introduction
Financial statements are written reports created by a company’s management to summarize the business’s
financial condition over a certain period (quarter, six-monthly, or yearly). These statements, which comprise
the balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, and statement of shareholders’ equity, must be
prepared by specified and standardized accounting standards to ensure that reporting is consistent.
Financial statements are credentials that ensure investors and other stakeholders have the opportunity to
learn about the current financial status of a company before they make investments or other strategic
decisions. They can compare every statement prepared to check the actual status of the entities they want
to associate with.
Objective
Overview: The primary objective of financial statements is to provide an overview of the financial
position and performance of an entity.
Decision Making: The financial statements should provide relevant and reliable information to
enable the stakeholders to make informed economic decisions about the entity.
Capital expenditure and revenue expenditure, capital receipts and revenue receipt
Capital Expenditure: Capital expenditure refers to expenses incurred for acquiring or improving long-term
assets that will be used in the business for more than one year. These expenses are not immediately
charged to the income statement but are instead capitalized and depreciated over their useful life.
Examples of capital expenditure include the purchase of land, buildings, equipment, and vehicles.
Revenue Expenditure: Revenue expenditure refers to expenses incurred in the day-to-day operations of
the business, such as salaries, wages, rent, and utility bills. These expenses are immediately charged to the
income statement and are considered as operating expenses. Revenue expenditure does not create an asset
and is not expected to provide a long-term benefit to the business.
Capital Receipts: Capital receipts are the funds received by a business from the sale of long-term assets, or
from borrowing money. These funds are not part of the company's normal operations and are not
considered revenue. Examples of capital receipts include the sale of land, buildings, or equipment, and the
issuance of long-term debt.
Revenue Receipts: Revenue receipts are the funds received by a business from its normal operations, such
as sales, services rendered, or interest earned. These receipts are considered part of the company's revenue
and are reported on the income statement. Examples of revenue receipts include cash sales, accounts
receivable collections, and interest earned on investments.
On the other hand, revenue receipts refer to funds received by a business or organization as a result of its
regular operations, such as the sale of goods or services. Revenue receipts are considered part of the
company's regular income and are used to cover day-to-day expenses and operational costs.
It is important for businesses and organizations to distinguish between capital and revenue receipts in their
financial records in order to accurately track and manage their finances
Difference
Capital receipts refer to funds received by a business Revenue receipts refer to funds received by a business
or organization that are intended for long-term use or organization as a result of its regular operations,
or investment. These funds are not considered part such as the sale of goods or services. These funds are
of the company's regular income and are typically considered part of the company's regular income and
used for business growth or development. Examples are used to cover day-to-day expenses and operational
include funds received from: costs. Examples include funds received from:
Proceeds from the issuance of bonds or other long- Royalties from intellectual property
term debt
Recorded as a liability in the company's balance Recorded as income in the company's income
sheet statement
Used for business growth or development Used to cover day-to-day expenses and operational
costs
Trading account
In accounting, a trading account is a financial statement that shows a company's revenue and expenses
related to its core business operations during a specific period of time. It is also known as a profit and loss
account, income statement, or statement of operations.
The purpose of a trading account is to determine the gross profit or loss of a business by subtracting the
cost of goods sold (COGS) from the revenue earned from selling those goods. The COGS includes the direct
expenses incurred to produce or acquire the goods sold, such as raw materials, labor, and production
overheads.
The revenue in the trading account includes sales revenue, discounts received, and any other income
earned from the company's primary operations. The expenses in the trading account include indirect costs
such as salaries, rent, utilities, and other expenses related to running the business.
The net result of the trading account is the gross profit or loss, which indicates how much revenue the
business generated from its operations after deducting the direct costs of production. This information is
useful in determining the overall profitability of the business and making strategic decisions for future
growth and development.
Indian businesses are required to maintain their books of accounts in accordance with the Indian
Accounting Standards (Ind AS) or the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). These standards
require companies to report their COGS and gross profit in their financial statements, which are submitted
to the regulatory authorities.
COGS in India includes the cost of raw materials, direct labor, production overheads, and any other
expenses incurred in the production or acquisition of goods sold during a specific period of time. The
method of calculating COGS may vary depending on the industry and the nature of the business.
Gross profit in India is calculated by subtracting the COGS from the revenue earned from selling the goods
during the specific period of time. It is an important metric used by businesses to determine the profitability
of their operations and make strategic decisions.
In India, the tax authorities also use COGS and gross profit to calculate the taxable income of businesses.
The income tax laws in India allow businesses to claim a deduction for the COGS while computing their
For example, if a company generates Rs100,000 in revenue from selling goods and incurs Rs 60,000 in
COGS, then the gross profit would be:
This means that the company has earned Rs 40,000 in gross profit from its core operations during the
specific period of time.
Helps in determining the profitability of the business: The trading account helps in determining
the gross profit or loss of the business. This information is useful in determining the overall
profitability of the business and making strategic decisions for future growth and development.
Helps in identifying cost of goods sold: The trading account helps in identifying the direct
expenses incurred in producing or acquiring the goods sold by the business. This information is
useful in controlling the cost of production and improving efficiency.
Helps in comparing performance: The trading account helps in comparing the performance of
different products, business units, or time periods. This information is useful in identifying areas of
improvement and making informed decisions.
Carriage or Freight
All expenses to bring the purchased goods or materials to the firm’s godowns should be debited to the
Trading Account; freight, customs duty or octroi paid on purchases should be debited to this account. But
freight, customs duty, etc., paid on the acquisition of a fixed asset, say, machinery should be included in the
value of that asset and not debited to the Trading Account.
Wages
Wages paid to workmen engaged in the manufacture of goods directly or indirectly should be debited to
the Trading Account. Salaries paid to foremen, etc., in the factory should also be so debited. Care should be
taken to see that the wages of the full trading period are included even if some of the wages have not yet
been paid.
If some wages are as yet unpaid, the following entry should be passed:
To Wages Account
Lighting
Electricity used for lighting factory buildings is debited to the Trading Account; if there is a common meter
to record electricity used for lighting both the factory and the office buildings, it should be suitably
apportioned, because electricity used to light office buildings will be debited to the Profit and Loss Account
and not to the Trading Account.
If rent for the full trading period has not been paid, the following entry for the unpaid amount should be
passed:
Taxes are often paid in advance. It may be that a particular amount may have been paid for a period which
will end after the close of the financial year. On 1st October, 2011, a municipal tax of Rs 1,000 may be paid
for one year. If accounts are made up to 31st March, 2012, taxes for six months (from 1st April, 2012 to 30th
September, 2012), Rs 500 will be treated as prepaid or paid in advance. Since the benefit of this amount will
accrue next year, this year’s accounts should not be burdened with the expense. To put matters right, the
following entry should be passed.
Municipal taxes will be now less by Rs 500, and a prepaid Municipal Taxes Account debited, which will go to
the Balance Sheet. The amount will be charged to revenue next year. This applies to all prepaid expenses.
To avoid it, the goods sold but not despatched should not be included in the closing stock. An alternative,
not recommended, is that such a sale should not be treated as sale until the next trading period. The test is
whether the property in the goods has passed to the customer; if it has, the goods sold but not yet
despatched should be excluded from stock. If, however the property in the goods has not yet passed to the
customer, say because the customer has yet to inspect them, the proper course is to reverse the entry for
the sale and then include the goods into stock.
Goods sent to agents to be sold on commission basis (that is to say, where the agent does not buy the
goods but merely undertakes to try to sell them for a commission) should not be treated as sale.Sales made
on behalf of others should not be credited to Sales Account. Similarly, goods sent to customers on sale or
return basis should not be treated as sale unless the customer has agreed to purchase the goods or an
unreasonably long period has elapsed after the customer received the goods.
Goods in the hands of the customer still returnable by them should be included in stock at cost. If, at the
time of sending the goods, the customer was debited and Sales Account credited, the entry should be
reversed at the end of the year for goods still returnable by the customers.
Credit items
Sales: When a business makes a sale of goods or services, the amount received is recorded as a
credit entry in the sales account.
Interest earned: When a business earns interest on investments or deposits, the amount received is
recorded as a credit entry in the interest earned account.
Dividends received: When a business receives dividends from investments in other companies, the
amount received is recorded as a credit entry in the dividends received account.
Commission earned: If a business earns commission on sales made by another party, the amount
earned is recorded as a credit entry in the commission earned account.
Sale of fixed assets: When a business sells a fixed asset, the amount received is recorded as a credit
entry in the fixed asset account.
The result of these entries is that the net profit is added to the retained earnings account on the balance
sheet. The P&L account is closed out for the year.
The result of these entries is that the net loss is subtracted from the retained earnings account on the
balance sheet. The P&L account is closed out for the year.
The result of these entries is that the retained earnings account is reduced by the amount of the dividend
payout. The cash account is increased by the same amount, reflecting the cash outflow for the dividend.
The Balance Sheet has two sides: the assets side and the liabilities and equity side. The assets side shows
what the company owns or controls, while the liabilities and equity side shows how those assets are
financed.
Assets
Current assets: Cash, accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses, and other assets that are
expected to be converted into cash within one year.
Non-current assets: Property, plant, and equipment, long-term investments, intangible assets, and
other assets that are not expected to be converted into cash within one year.
The Balance Sheet equation is Assets = Liabilities + Equity. This equation must always balance, meaning
that the total value of assets must equal the total value of liabilities and equity.
The Position Statement/Balance Sheet is a crucial financial statement for investors, creditors, and other
stakeholders as it provides a snapshot of a company's financial position and its ability to meet its
obligations.
Financial Statements
Financial statements are written records that convey the business activities and the financial performance of
a company. Financial statements are often audited by government agencies, accountants, firms, etc. to
ensure accuracy and for tax, financing, or investing purposes. For-profit primary financial statements include
the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flow, and statement of changes in equity. Non-
profit entities use a similar but different set of financial statements.
Financial statements are written records that convey the business activities and the financial
performance of an entity.
The balance sheet provides an overview of assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity as a snapshot
in time.
Balance sheet
Income statement
Cash flow statement
Statement of retained earnings
Financial statements may be prepared for different timeframes. Annual financial statements cover the
company’s latest fiscal year. Companies may also prepare interim financial statements on a monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis.
Interim statements sometimes include fewer components than year-end statements. For example, they may
lack a cash flow statement and a statement of retained earnings.
Balance sheet
The balance sheet shows what the company owns and how much it owes at the end of the period. It is
based on the equation:
Income statement
An income statement shows the profitability of your business. It details how much money your business
earned and spent. The income statement is also sometimes referred to as a profit-loss statement or an
earnings statement.
It shows your
To supplement an income statement, a business may also prepare a statement of comprehensive income.
This reports revenues and expenses that haven’t yet been realized, such as unrealized gains or losses
from:
financial investments
foreign currency adjustments
pension liabilities
In general, assets are listed in order of their liquidity, meaning the ease with which they can be converted
into cash. Liabilities, on the other hand, are listed in order of their maturity, or the amount of time
remaining until they must be paid.
The order of presentation may vary depending on the accounting standards used in a particular country. In
India, the general order of presentation for assets and liabilities is:
Non-current assets
Current assets
Equity and liabilities
Within these categories, specific items are presented in the order of liquidity or maturity, as applicable. For
example, non-current assets may be presented in the following order:
Fixed assets
Investments
Other non-current assets
Inventories
Trade receivables
Cash and bank balances
Trade payables
Short-term borrowings
Long-term borrowings
Deferred tax liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Equity is usually presented last, and may be further classified into share capital, reserves, and surplus.
Marshalling of assets and liabilities is important because it helps users of financial statements to quickly and
easily understand a company's financial position and liquidity.
Classification of assets
Fixed Assets
Fixed assets can be divided into the following groups:
Tangible
Intangible
Wasting
Fictitious
Fixed assets are assets acquired for beneficial use and held permanently in the business. The business can
earn profits by using these assets.
Tangible assets (or definite assets) are fixed assets that can be seen and touched, and which have volume.
Examples of tangible assets include land, antiques, plants, buildings, fixtures, vehicles, and equipment and
tools.
Intangible assets are assets that cannot be seen or touched, and which have no volume. Examples include
goodwill, patents, trademarks, copyrights, and leaseholds.
Wasting assets are assets that get exhausted or reduce in value when used. Natural resources, oil, timber,
coal, mineral deposits, and quarries are all examples of wasting assets.
Due to the intangible nature of fictitious assets, they are sometimes also categorized as intangible assets.
Examples of fictitious assets include organizational expenses, discounts on issues of shares, advertising
expenses capitalized, and research and development expenses.
Floating Assets
Investments in short-term marketable securities that can quickly be converted into cash can be
treated as current assets, whereas investments in long-term marketable securities can be treated as
semi-fixed assets.
Therefore, some investments cannot be categorized either as current assets or fixed assets.
Their treatment differs depending on their nature and, hence, they are shown midway between fixed
assets and current assets, and are considered floating assets.
Current Assets
Current assets are expected to be sold or otherwise used up in the near future. These assets are readily
available for discharging an enterprise's liabilities.
Those items of assets which can be converted into cash quickly without significant loss of time and money
are called liquid assets and fall under the category of current assets.
Examples of current assets include cash, bank balance, accounts receivables (sundry debtors and bills
receivables), and stock that can be realized quickly.
Classification of Liabilities
Fixed Liabilities
Fixed liabilities are due to the owners/partners/shareholders of an enterprise, and they are payable only on
dissolution/liquidation of the enterprise.
Long-Term Liabilities
These are in the nature of long-term loans (e.g., 5-10 years) or debentures that are payable on or after the
lapse of the term consented to in the borrowing agreement/document.
Examples of current liabilities include accounts payable (sundry creditors and bills payable), short-term bank
overdrafts, and short-term temporary loans.
Contingent Liabilities
Contingent liabilities arise depending on the happenings of certain events. Such liabilities may or
may not arise. However, it is important to be cautious about them.
Consider the example of a case that is pending in a court of law concerning a disputed payment or
compensation claim.
If the case is decided against the enterprise, then liability arises. Otherwise, there is no obligation to
pay and, as such, no liability.
Bills discounted, as well as guarantees given against loans from another enterprise or person, may
also cause liability if the other person does not honour the commitment.
If the person honours the commitment, then no liability arises. This means that the liability is
'probable'.
Typically, a balance sheet will list assets in two ways: As individual line items and then as total assets.
Splitting assets into different line items will make it easier for analysts to understand exactly what your
assets are and where they came from; tallying them together will be required for final analysis.
Current Assets
Non-current Assets
Current and non-current assets should both be subtotalled, and then totalled together.
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Deferred revenue
Current portion of long-term debt
Other current liabilities
Non-Current Liabilities
As with assets, these should be both subtotalled and then totalled together.
If a company or organization is privately held by a single owner, then shareholders’ equity will generally be
pretty straightforward. If it’s publicly held, this calculation may become more complicated depending on
the various types of stock issued.
Common line items found in this section of the balance sheet include:
Common stock
Preferred stock
Treasury stock
Retained earnings
Finance statement: II
If such transactions have not been documented by the end of an accounting period or the entry
erroneously describes the transaction's effect, the accounting staff corrects entries. Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles or International Financial Reporting Standards are used to alter the company's
financial statements. Adjustments in accounting are primarily utilized in accrual accounting.
When a corporation changes accounting principles, preceding periods may need accounting modifications.
Such a change is carried back to compare financial performance across accounting periods.
Types of adjustments
There are just five distinct sorts of adjusting entries, and the distinctions between them are straightforward,
so don't let the prospect of creating them scare you off. Below, you'll find detailed explanations of each
kind, including some illustrative examples and instructions for filling them out.
Accrued Revenues: Accrued revenue is the amount of money earned in one accounting period that
isn't counted until a subsequent period.
Accrued Expenses: After getting a handle on how accumulated income works, adjusting incurred
expenses should be a breeze. They are the costs you incurred in one time period but paid for in
another.
Deferred Revenues: Deferred income occurs when a customer pays you in advance. It's essential to
report the income in the month you provide the service and incur the prepaid costs, even if you're
being paid now.
Depreciation Debit Depreciation Depreciation is the allocation of the cost of a fixed asset over
Expense, Credit its useful life. Depreciation expense is debited to reflect the
Accumulated decrease in the asset's value, while accumulated depreciation
Depreciation is credited to reflect the total depreciation charged to date.
Prepaid Debit relevant Prepaid expenses are expenses that have been paid in
Expenses expense account, advance but have not yet been incurred. The relevant expense
Credit Prepaid account is debited to reflect the expense that has been
Expense incurred, and the prepaid expense account is credited to
reflect the remaining balance of the prepaid amount.
Unearned Debit Unearned Unearned revenues are revenues that have been received in
Revenues Revenue, Credit advance but have not yet been earned. The unearned revenue
relevant revenue account is debited to reflect the decrease in the liability, and
account the relevant revenue account is credited to reflect the revenue
that has been earned.
Stock Debit Cost of Goods Stock valuation refers to the valuation of inventory at the end
Valuation Sold, Credit Inventory of an accounting period. The cost of goods sold account is
debited to reflect the cost of goods sold during the period,
and the inventory account is credited to reflect the remaining
inventory at the end of the period.
Not-for-profit organizations can take various forms, such as charities, foundations, religious organizations,
educational institutions, social clubs, and advocacy groups. These organizations rely on donations, grants,
and government funding to support their activities and achieve their objectives.
In terms of accounting, not-for-profit organizations must follow certain guidelines and principles. Unlike
for-profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations do not have owners or shareholders who are entitled
to a portion of the profits. Instead, any surplus funds are reinvested back into the organization to support
its mission.
They need to keep proper books firstly because they are accountable to the members and the contributors
and secondly because the law requires them to maintain proper books so that the government can keep
proper control over the grants. Also, proper accounting reduces the risk of fraud and embezzlement. In
addition to the ledgers and cash book, they are also required to maintain a stock register. Also, in a Stock
register, a complete record of all fixed assets and consumables is maintained.
In accounting for non-profit organizations, instead of maintaining a Capital A/c, these organizations
maintain Capital Fund or General Fund A/c. They credit this account with the surplus, life membership fees,
donations, legacies, etc.
The not-for-profit organisations also require to prepare the final accounts or the financial statements at the
end of the accounting year as per the accounting principles. The final accounts of these organisations
consist of:
Receipts and Payments A/c: It is the summary of the cash and bank transactions. It helps in the
preparation of Income and Expenditure A/c and Balance Sheet. We also need to submit it to the
Registrar of Societies along with Income and Expenditure A/c and Balance Sheet.
Income and Expenditure A/c: It is similar to the Profit and Loss A/c and ascertains the surplus or
deficit if any.
Balance Sheet: We prepare it in the same manner as the Balance Sheet of concerns with a profit
motive.
There are several reasons why preparing a receipts and payments account is important for NPOs:
Items of Income
Salary/Wages: This refers to the money earned by an individual for the work they do in an
organization.
Business Profits: If you are a business owner, the profits earned from your business will be your
source of income.
Rental Income: If you own rental property, the rent paid by tenants will be a source of income for
you.
Investment Income: Income earned from investments such as dividends, interests, and capital
gains.
Royalties: Income earned from the use of one's creative work or intellectual property.
Items of Expenditure
Rent/Mortgage Payment: This is the amount of money paid by a person or organization to occupy
a property.
Utility Bills: These are bills for essential services like electricity, water, and gas.
Insurance Premiums: Money paid regularly to an insurance company to provide coverage for an
individual or organization.
Taxes: These are compulsory payments made to the government.
Office/Operating Expenses: This includes expenses incurred in running an organization such as
salaries, rent, utilities, and supplies.
Loan Repayments: Money paid regularly to repay loans and interest.
Depreciation: The decrease in value of an asset over time, which is accounted for as an expense.
Income and Expenditure Account is prepared on an accrual basis. All incomes and expenses relating to the
accounting year, whether they are actually received and paid or not, are taken into consideration.
Expenditure is recorded on the debit side and income is recorded on the credit side. A distinction is made
between capital and revenue items and only revenue items are included in this account.
Income and Expenditure Account is a nominal account. Therefore, the rule of nominal account (debit all
expenses and losses and credit all incomes and gains) is followed while preparing it. While preparing the
account, only items of revenue nature are recorded and all items of capital nature are ignored. For example,
the profit earned or loss suffered on the sale of an asset will be recorded in it but the amount received from
the sale of an asset will not be recorded in it.
The closing balance of this account shows a surplus or deficit for the year. If the credit side exceeds the
debit side, there is surplus. On the other hand, if the debit side exceeds the credit side, there is a deficit. The
surplus is added to the Capital Fund while the deficit is deducted from the Capital Fund.
Include all items of revenue receipts and expenses, on the respective side of the account.
Ensure that no items of capital incomes and expenses are included in this account.
Also, adjustment for amounts prepaid and outstanding, with respect to each item will have to be
made.
Further, items included in receipts and payment account, depreciation, provisions, and profit or loss
on sale of assets will have to be included in this account.
Finally, after putting down all items of revenue and expenses, you’ll get a balance. The resulting
balance will then reveal the surplus or deficit for the period.
It is a summary of cash receipts and payments It is a detailed record of all cash transactions
made during a specific period, usually a year. that take place during a specific period, usually
a month.
It is a non-operational statement that only shows It is a primary book of accounts that forms the
the total receipts and payments for the period. basis of other financial statements.
It records all receipts and payments, whether It records only revenue receipts and payments.
capital or revenue in nature.
It is prepared annually for the purpose of It is prepared monthly for the purpose of
presenting a summary of cash receipts and reconciling cash transactions and preparing
payments made by an organization. other financial statements.
All the receipts are written on the debit side, and all the payments made are written on the credit side of
the account. The opening balances of this account show Cash in Hand and Cash at Bank at the beginning of
the accounting period, and the closing balances of this account show Cash in Hand and Cash at Bank at the
end of the accounting period. Receipt and Payment A/c fairly depicts the cash position of the organisation.
Income and Expenditure A/c is prepared at the end of the accounting period to ascertain the surplus or
deficit. All the incomes which are of revenue nature are credited and all the expenses which are of revenue
nature are debited. Income and Expenditure A/c shows either Surplus (if the total of the credit side is more
than the total of the debit side) or Deficit (if the total of the debit side is more than the total of the credit
side). The surplus or the deficit of Income and Expenditure A/c is added or deducted, respectively from the
capital fund in the Balance Sheet.
Balance Sheet
A Balance Sheet is a statement showing the financial position of the organisation at a particular date. The
Balance Sheet of an NPO is of similar nature as business firms. A Balance Sheet shows Assets, Liabilities, and
Capital Fund. The surplus or deficit ascertained from the Income & Expenditure A/c is transferred to Capital
Fund. If the opening balance of the Capital Fund is not given, it is derived from the excess of Assets at the
beginning over the Liabilities at the beginning. (Capital = Assets – Liabilities)
Assets appearing on the previous year’s Balance Sheet should be adjusted for sale during the
year, if any, or purchase during the year and depreciation.
On purchase of a new asset, the payment made will be shown in Receipt & Payment A/c and then
the scrutinized value of the asset shall be shown in the asset side of the balance sheet.
If any loan is raised, it shall be shown in the receipt side of Receipt & Payment A/c and the
value(less repayment, if any) shall be shown on the liabilities side of the balance sheet.
Special receipts like donations for the building are directly shown on the liabilities side of the
Balance Sheet.
The liabilities of the previous year’s Balance Sheet shall be scrutinized for any payment if made
(Information from Receipt & Payment A/c should be taken) and the net value shown in the
Balance Sheet.
Adjustments made on the accrual basis of accounting shall also be shown in Balance Sheet, i.e.,
outstanding expenses and advance income are shown on the liability side, and prepaid expenses
and accrued income will be shown on the Asset Side of the Balance Sheet.
The net amount of the advances shall be shown in the Balance Sheet, i.e., payment of advances
shall be shown on the Payment Side, and recovery of advances shall be shown on the Receipt
Side of Receipt & Payment A/c and the difference between them is shown in the Balance Sheet.
Organizations share these statements to be entirely transparent with their donors. By sharing what funds
they collect and how they’re spent, donors can see how their gifts support the non-profit’s programs and
beneficiaries.
Financial statements also give donors a better understanding of how the organization is doing.
Foundations require non-profits to provide financial statements when they apply for grants. Major donors
also may want to see financial statements before giving a significant gift. When a non-profit shares more
about its financial health, foundations and sponsors see that the non-profit is financially viable and feel
safer giving.
Financial statements also help non-profits determine the future of their organization. Board members can
better understand the non-profit’s capacity for growth. It also allows leadership to find potential financial
opportunities and ways to address financial concerns.
Apart from these, there are numerous other items like rent of hall, sale of grass, income from entertainment,
etc.
There are numerous other items depending upon the nature of organisation. For example, upkeep of
ground if it is a sports club, medicines, laundry if it is a hospital and so on.
Steps for Expenditure side: The payment column of Receipts and Payments Account contains both
revenue items as well as capital items. Revenue items such as rent paid salary, telephone charges etc. will be
entered on the expenditure side of Income and Expenditure Account. If necessary, adjustments will be made
in these items for expenses that are outstanding at the end of the current year and/or were outstanding at
the end of the previous year. Adjustment will also be made for prepaid expenses at the end of previous year
as well as those at the end of current year.
Steps for Income side: The receipt column contains items of revenue receipts as well as capital receipts.
Revenue receipts are entered in the income column of the Income and Expenditure Account. Example of
such items are subscription, interest on investment, entrance fees etc. These items need to be adjusted for
the amount received for the previous year or for the next year. Similarly, adjustment should be made for
outstanding income both at the current year and at the end of the previous year. There may be other
adjustments such as bad debts, depreciation, etc. will also be entered in the expenditure column.
Surplus or Deficit: Finally, this account is balanced i.e. difference of the totals of two amount columns is
worked out. If credit side is more than the debit side the difference amount is written on its debit side as
surplus and if debit side exceeds the credit side, the difference is deficit and is written on the credit side of
the account.
However these need to be incorporated in Income and Expenditure A/c. Following are some of the most
common adjustments to be carried out:
Subscription Received
It is an item of income and is of recurring nature. It appears on the Receipts side of the Receipts and
Payments account. It may include arrears of previous years which is received in the current year and may
also include amount received for next year in advance. There may be an amount outstanding for the current
year. Some members might have paid current year’s subscription during the previous year.
Subscription due in the previous year but received during the current year
Journal entry
Subscription A/c Dr
To Subscription Outstanding A/c
(Adjustment of subscription due in last year but received in the current year)
Rent Paid
Rent paid is an item of expenditure. It may also require some adjustments in rent.
The adjustments required to made to be the amount of rent paid during the year may be as follows :
(ii) Rent paid in the current year as advance for the next year
(iii) Rent paid in the current year on account of the outstanding amount in the previous year
Calculation of Rent Amount to be shown for current year in the Income and Expenditure Account
Difference between Receipts and Payments A/c and Income and Expenditure A/c
Receipts and Payments account (R&P A/c) and Income and Expenditure account (I&E A/c) are two
important financial statements used to record and track the financial transactions of an organization.
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT (R&P INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT (I&E A/c)
A/c)
It is a summary statement of cash and bank It is a summary statement of revenue and expense
transactions during a specific period, usually a transactions during a specific period, usually a year.
year.
It records all cash and bank transactions, It records only revenue and expense transactions.
whether they are capital or revenue in nature.
It shows the opening and closing balances of It shows the net profit or loss for the period.
cash and bank balances.
It is used by organizations that follow the cash It is used by organizations that follow the accrual
basis of accounting. basis of accounting.
The objective of preparing a balance sheet by a Non for Profit Organisation is to show the financial stability,
strength and soundness on the last date of the accounting year
Income and Expenditure A/c and the Balance Sheet of NPOs is prepared from the Receipts and Payments
Account and the additional information. While preparing Balance Sheet of a Not for Profit organisations
(NPOs) certain points are to be kept in mind which are as follows:
Assets appearing in the preceding year’s balance sheet need to be adjusted for any sale or purchase
of the asset made during the year and the depreciation provided on the particular asset. Only the
adjusted amount will appear in the Balance Sheet of the current year.
If any new asset has been purchased during the year it will appear on the payment side of Receipts
& Payments A/c, therefrom it is taken to the Balance Sheet.
If any loan has been raised it will appear on the receipt side of Receipts and Payments A/c and
repayment on its payment side. Net amount will be shown on the liability side of the balance sheet.
In the same manner if any advance has been made to a person and some repayment has been made
by a person, it will be shown on the Asset side of the Balance sheet at the net amount.
Any adjustments made regarding expenses and/or regarding incomes such as outstanding or
prepaid will be shown in the Balance Sheet.
Any item of liability appearing in the previous year’s Balance Sheet will be shown at its net value i.e.
after deducting from it the amount paid against them.
Special receipts like donations for Building etc. will not be treated as income. It will be shown as a
fund meant for a special purpose on the liability side of the Balance Sheet.
Capital General fund taken from the last balance sheet will be shown after adjusting for the current
years ‘surplus’ or ‘deficit’.
Questions
1. Which financial statement shows the revenue and expenses of a non-profit organization for a
specific period?
a) Balance Sheet
b) Cash Flow Statement
c) Income and Expenditure Statement
d) Statement of Changes in Net Assets
2. Which financial statement shows the assets, liabilities, and equity of a non-profit organization at a
specific point in time?
a) Balance Sheet
b) Cash Flow Statement
c) Income and Expenditure Statement
d) Statement of Changes in Net Assets
3. Which financial statement shows the changes in the net assets of a non-profit organization for a
specific period?
a) Balance Sheet
b) Cash Flow Statement
c) Income and Expenditure Statement
d) Statement of Changes in Net Assets
4. Which financial statement shows the inflows and outflows of cash of a non-profit organization for
a specific period?
a) Balance Sheet
b) Cash Flow Statement
c) Income and Expenditure Statement
d) Statement of Changes in Net Assets
a) Balance Sheet
b) Cash Flow Statement
c) Income and Expenditure Statement
d) Statement of Changes in Net Assets
a) Balance Sheet
b) Cash Flow Statement
c) Income and Expenditure Statement
d) Statement of Changes in Net Assets
7. Which financial statement shows the changes in the equity of a non-profit organization for a
specific period?
a) Balance Sheet
b) Cash Flow Statement
c) Income and Expenditure Statement
d) Statement of Changes in Net Assets
8. Which financial statement is used to reconcile the beginning and ending balances of cash of a
non-profit organization?
a) Balance Sheet
b) Cash Flow Statement
c) Income and Expenditure Statement
d) Statement of Changes in Net Assets
9. Which financial statement provides information about the non-financial assets of a non-profit
organization, such as property and equipment?
a) Balance Sheet
b) Cash Flow Statement
c) Income and Expenditure Statement
d) Statement of Financial Position
10. Which financial statement shows the sources and uses of funds of a non-profit organization for a
specific period?
a) Balance Sheet
b) Cash Flow Statement
c) Income and Expenditure Statement
d) Statement of Functional Expenses
Answer Keys
1. Answer: c. Income and Expenditure Statement
Chapter 4
Accounting for share capital
Meaning, characteristics and nature of a company
Meaning of a Company
A company is a legal entity formed by a group of individuals, known as shareholders, to conduct business
activities with a common goal of making a profit. It has a separate legal identity from its owners and is
recognized as a distinct entity under the law.
Characteristics of a Company
Separate Legal Entity: A company has a separate legal identity from its shareholders. It can own
property, enter into contracts, sue and be sued in its own name.
Limited Liability: Shareholders of a company have limited liability, which means they are only liable
for the amount of money they have invested in the company. Their personal assets are not at risk in
case the company faces financial problems.
Perpetual Succession: A company has a perpetual succession, meaning it can continue to exist even
if its shareholders change or die.
Transferability of Shares: The shares of a company are freely transferable, allowing shareholders to
buy or sell their shares without affecting the existence of the company.
Common Seal: A company has a common seal that is used to authenticate important documents
such as contracts and share certificates.
Separate Management: A company is managed by a board of directors who are elected by the
shareholders. They are responsible for making important business decisions on behalf of the
company.
Nature of a Company
Artificial Person: A company is an artificial person created by law. It has its own legal personality,
separate from its shareholders.
Voluntary Association: A company is a voluntary association of individuals who come together for
a common purpose of conducting business activities.
Limited Liability: The liability of the shareholders of a company is limited to the amount of money
they have invested in the company. Their personal assets are not at risk in case the company faces
financial problems.
Profit-Making: The main objective of a company is to make a profit for its shareholders. This means
that all business activities are conducted with the aim of generating revenue and maximizing profits.
Perpetual Succession: A company has a perpetual succession, meaning it can continue to exist even
if its shareholders change or die.
Separation of Ownership and Management: The owners of a company are different from its managers.
Shareholders elect a board of directors who are responsible for making important business decisions on
behalf of the company.
Cumulative Preference Shares: Cumulative preference shares are those in which the unpaid
dividends accumulate and are paid out in future years, even if the company does not make a profit
in those years.
Non-Cumulative Preference Shares: Non-cumulative preference shares are those in which the
unpaid dividends do not accumulate and are not paid out in future years if the company does not
make a profit.
Redeemable Preference Shares: Redeemable preference shares are those that can be redeemed by
the company after a specific period or on a specific date.
Convertible Preference Shares: Convertible preference shares are those that can be converted into
equity shares after a specific period or on a specific date.
Authorized share capital: The maximum number of shares that a company is authorized to issue as
per its memorandum of association.
Issued share capital: The actual number of shares that the company has issued to its shareholders.
Subscribed share capital: The portion of the issued share capital that has been subscribed by the
shareholders.
Paid-up share capital: The portion of the subscribed share capital that has been paid by the
shareholders to the company.
Share premium: The amount that the company receives above the face value of the shares issued.
Details of different classes of shares: Information about the different types of shares issued by the
company, including their rights, privileges, and restrictions.
Details of share buybacks: Information about any buybacks of shares made by the company.
Details of any outstanding convertible securities: Information about any convertible securities
issued by the company, such as convertible preference shares or convertible debentures.
Changes in share capital: Any changes in the share capital structure of the company, such as
issuing new shares, buying back shares, or converting convertible securities.
Disclosure of share capital is a legal requirement for companies and is typically included in their annual
reports, financial statements, and other regulatory filings. This information is critical for investors to make
informed decisions about investing in the company and understanding the risks and rewards associated
with its share capital structure.
Receipt of Share Money in One Instalment: The Company may receive the share money in one instalment
along with application. In this case the following journal entries are made in the books of the company 1.
Share Money Received in Two or More Instalments: Instead of receiving payment in one instalment i.e.
at the time of application the company collects it in two or more instalments. The first, instalment which the
applicants have to pay along with the applications for shares is known as application money. On the
allotment of shares the allotted are required to pay the second instalment which is termed as allotment
money. If the company decides to call the share money in more than two instalments the other instalment
is/are termed as call money (i.e. first-call, second call or final call).
In the above case the transactions are recorded in journal as given below:
On Allotment of Shares
After receiving the application for shares within the prescribed time, the Board of Directors of the company
proceed to allot shares. On allotment of shares the application money is transferred to Share Capital A/c.
For this the following journal entry is made
Allotment Money Becoming Due and Received On the allotment of shares the amount receivable on the
next instalment i.e. on allotment becomes due.
Over-subscription
Oversubscription occurs when the demand for shares in a company's share issue exceeds the
number of shares available for sale. This can happen when the share issue is priced too low or when
the company is experiencing high demand from investors due to its strong financial performance or
growth prospects.
When oversubscription occurs, the company must allocate the available shares among the
interested investors. This can be done through a process known as pro-rata allocation, where each
investor is allocated a proportionate number of shares based on the number of shares they have
applied for and the total number of shares available.
For example, if a company is issuing 1,000 shares and receives applications for 2,000 shares, it can
allocate 500 shares to each of the four investors who applied for 500 shares, or allocate shares
based on the percentage of shares applied for by each investor.
If the oversubscription is significant, the company may choose to issue additional shares to meet the
demand. This can increase the share capital of the company and provide additional funds for its
operations or expansion.
Oversubscription can be beneficial for a company as it indicates strong demand from investors and
can increase the company's market value and investor confidence. However, it can also result in the
dilution of the ownership and control of the existing shareholders, as new shareholders are added to
the company. Therefore, companies must carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of an
oversubscribed share issue before making a decision.
Alternatives Description
Pro-rata The available shares are allocated proportionally among the interested investors based
allocation on the number of shares they have applied for and the total number of shares available.
Allotment based This method gives priority to certain investors based on their seniority or loyalty to the
on seniority company, such as existing shareholders or employees. The investors who have held
shares for a longer period or have a higher level of ownership are given priority in the
allocation of shares.
Additional issue If the oversubscription is significant, the company may choose to issue additional
of shares shares to meet the demand. This can increase the share capital of the company and
provide additional funds for its operations or expansion.
Refund of excess If none of the above alternatives are feasible, the company may choose to refund the
subscription excess subscription amount to the investors who were not allocated shares. This can be
done through a direct refund or by issuing a credit note that can be used to subscribe
to future share issues.
Shares are said to be issued at par when the issue price is equal to the face value or nominal value of the
shares i.e. issue price is Rs.10 and face value is also Rs.10. When the shares are issued, the company may ask
the payment of the shares either in one lump sum or in instalments.
When shares are issued at par and are payable in full in a lump sum
Note:
When the capital of the company consists of shares of different classes, a separate share application
account will be opened for each class of shares, i.e. equity share application account/preference
share application account etc.
Unless shares are allotted by the company, the receipt of application is simply an offer and cannot
be credited to Share Capital Account.
If the company fails to raise the minimum subscription, then no shares can be allotted and the
application money has to be returned to the applicants. For this, the entry will be as follows:
In actual practice, the cash transactions are not journalised but the same have to be entered in the
cash book. The entry in the Cash Book will be as follows:
When shares are issued at par and the amount is payable in instalments
When shares are not payable in a lump sum, the amount can be called in a number of instalments. After
allotment, whenever the need arises, the directors may demand further money from the shareholders
towards payment of the value of shares taken up by them. Such demands are termed as calls. The different
calls are distinguished from each other by their serial numbers, i.e. first call, second call, third call and so on.
The last instalment is also termed the final call along with the number of the last call.
In accordance with the provisions of Companies (Amendment) Act, 1999, instead of using ‘Share Premium’,
the term ‘Securities Premium’ has been used.
Utilisation of Securities Premium Account under Section 52 of the Indian Companies Act, 2013:
Even though there is no legal restriction on the issue of shares at premium; however, Section 52 of the
Indian Companies Act, 2013 has laid down some specific purposes for which the amount of securities
premium can be used. These are as follows
Notes to Accounts
The company may charge the premium either on application or on allotment or call. Therefore, it is essential
to record premium at the time it is payable. The entries for the same will be as follows:
B. For transferring Application Money to Share Capital A/c and Securities Premium A/c:
When the Premium amount is received or receivable along with Allotment Money
Introduction
In general, share means a portion of a larger thing. Similarly, in real market share is a small proportion of
the total amount of capital of the enterprise. Shares form the major source of any company’s finance in this
present world.
Shares tempt the investors also because it can give huge profits to them unlike the fixed rate of return on
debentures. There are various ways or prices at which a company issues its shares like at par, at a premium
and at discount.
Meaning
The issue of shares at a discount means the issue of the shares at a price less than the face value of the
share. For example, if a company issues share of Rs.100 at Rs.90, then Rs.10 (i.e. Rs 100—90) is the amount
of discount.
It is nothing but a loss to the company. One must remember that the issue of share below the Market Price
(MP) but above the Face Value (FV) is not termed as ‘Issue of Share at Discount’.
The issue of Share at Discount is always below the Nominal Value (NV) of the shares. The company debits it
to a separate account called ‘Discount on Issue of Share’ Account.
Generally, the companies issue the shares at discount at the time of allotment of shares. So, all the entries
other than allotment will remain the same at that time. The accounting treatment for the shares issued at
discount is given below:
(Being the amount of allotment received after deducting the discount amount)
In this type of transaction, the vendor receives shares of the company instead of cash payment. This can be
beneficial for both parties. For the company, it allows them to acquire the assets or services they need
without having to spend cash up front, which can be especially useful for start-ups or companies with
limited cash reserves. For the vendor, they receive equity in the company, which has the potential to
increase in value over time.
One of the challenges of non-cash consideration transactions is determining the value of the asset or
service being exchanged for the shares. This can be a complex process that requires careful analysis and
consideration. Valuation methods can include using fair market value, appraisals, or the value of similar
transactions in the market. It is important to consult with financial experts to ensure that the valuation is
accurate and fair for both parties.
Another important consideration is tax implications. Non-cash consideration transactions may be subject to
taxes, depending on the jurisdiction in which the company operates. Tax rules vary by location, so it is
important to consult with legal and financial experts to ensure that all relevant regulations are being
followed and the transaction is structured in a way that is beneficial for both parties.
When any asset is acquired by a company, the payment of purchase price may be made by the issue of
shares or in cash to the vendor. When shares are issued against the purchase price, it is called ‘Issue of
shares for consideration other than cash’. In other words cash is not received by the company against such
shares. In this case shares are not issued to the public in general.
At par or
At a discount or
At a premium.
Forfeiture of Shares
Forfeiture of shares is a process of cancellation of shares by the company. In fact, sometimes, the
shareholders have to pay instalments for owning the shares. If the shareholder fails to pay these
instalments, his shares may be forfeited. However, the reasons and process of forfeiture of shares must be
included in the article of association.
Shares are forfeited if a shareholder fails to meet the holding, buying, or selling criteria. There may be
numerous requirements like transfer of Shares over a restricted period, payment of call money, or even
avoiding selling. In the case of Forfeiture of Shares, neither the shareholder has any balance left on it, nor is
any profit from the share offered to him. Moreover, the forfeited share becomes an asset of the enterprise
that issued it.
Forfeiture of shares may take place for numerous reasons, such as delay in instalments, non-payment of
dues, etc. However, for a company to forfeit shares, it must allow such action under its Article of
Association.
The shareholder’s personal shares and thereby, the ownership is cancelled and forfeited.
Amounts called up for the relevant shares are then debited from the associated and relevant share capital
account.
The called-up amounts on the shares as of the current date of Forfeiture are debited from the share capital
account of the firm. The arrears out of allotments and call accounts of these Shares are managed. The
called-up amount is credited to its relevant account.
The accounting entries for the Forfeiture of Shares issued at par are as follows.
On receipt of the security premium amount: The called-up amount along with its share capital amount is
debited from its relevant account. It is also directly credited to every relevant account. This includes Shares
allotment which includes an amount not received during its process, First call and Final call accounts and
Forfeited Shares which have a received amount with a lower premium.
On non-receipt of security premium amount: The security premium amount is not received in this case.
This, therefore, involves an additional step of crediting the amount. The called-up and share capital amount
are debited to the First call and Final call accounts, share allotment including its related charges, and finally
Forfeited Shares with a received amount. Moreover, the security premium is debited from the share capital
account.
Re-issue of shares
The company forfeits shares because a part of the due amount of such shares is received, and the balance
remains unpaid. On forfeiture, the allotment of the member holding shares is cancelled. Therefore, the
company can reissue the forfeited shares at any price, but it should not be less than the amount in arrears
of such shares.
For example - A paid Rs.5 as application money for a share having a nominal value of Rs.100. On his failure
to pay further allotments, the company forfeited his shares. So, the amount the company has in arrears is
Rs.6. The company can reissue the shares at a price more than Rs.6.
On Reissue of Shares
At Par Bank Account Dr.
At a Premium
At Discount
Call A/C
Bank A/C Dr
1600
Share Forfeiture A/C Dr
400
To Equity Share Capital A/C 2000
The company can treat the credit balance in the Share Forfeiture Account until it reissues such shares. That’s
the reason why companies reissue forfeited shares at a discount to adjust the Share Forfeiture Account.
Sec. 81(1) of the Companies Act, 1956, states that right shares are those shares which are issued after the
original issue of shares but having an inherent right of the existing shareholders to subscribe to these
shares in proportion to their holding. Such shares must be offered to the existing equity shareholders on
pro rata basis.
The offer of this type of shares shall be made in the form of a notice giving the particulars of shares offered
and within a time not less than 15 days from the date of the offer for acceptance of such offer. These shares
Usually, these shares are issued among the existing shareholders at a concessional rate.
Sec. 81(1) further states the provision regarding issue of Right Shares as:
Such new shares shall be offered to the persons who, at the date of the offer, are holders of the
equity shares of the company in proportion, as nearly as circumstances admit, to the Capital paid-up
on those shares at that date.
The offeree aforesaid shall be intimated by notice specifying the number of shares offered and
limiting a time not being less than 15 days from the date of offer within which the offer, if not
accepted, will be deemed to have been declined.
The offers of the shares may renounce the offers in favour of any of the persons unless the Articles
of the company provide otherwise.
After the expiry of the time specified in the notice aforesaid or on receipt of earlier intimations from
the person to whom such notice is given that he declines to accept the shares offered, the Board of
Directors may dispose of them in such manner as they think most beneficial to the company. Shares
issued under this section are called “Right” shares. But before issuing such shares the public
company must follow the SEBI Guidelines in the regard.
Under the circumstances, the company must follow either of the following procedures:
(a) A proposal contained in the resolution is passed by a vote of majority members, and
(b) It is approved by the Board of Directors on that behalf. The Central Government has to be satisfied
before approving the proposal that it is the most beneficial to the company.
Sec. 81(3) provides that the rules contained in Sec. 81(1) shall not apply
(ii) Where the subscribed Capital of a Public Company is increased due to the debenture-holders or
creditors who gave an option to convert the debenture or loans into share of the company. It must be
remembered that a right is an option and not an obligation to the existing shareholders to purchase shares
at the specified price.
(iv) To sell existing shares and, at the same time, to purchase new shares.
Bonus Shares
Bonus issue means an issue of additional shares at no cost to existing shareholders in the proportion to
their existing holding in the company. It is also known as “Capitalisation of profits”. As the company may
capitalize its reserves by issuing bonus shares to existing members. Bonus issue rules are given under
section 63 of the companies act, 2013.
Section 63(1) states that a company may issue fully paid-up bonus shares to its members, in any manner
whatsoever, out of-
Provided that no issue of bonus shares shall be made by capitalizing reserves created by the revaluation of
assets.
A company may issue fully paid-up bonus shares to its members, in any manner whatsoever, out of—
The Company cannot issue bonus shares by capitalising reserves created by the revaluation of assets.
The Bonus issue shall be authorized by Articles of Association. In case the Articles of Association does not
authorize the Issue of bonus shares, the same is required to be amended by following the provisions of
Section 14 of the Act.
The issue of bonus shares shall be previously authorized in the General meeting of the Company, by way of
passing ordinary resolution, in case Articles of Association provides for Special resolution, then by way of
passing special resolution.
The above said resolution shall be passed on the recommendation of the Board of Directors.
The Company cannot issue bonus shares to the Shareholders holding partly paid-up shares, however the
partly paid shares as outstanding on the date of allotment, are made fully paid-up, before issuing bonus
shares.
The company can capitalise its profits or reserves for the purpose of issuing fully paid-up bonus shares, only
if
it has not defaulted in payment of interest or principal in respect of fixed deposits or debt securities
issued by it;
it has not defaulted in respect of the payment of statutory dues of the employees, such as,
contribution to provident fund, gratuity and bonus.
Rule 14 of Companies (Share Capital & Debentures) Rules, 2014, provides that the Company which has once
announced the decision of its Board recommending a bonus issue, shall not subsequently withdraw the
same.
The quantum of bonus shares or the ratio of bonus share shall depend on the Reserves and Surplus of the
Company and also the intent of the management regarding quantum of reserves and surplus to be
capitalized.
Therefore, before initiating the process of the issue of shares, the Company should first increase the
authorized share capital, and then subsequently, the Company can initiate the process of issue of shares.
However, in the case of passing Shareholders resolution for increase in Authorised Share Capital and
resolution for issue of bonus shares, can be passed simultaneously in the same general meeting.
The entitlement of bonus shares shall be to those persons who are the members on the cut-off date as
decided by the Board of Director. A person who has transferred his shares before the cut-off date shall not
be entitled for the bonus share
1. Before proceeding for the decision for issue of bonus shares, the management should ensure that all
the conditions or prohibitions as specified under Section 63 of the Companies Act, 2013 and Rule 14
of Companies (Share Capital & Debentures) Rules, 2014, are duly taken care of.
2. Convene a Board Meeting, after giving seven days’ notice as per section 173(3) to all the directors of
the company, to approve the following:
the full name, address, Permanent Account Number and E-mail ID of such shareholders;
the class of shares held;
the date of allotment of shares;
Certified copy of the Board Resolution* passed for allotment of Bonus shares.
8. In case of allotment of shares, issue fresh shares certificates in Form SH-1 or to any other specified
format to all such persons to whom shares have been allotted within 60 days from the date of
allotment
9. Update the Register of Members on issue of share certificates to the shareholders.
Buy-back of shares
Share or stock buyback is the practice where companies decide to purchase their own share from their
existing shareholders either through a tender offer or through an open market. In such a situation, the price
of concerning shares is higher than the prevailing market price.
When companies decide to opt for the open market mechanism to repurchase shares, they can do so
through the secondary market. On the other hand, those who choose the tender offer can avail the same by
submitting or tendering a portion of their shares within a given period. Alternatively, it can be looked at as a
means to reward existing shareholders other than offering timely dividends.
However, company owners may have several reasons for repurchasing their stocks. Individuals should make
a point to find out the underlying causes to make the most of such decisions and also to benefit from them
accordingly.
Sources of Buyback
Pursuant to section 68 (1) of Companies Act, 2013, a company whether public or private, may purchase its
own shares or other specified securities out of following sources:
However, buy-back of any kind of shares or other specified securities shall not be made out of the proceeds
of an earlier issue of the same kind of shares or other specified securities.
Specified Securities includes employees’ stock option or other securities as may be notified by the Central
Government from time to time.
Chapter 5
Ratio analysis
Introduction
Ratio analysis is a process to scrutinise and compare financial data of a company using its financial
statements. This method actively uses the data from financial statements to calculate the financial health
and performance of a company. Therefore, this process eliminates the need of analysing and comparing
line items from each financial statement.
This prevailing method primarily helps the management of a company as well as its investors to gather
information on its growth percentage. Besides, this method also clarifies the operational drawbacks of an
organisation. As a result, the management can take suggestions from the ratio analysis to take the right
course of financial action. Thereby, a company benefits largely from this widely prominent method.
For example, let’s consider that a company XYZ has had an annual income of Rs. 1,00,000. On the other
hand, the cost of XYZ is around Rs.60,000. Therefore, the margin of profit for XYZ is Rs.40,000. As a result,
the ratio analysis suggests that the gross profit is 40% of the revenue of XYZ.
Consequently, the margin of profit of XYZ is denoted by a percentage instead of line comparison of
financial statements. However, there are several types of ratio analysis that companies use to gather data on
their financial operations. Having knowledge about these types will certainly help a student understand the
advantages and limitations of ratio analysis.
Types of Ratios
Activity Ratio Analysis – Activity ratio analysis implies the assessment of a company’s efficiency
and scale of operations. This method helps accountants understand the pace at which companies
convert their inventories into sales. Besides, this method also helps them to understand how the
cash from sales helps them to manage their fixed capital and working capital. Activity ratio analysis
also includes inventory turnover ratio, working capital turnover ratio, and payables turnover ratio
among others.
Profitability Ratio Analysis – This category of ratio analysis helps a business measure its profits. As
a result, accountants can use the profitability ratio analysis to determine the company’s ability to
bag profits. Besides, this works as a marker for the industry to understand which companies have
exhibited the most profits. Therefore, it duly conveys the financial health of an organisation. This
Activity Ratios
These ratios can be known as activity ratios, efficiency ratios, cash ratios or working capital ratios and can
also be included under the liquidity heading.
Activity ratios measure an organisation’s ability to convert statement of financial position items into cash or
sales. They measure the efficiency of the business in managing its assets.
Profitability Ratios
Profitability ratios are a set of measurements used to determine the ability of a business to create earnings.
These ratios are considered to be favourable when they improve over a trend line or are comparatively
better than the results of competitors. Profitability ratios are derived from a comparison of revenues to
difference groupings of expenses within the income statement. A different class of profitability ratios
compare the results listed on the income statement to the information on the balance sheet. The intent of
these latter measurements is to examine the efficiency with which management can produce profits, in
comparison to the amount of equity or assets at their disposal. If the outcome of these measurements is
high, it implies that resource usage has been minimized.
Return on Assets
The return on assets divides net profits by the total amount of assets on the balance sheet. The
measurement can be improved by using a tight credit policy to reduce the amount of accounts receivable, a
just-in-time production system to reduce inventory, and by selling off fixed assets that are rarely used.
These asset reduction policies can have a negative effect on profits, however, if they adversely impact
operations. The result varies by industry, since some industries require far more assets than others.
Return on Equity
The return on equity divides net profits by the total amount of equity on the balance sheet. The
measurement can be improved by funding a larger share of operations with debt, and by using debt to buy
back shares, thereby minimizing the use of equity. Doing so can be risky, if a business does not experience
sufficiently consistent cash flows to pay off the debt.
Current Ratio
The current ratio, also known as the working capital ratio, measures the capability of a business to meet its
short-term obligations that are due within a year. The ratio considers the weight of total current assets
versus total current liabilities. It indicates the financial health of a company and how it can maximize the
liquidity of its current assets to settle debt and payables. The current ratio formula (below) can be used to
easily measure a company’s liquidity.
Current Assets
These are essentially investments that can be readily converted into cash and cash equivalents within a year.
It includes -
Cash
Cash equivalents
Accounts receivable
Marketable securities
Short-term deposits
Current Liabilities
They make up the financial obligations of a company that are typically paid off within a year. It includes -
Income taxes
Accounts payable
Dividends declared
Outstanding wages
Current liabilities incorporate the existing amount of long-term debt, short-term debts, taxes payable,
wages, and accounts payable. Thus, the formula for the current ratio is:
Cash Ratio
The cash ratio, sometimes referred to as the cash asset ratio, is a liquidity metric that indicates a company’s
capacity to pay off short-term debt obligations with its cash and cash equivalents. Compared to other
liquidity ratios such as the current ratio and quick ratio, the cash ratio is a stricter, more conservative
measure because only cash and cash equivalents – a company’s most liquid assets – are used in the
calculation.
Formula
The formula for calculating the cash ratio is as follows:
Sources of capital include long-term assets such as a company’s patents or PP&E investments, which have
relatively poor liquidity. This means they might take considerably more time to sell off at their fair market
value.
Formula
Defensive Interval Rato = Liquid Assets Projected daily cash requirement
Projected Daily cash requirement = Projected daily operatng expenditure No. of days in a year
Equity Ratio
The equity ratio is a financial metric that measures the amount of leverage used by a company. It uses
investments in assets and the amount of equity to determine how well a company manages its debts and
funds its asset requirements.
A low equity ratio means that the company primarily used debt to acquire assets, which is widely viewed as
an indication of greater financial risk. Equity ratios with higher value generally indicate that a company’s
effectively funded its asset requirements with a minimal amount of debt.
Capital Gearing Ratio = Long term Debt + Preference Sh. Equity + Reserve and surplus
Proprietary Ratio
The proprietary ratio is the proportion of shareholders' equity to total assets, and as such provides a rough
estimate of the amount of capitalization currently used to support a business. If the ratio is high, this
indicates that a company has a sufficient amount of equity to support the functions of the business, and
probably has room in its financial structure to take on additional debt, if necessary. Conversely, a low ratio
Debt Ratio
The term debt ratio refers to a financial ratio that measures the extent of a company’s leverage.
Total debt or total outside liabilities includes short and long term borrowings from financial
institutions, debentures/bonds, deferred payment arrangements for buying capital equipment, bank
borrowings, public deposits and any other interest bearing loan.
A ratio greater than 1 would mean greater portion of company assets are funded by debt and could
be a risky scenario.
It provides the value in terms of the number of times the total debt service obligations consisting of interest
and repayment of principal in instalments are covered by the total operating funds available after the
payment of taxes:
Earnings after taxes, EAT + Interest + Depreciation + Other non-cash expenditures like amortization
Debt Service Coverage Ratio = Earnings available for Debt services Interest + Instalment
The interest coverage ratio is sometimes called the times interest earned (TIE) ratio. Lenders, investors, and
creditors often use this formula to determine a company's riskiness relative to its current debt or for future
borrowing.
A healthy company will have a high preferred dividend coverage ratio, indicating that it will have little
difficulty in paying the preferred dividends it owes.
As with other non-IFRS/GAAP measures, lenders and borrowers negotiate and specify the lending ratio
calculation within a credit agreement.
Inventory Turnover Ratio = (Sales or COGS) Average Inventory Average Inventory = (Opening Stock
+ Closing Stock) 2
A high Average Collection Period indicates that a company is taking a longer time to collect its accounts
receivable, which could lead to cash flow problems. On the other hand, a low Average Collection Period
suggests that a company is collecting its accounts receivable quickly and efficiently. It is important to note
that the Average Collection Period can vary significantly between industries, so it is best to compare a
company's ratio to others in the same industry.
Average Collection Period = (Accounts Receivable / Net Credit Sales) x Number of Days in the Period
Creditors Turnover Ratio = Net Credit Annual Purchases Average Trade Creditors
A high Creditors Turnover Ratio indicates that a company is paying its accounts payable quickly and
efficiently, while a low ratio may suggest that the company is taking a longer time to pay its outstanding
debts. It is important to note that the Creditors Turnover Ratio can vary significantly between industries, so
it is best to compare a company's ratio to others in the same industry.
Average payment period = Average Accounts Payable Average Daily Credit Purchases
OR
It indicates the no. of times the working capital is turned over in a year.
Expense Ratio
It is computed by dividing expenses by sales. The term ‘expenses’ includes (i) cost of goods sold, (ii)
administrative expenses, (iii) selling and distribution expenses, (iv) financial expenses but excludes taxes,
dividends and extraordinary losses due to theft of goods, good destroyed by fire and so on.
Operating Expenses Ratio = Administrative exp.+ Selling & Distribution OH Sales × 100
Return on Investment
Return on Investment estimates the loss and gain generated on the amount of money invested.
ROI (Return on Investment) is generally expressed in the percentage to analyse an Organisation’s
profit or the earnings of different investments.
In simple words, Return on Investments estimates what you receive back as compared to what you
invest.
Return on Investment can be used in different ways to calculate the profitability of the business. It
can be used by a company to estimate inventory investments, pricing Policy, capital equipment
investments, etc.,
Return on Assets
The profitability ratio is measured in terms of relationship between net profits and assets employed to earn
that profit. This ratio measures the profitability of the firm in terms of assets employed in the firm.
ROA = Net Profit after taxes Average Total Assets or Average Tangible Assets or Average Fixed
Assets
ROCE (Pre-tax) = Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) Capital Employed × 100
ROCE (Post-tax) = EBIT(1-t) Capital Employed × 100
Return on Equity is a two-part ratio in its derivation because it brings together the income statement and
the balance sheet, where net income or profit is compared to the shareholders’ equity. The number
represents the total return on equity capital and shows the firm’s ability to turn equity investments into
profits. To put it another way, it measures the profits made for each dollar from shareholders’ equity.
Equity Multiplier
It is possible for a company with terrible sales and margins to take on excessive debt and artificially
increase its return on equity.
The equity multiplier, a measure of financial leverage, allows the investor to see what portion of the
return on equity is the result of debt.
A single EPS value for one company is somewhat arbitrary. The number is more valuable when analyzed
against other companies in the industry, and when compared to the company’s share price (the P/E Ratio).
Between two companies in the same industry with the same number of shares outstanding, higher EPS
indicates better profitability. EPS is typically used in conjunction with a company’s share price to determine
whether it is relatively “cheap” (low P/E ratio) or “expensive” (high P/E ratio).
DPS = Total dividend paid to Equity Shareholder Total no. of outstanding shares
Chapter 6
Cash flow statement
Introduction
The statement of cash flows (also referred to as the cash flow statement) is one of the three key financial
statements. The cash flow statement reports the cash generated and spent during a specific period of time
(e.g., a month, quarter, or year). The statement of cash flows acts as a bridge between the income statement
and balance sheet by showing how cash moved in and out of the business.
Gives details about spending: A cash flow statement gives a clear understanding of the principal
payments that the company makes to its creditors. It also shows transactions which are recorded in cash
and not reflected in the other financial statements. These include purchases of items for inventory,
extending credit to customers, and buying capital equipment.
Helps maintain optimum cash balance: A cash flow statement helps in maintaining the optimum level of
cash on hand. It is important for the company to determine if too much of its cash is lying idle, or if there’s
a shortage or excess of funds. If there is excess cash lying idle, then the business can use it to invest in
shares or buy inventory. If there is a shortage of funds, the company can look for sources from where they
can borrow funds to keep the business going.
Helps you focus on generating cash: Profit plays a key role in the growth of a company by generating
cash. But there are several other ways to generate cash. For instance, when a company finds a way to pay
less for equipment, it is actually generating cash. Every time it collects receivables from its customers
quicker than usual, it is gaining cash.
Useful for short-term planning: A cash flow statement is an important tool for controlling cash flow. A
successful business must always have sufficient liquid cash to fulfil short-term obligations like upcoming
payments. A financial manager can analyse incoming and outgoing cash from past transactions to make
crucial decisions. Some situations where decisions have to be made based on the cash flow include
foreseeing cash deficit to pay off debts or establishing a base to request for credit from banks.
Definitions
Cash comprises cash on hand and demand deposits with banks.
Cash flows are inflows and outflows of cash and cash equivalents.
Operating activities are the principal revenue-producing activities of the enterprise and other activities
that are not investing or financing activities.
Investing activities are the acquisition and disposal of long-term assets and other investments not
included in cash equivalents.
Financing activities are activities that result in changes in the size and composition of the owners’ capital
(including preference share capital in the case of a company) and borrowings of the enterprise.
Investments in shares are excluded from cash equivalents unless they are, in substance, cash equivalents; for
example, preference shares of a company acquired shortly before their specified redemption date (provided
there is only an insignificant risk of failure of the company to repay the amount at maturity).
Cash flows exclude movements between items that constitute cash or cash equivalents because these
components are part of the cash management of an enterprise rather than part of its operating, investing
and financing activities. Cash management includes the investment of excess cash in cash equivalents.
The amount of cash flows arising from operating activities is a key indicator of the extent to which the
operations of the enterprise have generated sufficient cash flows to maintain the operating capability of the
enterprise, pay dividends, repay loans and make new investments without recourse to external sources of
financing. Information about the specific components of historical operating cash flows is useful, in
conjunction with other information, in forecasting future operating cash flows.
Cash flows from operating activities are primarily derived from the principal revenue-producing activities of
the enterprise. Therefore, they generally result from the transactions and other events that enter into the
determination of net profit or loss. Examples of cash flows from operating activities are:
cash receipts from the sale of goods and the rendering of services;
Investing Activities
The separate disclosure of cash flows arising from investing activities is important because the cash flows
represent the extent to which expenditures have been made for resources intended to generate future
income and cash flows. Examples of cash flows arising from investing activities are:
cash payments to acquire fixed assets (including intangibles). These payments include those relating
to capitalised research and development costs and self-constructed fixed assets;
cash receipts from disposal of fixed assets (including intangibles);
cash payments to acquire shares, warrants or debt instruments of other enterprises and interests in
joint ventures (other than payments for those instruments considered to be cash equivalents and
those held for dealing or trading purposes);
cash receipts from disposal of shares, warrants or debt instruments of other enterprises and
interests in joint ventures (other than receipts from those instruments considered to be cash
equivalents and those held for dealing or trading purposes);
cash advances and loans made to third parties (other than advances and loans made by a financial
enterprise);
cash receipts from the repayment of advances and loans made to third parties (other than advances
and loans of a financial enterprise);
cash payments for futures contracts, forward contracts, option contracts and swap contracts except
when the contracts are held for dealing or trading purposes, or the payments are classified as
financing activities; and
cash receipts from futures contracts, forward contracts, option contracts and swap contracts except
when the contracts are held for dealing or trading purposes, or the receipts are classified as
financing activities.
Financing Activities
The separate disclosure of cash flows arising from financing activities is important because it is useful in
predicting claims on future cash flows by providers of funds (both capital and borrowings) to the enterprise.
Examples of cash flows arising from financing activities are:
cash proceeds from issuing debentures, loans, notes, bonds, and other short or long-term borrowings;
and cash repayments of amounts borrowed.
Cash flow from operating activities does not include long-term capital expenditures or investment revenue
and expense. CFO focuses only on the core business, and is also known as operating cash flow (OCF) or net
cash from operating activities.
Indirect Method
The first option is the indirect method, where the company begins with net income on an accrual
accounting basis and works backwards to achieve a cash basis figure for the period. Under the accrual
method of accounting, revenue is recognized when earned, not necessarily when cash is received.
Direct Method
The second option is the direct method, in which a company records all transactions on a cash basis and
displays the information on the cash flow statement using actual cash inflows and outflows during the
accounting period.
Examples of the direct method of cash flows from operating activities include:
Investing activities relate to the purchase and sale of long-term assets or fixed assets such as machinery,
furniture, land, and building, etc.
(a) Direct Method: The direct method, whereby major classes of gross cash receipts and gross cash
payments are considered; or
(b) Indirect Method: The indirect method, whereby net profit or loss is adjusted for the effects of
transactions of a non-cash nature, deferrals or accruals of past or future operating cash receipts or
payments, and items of income or expense associated with investing or financing activities.
The advantage of the direct method over the indirect method is that it reveals operating cash receipts and
payments.
The standard-setting bodies encourage the use of the direct method, but it is rarely used, for the excellent
reason that the information in it is difficult to assemble; companies simply do not collect and store
information in the manner required for this format. Using the direct method may require that the chart of
accounts be restructured in order to collect different types of information. Instead, they use the indirect
method, which can be more easily derived from existing accounting reports.
Indirect Method
Under the indirect method, profit and loss account is adjusted for
The effects of transactions of non-cash items such as depreciation, amortisation, deferred taxes,
loss on sale of fixed assets and unrealised foreign exchange gains and losses,
Changes during the period in inventories and operating receivables and payables, and
For all other items for which the cash effects are shown either in financing or investing activities.
Chapter 7
Partnership accounts
Introduction
A partnership generally means a relationship among people sharing a mutual interest. In accountancy, a
partnership means a business set up together by two or more persons sharing a common interest to earn
profit. The concept of partnership is a solution to the problems of the sole proprietorship, such as a single
person bearing the risk, investing, and managing the capital alone. Hence, it can be concluded that a
partnership is an agreement where two or more people agree to conduct a business together or any one of
them acting on behalf of others, sharing risk, and investing capital together into a joint business to earn
profit. In India, the partnership business is governed by The Indian Partnership Act, 1932.
Maximum Partners as per Indian Companies Act, 2013 As per Indian Companies Act, 2013 a Partnership firm can
have maximum 100 Partners. Though, it might sound strange but upper limit on number of partners are fixed under
Companies Act and not in Partnership Act.
Partnership deed
The smooth and successful running of a partnership firm requires a clear understanding among its
partners regarding the various policies governing their partnership.
The partnership deed serves this purpose. The partnership deed contains various terms such as
profit/loss sharing, salary, interest on capital, drawings, admission of a new partner, etc. in order to
bring clarity to the partners.
A deed of partnership also known as a partnership agreement is a legal document signed by two or
more partners who come together and decide to run a business for profit.
The partnership deed helps to resolve any disagreement or conflict which arises between the
partners regarding the partnership norms.
The purpose of a partnership deed is to give a clear understanding of the roles of all partners,
ensuring the smooth running of the operations of the partnership firm.
Limited Partnership Deed: The limited partnership deed establishes a limited partnership, which includes
general and limited partners. The general partners have unlimited liability for the debts of the partnership
firm, while the limited partners have limited liability and do not participate actively in the management of
the business.
Duration of firm
The deed should mention the duration of the partnership firm, i.e. if the firm is constituted for a limited
period, for a specific project or for an unlimited period.
Place of business
The deed should contain the principal place of business where it carries on the partnership business. It
should also mention the names of any other places where it conducts business.
Capital contribution
Each partner will contribute an amount of capital to the firm. The entire capital of the firm and the share
contributed by each partner are to be mentioned in the deed.
Sharing of profit/loss
The ratio of sharing profits and losses of the firm amongst partners should be noted in the deed. It can be
shared equally amongst all partners, or according to the capital contribution ratio or any other agreed ratio.
Partner’s drawings
The drawings from the firm allowed to each partner and interest to be paid to the firm on such drawings, if
any should be mentioned in the deed.
Partner’s loan
The deed should mention whether the business can borrow loans, the interest rate of loans, properties to
be pledged, etc. It can also mention if a partner of the firm can borrow loans from the business or not.
Capital accounts
Partners’ Capital Accounts:
In the absence of any instructions, the partners’ capital A/c should be prepared on the basis Fluctuating
Capital Method
Note:- Interest on Loan and Advance to Partners are not recorded in Partners Capital A/c When Partners
Capital A/c is fluctuating. In this case it may be recorded in separate account “Accrued Interest A/c”
Partners’ Capital Account: – In this account only additional capital introduced and withdrawn from
existing capital is shown and no other transactions are recorded.
Partners’ Current Account:- In this account all entries such as, Interest on capital, Drawings, Interest on
Drawings, Salary of partner, Commission of partner, Share of Profit or Loss are recorded.
Current Account balance of partners may be fall in both sides whether in debit side or credit side.
Amount Remains constant unless new Changes over time based on business
investments or withdrawals are made performance
Type of Initial investment and any subsequent Profits generated by business operations
investment additional investments
This account is prepared to distribute profit or loss among the partners. It is the extension of Profit and Loss
Account. This account show what amount of profit is transferred to partner’s capital Account.
Dr. Cr.
Particulars ` Particulars `
To Interest on Capital
B xxx C xxx
To Profit transferred to C
apital A/c
Balancin
g Figure
A (3/6) xxx
B (2/6) xxx
Note: –
Partners Commission:- If Partners commission is allowed on Turnover (Sales) or Purchase of goods it is item of
Profit and Loss Account but when Partners allowed commission on Profit it becomes item of Profit and Loss
Appropriation A/c
Particulars ` Particulars `
Dr. Cr.
Particulars ` Particulars `
xxxx xxxx
Interest on capital
Calculation of Interest on Capital: Interest on capital is calculated at the pre-defined rate with period for
which capital has been used in the business. Interest on capital will be calculated on opening balance of
capital account. Interest on capital is also allowed if any capital is introduced during the year.
Certain times closing capital is given then for the purpose of calculating “interest on capital” opening capital
will find out
Particulars A B C
Particulars A B C
Add: Drawings + + +
Case Rules
Interest on Drawings
When company Charge Interest on Drawing – Interest on Drawings will be charged from the partners if the
partnership agreement provides for the same. If partnership deed is silent about charging interest on
drawings, No interest on Drawings will charge.
Partners’ salary
As per Section 40(b) of the Income Tax Act 1961, Interest & Salary paid to the Partners by the
Partnership Firm are allowed to be deducted as an expense only in case all the specified conditions are
being adhered to.
Moreover, the payment of remuneration should not exceed the following amounts. Any amount
in excess of the below mentioned limits will be disallowed:-
The computation of Book Profit for the purpose of Section 40b would be the net profit as shown
in the P&L A/c for the previous year and increased by the aggregate of the remuneration paid or
payable to all partners of the firm is such amount has been deducted while computing the net
profit.
➢ the rate of interest on loan would depend on the agreement between the partners. But if there is no
agreement the interest is to be paid at 6% p.a. as per the Partnership Act.
Capital ratio
Partners may agree to share profits and losses in the capital ratio. When capitals are fixed, profits will be
shared in the ratio of given capitals.
But if capitals are fluctuating and partners introduce or withdraw capitals during the year, the capitals for
the purpose of ratio would be determined with reference to time on the basis of weighted average method.
With the admission of a new partner, there is a reconstitution of the partnership firm and all the partners
get into a new agreement for carrying out the business of the firm.
Different situations while the calculations of new profit sharing ratio are as follows
When the question only contains the ratio of the new partner, and there is no presence of any
agreement. Then, we shall assume that the old partners continue to share their profits in the same
old profit sharing ratio only.
When a new partner purchases the shares from the old partners of the firm equally, then the profit-
sharing ratios of old partners of the firm will be ascertained by deducting the sacrifices they made
from their existing profit-sharing ratios.
When a new partner purchases the shares from the old partners of the firm in a specific ratio, then
the calculation of the new profit sharing ratio of the old partners of the firm is after deducing the
sacrifice made by a partner from his share of profits.
Sometimes, the partners of the firm shall surrender some portion of their share in the favour of new
partner. Thus, the calculation of the new profit sharing ratio is by the addition of the surrendered
portion of the share of the old partners. Moreover, the calculation of the old partner’s share is by
deducing the surrendered share from their old shares.
To Revaluation A/c
To Revaluation A/c
To Revaluation A/c
To Liability A/c
(Being Profit on revaluation transferred to all partner’s capital A/c in old ratio)
To Revaluation A/c
The partners may decide that the revalued figures of assets and liabilities will not appear in the books of the
firm. In this case, the share of retiring or deceased partner of profit or loss from revaluation of assets and
liabilities are adjusted in the remaining partners’ capital A/cs in their gaining ratio.
(Being the share of retiring partner in revaluation profit adjusted in remaining partners’ capital in gaining
ratio)
(Being the share of retiring partner in revaluation profit adjusted in remaining partners capital in gaining
ratio)
For the goodwill brought in cash credited to old partners’ capital account
For the goodwill brought in kind (in the form of assets) credited to old partners’ capital account
Illustration
Majumdar & Co. decides to purchase the business of Banerjee & Co. on 31.12.2003. Profits of Banerjee &
Co. for the last 6 years were: 1998 Rs. 10,000; 1999 Rs. 8,000; 2000 Rs. 12,000; 2001 Rs. 16,000, 2002 Rs.
25,000 and 2003 Rs. 31,000.
The following additional information about Banerjee & Co. were also supplied:
(a) A casual income of Rs. 3,000 was included in the profit of 2000 which can never be expected in future.
(b) Profit of 2001 was reduced by Rs. 1,000 as a result of an extraordinary loss by fire.
(c) After acquisition of the business, Majumdar & Co. has to pay insurance premium amounting to Rs. 1,000
which was not paid by Banerjee & Co.
(d) S. Majumdar, the proprietor of Majumdar & Co., was employed in a firm at a monthly salary of Rs. 1,000
p.m. The business of Banerjee & Co. was managed by a salaried manager who was paid a monthly salary of
Rs. 4,000. Now, Mr. Majumdar decides to manage the firm after replacing the manager.
Compute the value of Goodwill on the basis of 3 years’ purchase of the average profit for the last 4 years.
Illustration
XYZ Co. Ltd. intends to purchase the business of ABC Co. Ltd. Goodwill for this purpose is agreed to be
valued at 3 years’ purchase of the weighted average profits of the past four years.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
On 1.9.1999 a major repair was made in respect of a Plant at a cost of Rs. 8,000 and this was charged
to revenue. The said sum is agreed to be capitalized for Goodwill calculation subject to adjustment
of depreciation of 10% p.a. on Diminishing Balance Method.
The Closing Stock for the year 2000 was overvalued by Rs. 3,000.
To cover the Management cost an annual charge of Rs. 10,000 should be made for the purpose of
Goodwill valuation.
Capitalisation Method
Under this method, the value of the entire business is determined on the basis of normal profit. Goodwill is
taken as the difference between the Values of the Business minus Net Tangible Assets.
Under this method, the following steps should be taken into consideration for ascertaining the
amount of goodwill
Illustration 3
The profits of the past four years (before providing for taxation) were:
2006 — Rs. 20,000; 2007 — Rs. 30,000; 2008 — Rs. 36,000 and 2009 — Rs. 40,000.
Compute the value of Goodwill of the company assuming that the normal rate of return for this type of
company is 10%. Income Tax is payable @ 50% on the above profits.
Illustration
From the following Balance Sheet and other necessary information of P. Ltd. for the year ended
31.12.2001, compute the value of Goodwill by the application of Capitalisation Method
The company commenced operation in 1997 with a paid-up capital of Rs. 2, 00,000.
1997 — Rs. 90,000; 1998 — Rs. 95,000; 1999 — Rs. 1, 05,000; 2000 — Rs. 80,000; 2001 — Rs. 1, 10,000.
Assume that Income-Tax @ 50% has been payable on these profits. Dividends have been distributed from
the profits of the first three years @ 10% and for those of the next two years @ 15% on the Paid-up Capital.
Annuity Method
Under this method, Super-profit (excess of actual profit over normal profit) is being considered as the value
of annuity over a certain number of years and, for this purpose, compound interest is calculated at a certain
respective percentage. The present value of the said annuity will be the value of goodwill.
Value of Goodwill,
V=
Where
I = Rate of Interest
Illustration
From the following particulars, compute the value of goodwill under Annuity Method
Computation of Goodwill:
Super-Profit Method
Super-profit represents the difference between the average profit earned by the business and the normal
profit (on the basis of normal rate of return for representative firms in the industry) i.e., the firm’s
anticipated excess earnings. As such, if there is no anticipated excess earning over normal earnings, there
will be no goodwill.
The students should remember that the number of years’ purchase of goodwill differs from firm to firm and
industry to industry. One or two years’ purchase should be taken into consideration if the retiring partner of
a business was the main source of success. It should also be remembered that three to five years’ purchase
is usually taken. Of course, a large number of years’ purchase may be considered if the super-profit itself is
found to be large. If there is a declining trend in super-profit, one or two years’ purchase may be
considered.
The following steps should carefully be followed for calculating the value of Goodwill under Super
Profit Method
Illustration
The following particulars are available in respect of the business carried on by Mr. R. N. Mitra
Compute the value of Goodwill of the business on the basis of 3 years’ purchase of super-profit taking
average of last four years
Illustration
Plant and Machinery Rs. 50,000; Land and Building Rs. 40,000; Investments Rs. 25,000; Profit includes Rs.
1,000 income from Investment. Calculate the value of Goodwill on the basis of 3 years’ purchase of Super-
profit. Normal rate of return in this type of business is 12%.
Illustration
As per the Articles of Association of this private company, its Directors have declared and paid dividends to
its members in the month of December each year out of the profit of the related year. The cost of the
Goodwill to the company was Rs. 5, 00,000. Capital employed at the beginning of the year 2006 was Rs. 19,
30,000 including the cost of Goodwill and balance in Profit and Loss Account at the same time was Rs.
60,000.
Value of Goodwill will be four years’ purchase of Average Super-Profit, i.e. Rs. 4,75,833 x 4 = Rs. 19,03,332,
or, say, Rs. 19,00,000.
Illustration
Profit for last 5 years are Rs. 20,000; Rs. 25,000; Rs. 45,000; Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 50,000
Illustration
Sliding Scale
Sometimes the partners may decide to change their existing profit sharing ratio, without any
admission or retirement of partner,
At the time of admission of the new partner
At the time of retirement or death of an old partner
This may result in a gain to a few partners and loss to others. The partners who are in profit due to this
change in the profit sharing ratio should compensate the sacrificing partner/partners.
New profit sharing ratio: Ratio in which the partners decide to share profits/losses in future.
Gaining ratio: Ratio in which the partners have agreed to gain their share of profit from other
partners.
Sacrificing ratio: Ratio in which the partners have agreed to sacrifice their share of profit in favour of
other partners. Sacrificing ratio= Old Ratio – New Ratio
New Profit Sharing and Gaining Ratio
Gaining Ratio
Gaining ratio is calculated at the time of retirement or death of a partner. It is the ratio in which the
remaining partners acquire the outgoing partner’s share of profit.
A Revaluation Account is prepared in order to ascertain net gain or loss on revaluation of assets and
liabilities and bringing unrecorded items into books. The Revaluation profit or loss is transferred to the
capital account of all partners including retiring or deceased partners in their old profit sharing ratio.
To Revaluation A/c
To Revaluation A/c
To Revaluation A/c
To Liability A/c
(Being Profit on revaluation transferred to all partner’s capital A/c in old ratio)
To Revaluation A/c
The partners may decide that the revalued figures of assets and liabilities will not appear in the books of the
firm. In this case, the share of retiring or deceased partner of profit or loss from revaluation of assets and
liabilities are adjusted in the remaining partners’ capital A/cs in their gaining ratio.
(Being the share of retiring partner in revaluation profit adjusted in remaining partners capital in gaining
ratio)
(Being the share of retiring partner in revaluation profit adjusted in remaining partners capital in gaining
ratio)
The legal representative of a deceased partner has a right to subsequent profits. He also has a right to
choose whether he wants the share in the profit or the interest at the rate of 6 percent per annum.
There are the following two ways to ascertain the subsequent profit. It is the profit from the date of the last
Balance Sheet until the date of death of the partner.
Under this method, we assume that the profits are earned evenly throughout the year. We estimate the
profit on the basis of the profit of the last year.
Under this method, we consider the profit as well as the total sales of the last year. Hence, we estimate the
profit up to the date of death of the partner on the basis of the sales of the last year.
After all these adjustments, the amount standing in the Deceased Partner’s Capital A/c is payable to his/her
legal representative.
To Revaluation A/c
To Bank A/c
Dissolution of firm
When the relation between all the partners of the firm comes to an end, this is called dissolution of the firm.
Section 39 of the Indian Partnership Act, provides that “the dissolution of the partnership between all the
partners of a firm is called the dissolution of a firm.” It implies the complete breakdown of the relation of
partnership between all the partners.
Dissolution of a partnership firm merely involves a change in the relation of partners; whereas the
dissolution of firm amounts to a complete closure of the business. When any of the partners dies, retires or
become insolvent but if the remaining partners still agree to continue the business of the partnership firm,
then it is dissolution of partnership not the dissolution of firm. Dissolution of partnership changes the
mutual relations of the partners. But in case of dissolution of firm, all the relations and the business of the
firm comes to an end. On dissolution of the firm, the business of the firm ceases to exist since its affairs are
would up by selling the assets and by paying the liabilities and discharging the claims of the partners. The
dissolution of partnership among all partners of a firm is called dissolution of the firm.
Section 39 of the Indian Partnership Act 1932 states that the dissolution of partnership firm among all the
partners of the partnership firm is the Dissolution of the Partnership Firm. The dissolution of partnership
firm ceases the existence of the organization.
After this, the partnership firm cannot enter into any transaction with anybody. It can only sell the assets to
realize the amount, pay the liabilities of the firm and discharge the claims of the partners.
However, the dissolution of a firm may be without or with the intervention of the court. It is noteworthy
here that the dissolution of partnership may not necessarily result in the dissolution of the firm.
But, dissolution of partnership firm always results in the dissolution of the partnership.
A firm may be dissolved if all the partners agree to the dissolution. Also, if there exists a contract between the
partners regarding the dissolution, the dissolution may take place in accordance with it.
Insolvency of all the partners or all but one partner as this makes them incompetent to enter into a
contract.
When the business of the firm becomes illegal due to some reason.
When due to some event it becomes unlawful for the partnership firm to carry its business. For
example, a partnership firm has a partner who is of another country and India declares war against
that country, then he becomes an enemy. Thus, the business becomes unlawful.
When certain contingencies happen
The dissolution of the firm takes place subject to a contract among the partners, if:
The firm is formed for a fixed term, on the expiry of that term.
The firm is formed to carry out specific venture, on the completion of that venture.
A partner dies.
Dissolution by Notice
When the partnership is at will, the dissolution of a firm may take place if any one of the partners gives
a notice in writing to the other partners stating his intention to dissolve the firm.
Dissolution by Court
When a partner files a suit in the court, the court may order the dissolution of the firm on the basis of the
following grounds:
Settlement of Accounts
In a case where the partners do not have an agreement regarding the dissolution of the firm, the following
provisions of the Indian Partnership Act 1932 will apply:
The firm shall apply its assets including any contribution to make up the deficiency firstly, for paying the third
party debts, secondly for paying any loan or advance by any partner and lastly for paying back their capitals.
Any surplus left after all the above payments is shared by partners in profit sharing ratio.
Accounting Treatment
On dissolution, the books of the firm are to be closed. Dissolution process starts by opening the following
accounts in the firm’s books:
Realisation Account,
Realisation Account
The object of preparing Realisation account is to close the books of accounts of the dissolved firm and to
determine profit or loss on the Realisation of assets and payment of liabilities. It is prepared by:
Transferring all the assets except Cash or Bank Account to the debit side of the account.
Transferring all the liabilities except Partner’s Loan Account and Partners’ Capital Accounts to the
credit side of the account.
Crediting the Receipt on the sale of assets to the account.
Debiting the payment of Liabilities to the account.
Debiting the dissolution expenses of the firm.
The balance in the account may be either profit or loss. We transfer this balance to the Capital
Accounts of the Partners in their profit-sharing ratio.
Realisation account
To Bank/Cash A/c
Realisation A/c
To Realisation A/c
To Bank/Cash A/c
After settling the claims of the partners, there is no balance in the Bank/Cash Account.
Questions
a) General partnership
b) Limited partnership
d) Private partnership
a) 10
b) 20
c) 50
5. Which of the following statements is true regarding the distribution of profits in a partnership?
6. What is the treatment of interest on partner's loan in the final accounts of a partnership firm?
a) Retirement of a partner
b) Insanity of a partner
10. Which of the following statements is true regarding the admission of a new partner in a
partnership?
a) The new partner has no liability for the firm's previous debts
b) The new partner is liable only for the capital contributed by him/her
c) The new partner is liable for the firm's previous debts to the extent of his/her share in the profits
d) The new partner is liable for the firm's previous debts to the extent of his/her share in the capital
Answer Keys
1. Answer: d) Private partnership is not a recognized type of partnership. General partnership, limited
partnership, and limited liability partnership are the most common types of partnerships.
2. Answer: c) In India, the maximum number of partners allowed in a partnership firm is 50.
3. Answer: a) The correct formula for calculating the interest on drawings of a partner is: Interest on
drawings = Rate of interest x Drawings x Time period
4. Answer: d) Combined capital account method is not a recognized method of maintaining capital
accounts of partners. Fixed capital method, fluctuating capital method, and separate capital account
method are the most common methods.
5. Answer: b) Profits in a partnership must be distributed according to the capital contributed by each
partner, unless otherwise agreed upon in the partnership deed.
6. Answer: a) Interest on partner's loan is debited to Profit and Loss Appropriation Account in the final
accounts of a partnership firm.
7. Answer: a) Dissolution of partnership leads to the termination of the firm's existence. The assets are
sold, liabilities are settled, and any surplus is distributed among the partners.
8. Answer: c) Admission of a new partner is not a reason for the dissolution of a partnership.
Retirement of a partner, insanity of a partner, and mutual agreement of the partners are some of the
common reasons for dissolution.
9. Answer: a) Accumulated profits are distributed among the partners in their profit-sharing ratio in
the final accounts of a partnership firm.
Chapter 8
Nature and scope of cost accounting
Introduction
Cost: Cost has been defined in the terminology given by the Chartered Institute of Management
Accountants (CIMA) as ‘the amount of expenditure incurred or attributed on a given thing’. More simply, it
can be defined as that which is given or scarified to obtain something. Thus the cost of an article is its
purchase or manufacturing price, i.e. it would consist of its direct material cost, direct labour cost, direct and
indirect expenses allocated or apportioned to it.
Cost accounting: The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in England (CIMA) has defined Cost
Accounting as, ‘the process of accounting for cost from the point at which expenditure is incurred or
committed to establishment of its ultimate relationship with cost centres and cost units. In its widest usage,
it embraces the preparations of statistical data, the application of cost control methods and the
ascertainment of the profitability of activities carried or planned’. It is a formal mechanism by means of
which costs of products or services are ascertained and controlled.
It is concerned with accumulation, classification, analysis and interpretation of cost data for three
major purposes:
ascertainment of cost,
operational planning and control, and
decision-making
Cost object: A cost object is any item, product, or service that is the focus of a cost analysis.
Direct cost: A direct cost is a cost that can be traced directly to a specific cost object, such as a product or
department.
Indirect cost: An indirect cost is a cost that cannot be traced directly to a specific cost object, but is
necessary for the production of the product or service.
Cost driver: A cost driver is a factor that causes a change in the cost of an activity or process.
Variable cost: A variable cost is a cost that varies with the level of production or activity.
Fixed cost: A fixed cost is a cost that remains constant regardless of the level of production or activity.
Semi-variable cost: A semi-variable cost is a cost that has both variable and fixed components.
Marginal cost: Marginal cost is the additional cost of producing one additional unit of a product or service.
Standard cost: Standard cost is a predetermined cost that is used as a benchmark against actual costs to
evaluate performance.
Cost behaviour: Cost behaviour refers to the way in which costs change as production or activity levels
change.
Break-even point: The break-even point is the level of sales at which total revenue equals total costs,
resulting in neither a profit nor a loss.
Overhead: Overhead refers to indirect costs that are not directly associated with the production of a
specific product or service.
Functions of accounting
According to Blocker and Weltemer, “Cost Accounting is to serve management in the execution of polices
and in comparison, of actual and estimated results in order that the value of each policy may be appraised
and changed to meet the future conditions”.
To work out cost per unit of the different products manufactured by the organisation;
To provide an accurate analysis of this cost;
To maintain costs to the lowest point consistent with the most efficient operating conditions. It
requires the examination of each cost in the light of the service or benefit obtained so that the
maximum utilization of each rupee will be obtained;
To work out the wastage in each process of manufacture and to prepare reports as may be
necessary to assist in the control of wastage;
To provide necessary data for the fixation of selling price of commodities manufactured;
To compute profits earned on each of the products and to advise management as to how these
profits can be improved;
To help management in control of inventory so that there may be minimum locking up of capital in
stocks of raw materials, stores, work-in-process and finished goods
To install and implement cost control systems like Budgetary Control and Standard Costing for the
control of expenditure on materials, labour and overheads;
To advise management on future expansion;
To advise management on the profitability or otherwise of new lines of products;
To carry out special cost studies and investigations which are invaluable to management in
determining policies and formulating plans directed towards profitable operations.
it is unnecessary and
it is expensive.
It is Unnecessary
In this age of competition in the business world, a manufacturer must know the exact cost not only of each
article made but also of each element of cost, so that his selling price may be reasonably fixed, neither too
high price which may reduce business nor to low price which may lead to loss.
It enables the business to ascertain the exact cost of each specific unit of output and the extent to
which each element of expenditure contributes to such cost.
It provides a reliable basis upon which tenders and estimates may be prepared.
It facilitates the detection and prevention of waste, leakage and inefficiency.
It provides invaluable data for purposes of comparison.
It provides an independent and collateral check upon the accuracy of financial accounts.
It enables unprofitable activities of the business disclosed, so that steps may be taken to eliminate
or reduce them.
In view of these advantages, the objection that a costing system is unnecessary is not quite correct.
It is Expensive
When it is desired to introduce a costing system in a manufacturing business, that business must be studied
in detail with special reference to its manufacturing technique and the advice of its technical staff must be
obtained in framing the system of costing. The system to be adopted to a particular case must be adopted
to the requirement and circumstances of that case.
A simple costing system will in many case suffice, and unnecessary elaboration must always be avoided
elaborate costing records should only be kept when their maintenance is warranted, since a system of Cost
Accounting must be profitable investment and produce a benefit commensurate with the expenditure
incurred upon it. It must be simple and it must be elastic and capable of adaptation to changing conditions.
Therefore, it cannot be said that a costing system is expensive.
A good management should be able to benefit greatly from the installation of Cost Accounting, but the
character of management is of vital importance here. Really speaking, the cost accountant can only prepare
information highlighting the points which should be studied, but action is something which is beyond the
cost accountant and is a function of management itself. Unless, therefore, the management is, firstly, willing
to study the information compiled and presented by the cost accountant, secondly, capable of doing that
and, thirdly, willing to take action on the basis of that information, installation of a Cost Accounting system
will prove of no avail.
Cost Analysis: Cost accounting determines the deviation of the actual cost as compared to
the planned expense, along with the reason for such variation.
Cost Audit: To verify the cost sheets and ensure the efficient application of cost accounting
principles in the industries, cost audits are done.
Cost Report: Cost reports are prepared from the data acquired through cost accounting to
be analysed by the management for strategic decision making.
Classification of Cost
Cost Classification by Nature
The cost can be differentiated by its nature or the purpose for which it has occurred.
It can be treated as an expense under this category and the expenses so incurred is divided as follows:
Material: Material cost is the cost of the raw material and its related cost such as procurement cost, taxes,
insurance, freight inwards, etc.
Labour: Labour cost is the salary and wages paid to the employees, i.e. permanent, temporary or
contractual employees working in an organisation. It also includes PF contribution, bonus, commission,
incentives, allowances, overtime pay, etc.
Other Expenses: All the other overheads excluding material and labour comes under this head. Some of
these are packaging, promotion, job processing charges, etc.
The accumulation of costs is done depending on the vast divisions of procedures such as selling,
production, administration, etc.
Cost of Production
Cost of Commercials
The points as mentioned earlier under the cost classification by nature are used under this category to
further sub-categorise the elements of this category.
Direct Cost: Direct cost is the significant cost immediately associated with a production process. It
can be seen as a prime cost for any business. It is sub-divided into direct material cost, direct labour
cost and other direct expenses.
Indirect Cost: Indirect cost is the cost which cannot be directly allocated to a particular process of
production. It is a secondary cost and is majorly seen as of three types – indirect material cost,
indirect labour cost and other indirect expenses.
The following classification of cost by its behaviour will give a clear illustration of the above statement
Fixed Cost: The cost which is hardly affected by the temporary change taking place in business
activity is known as a fixed cost. It includes rent, depreciation, lease, salary, etc.
Variable Cost: The cost which changes proportionately with the change in production quantity or
other business activity is termed under variable cost. Raw material, packaging, sales commissions,
wages, etc. are variable costs.
Semi-Variable Cost: The cost which is moderately influenced by the change in business activity is
called semi-variable cost. It includes power consumption, maintenance cost, management cost,
supervision cost, etc.
Managerial decisions are framed depending upon the following types of cost involved in carrying out of
business:
Marginal Cost: Marginal cost is the cost of producing an additional unit and its impact on the total
cost of production.
Differential Cost: When there is an increment or decrement in the cost of bulk production, the
change in the cost of a single unit is also determined which is known as differential cost.
Opportunity Cost: The value of one or more products given up to acquire the desired product or
service is known as opportunity cost. For instance; while choosing green tea, a person has to give up
the value he must have derived from coffee or regular tea.
Replacement Cost: When machinery or any other asset becomes obsolete or involve high
maintenance cost, and simultaneously a better asset is available in the market which can replace it,
Batch Cost: The cost incurred while producing a whole lot comprising of identical products (batch)
is known as batch cost. Each batch differs from the other, and the units lying under a batch are
identified by their batch number. Pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronic products are some of the
examples.
Process Cost: The cost incurred on performing different operations in a streamlined production
process is termed as a process cost. By dividing the total cost of a process with the number of units
produced, we can derive the process cost of a single unit or product.
Operation Cost: The cost involved in a particular business function contributing to the production
process is known as operation cost. It helps in regulating the mechanism of business activities by
monitoring the cost incurred on each business operation.
Operating Cost: Operating cost refers to the day to day expenses incurred by an organisation to
ensure uninterrupted functioning of the business is known as an operating cost.
Contract Cost: The cost of entering into a contract with a buyer or seller by mutually agreeing to
the terms and conditions so mentioned is called a contract cost. It includes a bidding contract, price
escalation contract, tenders, etc.
Joint Cost: The combined cost involved in the production of two or more useful products
simultaneously is known as the joint cost. For example; the cost of processing milk to get cottage
cheese and buttermilk.
A cost which is a priority today, may not be that important tomorrow or a cost which has been overlooked
today, may be considered as a relevant cost tomorrow.
Historical Cost: Any actual cost ascertained and evaluated after it has been incurred, is termed a
historical cost. It can be committed either on the production of goods and services or asset
acquisition.
Pre-determined Cost: The cost which can be identified and calculated before the production of
goods and services based on the cost factors and data is called a pre-determined cost. It can be
either a standard cost or an estimated cost.
Standard Cost: An actual cost which is pre-determined as per certain norms and guidelines to
provide as a base for cost control, is termed as a standard cost.
Estimated Cost: The cost of business operation presumed on the grounds of experience is known
as an estimated cost. It is merely based on assumptions and therefore considered to be less accurate
to determine the actual cost.
A cost sheet document can be prepared either by using historical cost or by referring to estimated costs. A
historical cost sheet is prepared based on the actual cost incurred for a product. An estimated cost sheet,
on the other hand, is prepared based on estimated cost just before the production begins.
The chartered Institute of Management Accountants, London defines cost sheet as “a document which
provides for the assembly of the detailed cost of a cost centre or cost unit” The cost sheet is prepared with
separate columns, one for the cost per unit and the other for the total cost.
Separate columns can also be provided for the current cost and cost of the previous periods. The cost sheet
is generally prepared periodically, say weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly. There is no prescribed format
or form of the cost sheet. It’s from, contents and arrangement vary from firm to firm.
According to Harold J. Wheldon, “Cost sheets are prepared for the use of the management and
consequently, they must include all the essential details which will assist the management in checking the
efficiency of production.”
According to Walter W. Bigg, The expenditure, which has been incurred upon production for a period, is
extracted from the financial books and the store records, and out in a memorandum statement. If this
statement is confined to the discloser of the cost of the units production during the period, it is termed cost
sheet.
Determining cost: The main objective of the cost sheet is to obtain an accurate product cost. It
gives you both the total cost and cost per unit of a product.
Fixing selling price: In order to fix the selling price of a product, you need to create a cost sheet so
you can see the details of its production cost.
Cost comparison: It helps the management compare the current cost of a product with a previous
per unit cost for the same product. Comparing the costs helps management take corrective
measures if costs have increased.
Cost control: The cost sheet is an important document for a manufacturing unit, as it helps in
controlling production costs. Using an estimated cost sheet aids in monitoring labour, material and
overhead costs at each step of production.
Decision-making: Some of the most important decisions management makes are based on the cost
sheet. Whenever a business needs to produce or buy a component, or quote prices for its goods on
a tender, managers refer to the cost sheet.
Prime Cost
The initial cost made for manufacturing a product, i.e., raw material, labour wages and other production-
related expenses, is termed as prime cost.
Where direct material is calculated with the help of the following formula:
The various indirect overheads incurred at the factory premises can be computed with the help of the
following formula:
Indirect Material
The indirect material includes all the additional items used for manufacturing products, but not directly
contribute as a raw material for the finished goods. It can be anything like the oil, fuel, coal, stationery items
and other factory utilities.
Also, the items which are though directly used for making a product, but are inexpensive and small, are
considered as indirect material. These include thread, pins, cello tape, nails, nuts, etc.
Indirect Labour
The labour or human resource engaged in all the activities other than manufacturing of goods or services
which are essential to carry out the business and assist the production operations is called indirect labour.
It includes salary paid to managers, cleaning staff, security staff, drivers, etc.
Indirect Expenses
All the other overheads which are neither directly contributing to the production operations, nor they can
be termed as labour or material expense, are called indirect expenses.
These are the expenses made for running the business operations smoothly. These include advertisements,
depreciation, rent, electricity, insurance, taxes, repairs and maintenance, etc.
Cost of Production
The cost of production includes all the direct and indirect cost, including the material, labour and other
expenses, i.e., production cost, factory cost and office or administration cost.
After making an adjustment of the opening finished goods and the closing finished goods to the cost of
production, we acquire the cost of production of goods sold.
Further, to calculate the cost of production of goods sold, the opening and closing stocks of finished
products are adjusted with the cost of production. Its formula is:
Total Cost
The final value of a product or service can be determined after adding all the selling and distribution
expenses to the cost of production of goods sold. The formula to find out the total cost or cost of sales is:
If the sales price of the products or service is known, the following method can be used to determine the
profit:
Cost sheet/statement
An analysis of the total cost of production and cost of sales is carried out by preparing a cost sheet. A cost
sheet is an important document prepared by the costing department. It is prepared to analyse the
components of total cost, thereby determining prime cost, works cost, cost of production, cost of sales and
profit.
Cost sheet is a statement showing the total cost under proper classification in a logical order. It reveals the
total cost as well as the cost per unit in different stages. It shows the various elements of cost that goes to
make up the total cost. It helps in fixing up the selling price more accurately.
Formulas
(1) Prime Cost is the aggregate of direct materials, Direct Labour and Direct Expenses.
(2) Works Cost is the aggregate of prime cost and works overhead. It consists of the total of all items of cost
incurred in the manufacturing of a product.
(3) Cost of production includes works cost and administration overheads. Production is not deemed to be
complete without the managerial and office expenses.
(4) Cost of Sales (Total Cost) is the aggregate of all expenses attributable to it. It comprises cost of
production plus selling and distribution overheads.
When profit is added to the cost of sales, sales can be found out. Usually selling prices are fixed on the basis
of cost of sales. It ensures that all the costs are recovered and any desired profit is also obtained.
Questions
a) Improved decision-making
b) Enhanced profitability
c) Increased efficiency
d) Increased sales
a) Direct materials
b) Direct labor
c) Indirect labor
a) Activity-based costing
b) Standard costing
c) Marginal costing
d) Customer relationship management
Answer Keys
1. Answer: a. Cost accounting is the process of identifying, measuring, and analyzing costs. This
involves gathering information about the costs of producing goods and services, and then using
that information to make decisions about pricing, budgeting, and other business operations.
2. Answer: d. Increased sales is not a benefit of cost accounting. While cost accounting can help a
company make better pricing decisions, it is not directly related to increasing sales.
3. Answer: a. The primary purpose of cost accounting is to determine the cost of producing goods
and services. By understanding the costs associated with each product or service, a company can
make better decisions about pricing and resource allocation.
4. Answer: c. Indirect labor is not an element of cost. Direct materials and direct labor are the costs
directly associated with producing a product or service, while overhead costs are indirect costs like
rent, utilities, and other expenses.
5. Answer: d. Customer relationship management is not a cost accounting technique. It is a business
strategy that focuses on building relationships with customers to increase loyalty and sales. Activity-
based costing, standard costing, and marginal costing are all cost accounting techniques that
involve analyzing and measuring different aspects of a company's costs.
CHAPTER 9
Insurance claim for loss of stock and loss of
profit
Introduction
Loss of stock
It refers to the loss of inventory or goods that a business owns. This can occur due to a variety of reasons,
such as theft, damage, spoilage, obsolescence, or natural disasters. When a business experiences a loss of
stock, it can have significant financial implications, as the value of the lost goods must be written off as a
cost of doing business.
There are several ways that a loss of stock can impact a business's financial statements. First, it can reduce
the value of the company's assets, as the lost inventory must be deducted from the value of the company's
inventory account. This can also lead to a decrease in the company's net income, as the cost of the lost
inventory must be recorded as an expense.
Another potential impact of a loss of stock is a reduction in the company's profits. This is because the lost
inventory represents potential revenue that the company could have earned if the goods had not been lost.
Depending on the value of the lost inventory, this can have a significant impact on the company's
profitability and overall financial health.
Loss of profit
It refers to a decrease in revenue or an increase in expenses that results in lower profits for a business. This
can occur due to a variety of reasons, such as decreased sales, increased costs, or changes in market
conditions. When a business experiences a loss of profit, it can have significant implications for the
company's financial health and long-term viability.
One potential impact of a loss of profit is a decrease in the company's cash flow. This is because lower
profits mean that the company has less money available to invest in growth opportunities or to pay off
debts. This can also lead to a decrease in the company's stock price, as investors may be less likely to invest
in a company with lower profits.
Another potential impact of a loss of profit is a decrease in the company's ability to attract and retain
talented employees. This is because lower profits may mean that the company is unable to offer
competitive salaries or benefits, which can make it more difficult to attract and retain top talent.
Additionally, a loss of profit can make it more difficult for a company to invest in employee training and
development, which can further impact the company's long-term success.
To determine the amount of an insurance claim, there are several steps that need to be taken:
Review the insurance policy: The first step in determining the amount of an insurance claim is to
review the terms of the insurance policy. This will outline the coverage and limits of the policy, and
provide guidance on what is covered and how much can be claimed.
Assess the damage or loss: Once the policy has been reviewed, the next step is to assess the
damage or loss. This may involve obtaining estimates from contractors or repair services, or
assessing the value of lost or damaged property.
Calculate the value of the claim: Once the extent of the damage or loss has been determined, the
next step is to calculate the value of the claim. This will typically involve adding up the costs of
repairs or replacement, and subtracting any applicable deductibles or other limitations.
Submit the claim: Once the value of the claim has been calculated, the final step is to submit the
claim to the insurance company. The insurance company will review the claim and determine
whether it is covered by the policy, and if so, how much will be paid out.
The balancing figure on the credit side of the Memorandum Trading Account is the estimated value of
stock on the date of fire. While preparing Memorandum or Pro forma Trading Account, following points
should be given proper consideration:
Period: This Account is prepared for the period from last date of accounts to the date of fire which is given
in the problem.
Purchases
Purchases should be for the period from last date of accounts to the date of fire.
Goods included in the purchases. Goods received but not accounted should be added to purchases. If the
amount of purchases is not given, the same can be calculated by preparing
Purchases XX
Cost of the sample given free of cost or withdrawal of stock by proprietor or partner of the firm for personal
use, it should be adjusted in the Trading Account of the last year as well as in the current year’s
memorandum trading account.
In case, where gross profits of the last several years are given, average gross profit should be taken to
determine the gross profit of the current year. However, in case where clear upward trend of the gross
profit or downward trend of the gross profit is identified, weighted average gross profit or reasonable trend
of upward or downward trend should be applied to determine the gross profit of the current year.
To find out the gross profit on normal sales, poor selling sale should be eliminated from the sale of the
current year. Similarly, poor selling items should be eliminated from the opening and closing stock of the
last years to prepare the trading account of the current year.
Insured Standing Charges − Salaries to staff, Rent rates & Taxes, Wages to skilled workers, Auditors’ fees,
Directors’ fees, Advertisement Expenses, Travelling Expenses, Interest on debentures, and unspecified
expenses (not more than 5% of the specified expenses) are the charges that have to mention on the policy
form at the time of buying policy (so that all charges get insured).
Annual Turnover − Turnover for the last 12 months, immediately preceding to the date of fire.
Standard Turnover − Standard turnover means, turnover for the period corresponding with the indemnity
period during the preceding accounting year. It also needs to be adjusted to notice the trend during the
accounting year, in which incident took place.
Net Profit − To calculate net profit — profit (excluding tax), insured standing charges, other charges,
depreciation, and other provisions of such kind need to be adjusted.
Indemnity Period − Maximum twelve months (from the date of damage), during which the result of the
business affected due to damage. Period of indemnity is selected by the insured person.
Computation of Claim
Following steps need to be taken to compute insurance claim on the loss of the profit, which is occurred
due to dislocation of the business −
Short Sale − Short sale means loss of sale due to the incident of fire and subsequent dislocation of the
business. The difference of standard turnover and the actual turnover during the period of indemnity is
called short sale. It is illustrated in the following example.
Example
Solution
Note − All figures given above are related to the last accounting year.
Note − All figures given above are related to the last accounting year.
In case where all the standing charges are not insured, amount of net loss need to reduce as –
Increased Cost of Working − Increased cost of working means, certain additional expenses those have to
be incurred by insured person to keep the business in running condition during the indemnity period.