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Simerpreet
Curious
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Explain Business entity, money measurement concept, Going concern concept etc.

  1. Simerpreet Curious CMA Inter qualified
    This answer was edited.

    To begin with, let me first give you a small explanation of what Contingent assets are- A contingent asset is a potential asset or economic benefit that does not exist currently but may arise in the near future. Such an asset arises from an uncertain and unpredictable event. To make it clear with anRead more

    To begin with, let me first give you a small explanation of what Contingent assets are-

    A contingent asset is a potential asset or economic benefit that does not exist currently but may arise in the near future. Such an asset arises from an uncertain and unpredictable event.

    To make it clear with an example: String Co. filed a lawsuit against a competitor company Weave Tech Co. for infringing on company ABC’s patent. Even if it is probable (but not certain) that Strings Co. will win the lawsuit, it is a contingent asset.

    As such, it will not be recorded in Strings Co. general ledger accounts until the lawsuit is settled.

    At most the Strings Co. can do is, prepare a note disclosing the fact that it has filed the lawsuit the outcome of which is uncertain.

    Disclosing Contingent Assets

    • The probability of occurrence is virtually certain or probable: It will be disclosed as an asset in the balance sheet.

    For Example, The court orders for reimbursement to Strings Co. say 1,00,000 for the damages, but it has not yet received the money. Although it is virtually certain that the company will receive the money in the near future, it will be treated as an asset and can be disclosed in the balance sheet on the assets side.

    • The probability of occurrence is probable: It will be disclosed as notes to accounts below the balance sheet.

    For Example, Strings Co. filed a lawsuit against a competitor company Weave Tech for infringing on Strings Co. patent. Even if it is probable (but not certain) that Strings Co. will win the lawsuit, it is a contingent asset.

    As such, it will not be recorded in Strings company’s general ledger until the lawsuit is settled.

    At most the Strings Co. can do is, prepare a note disclosing the fact that it has filed the lawsuit the outcome of which is uncertain. 

    • The probability of occurrence is remote or not probable:  It will not be treated as a contingent asset.

    In this case, the disclosure of it is not permitted.

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Astha
Leader
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  1. Simerpreet Curious CMA Inter qualified
    This answer was edited.

    To begin with, let me first give you a small explanation of what Contingent assets are A contingent asset is a potential asset or economic benefit that does not exist currently but may arise in the near future. Such an asset arises from an uncertain and unpredictable event. To make it clear with anRead more

    To begin with, let me first give you a small explanation of what Contingent assets are

    A contingent asset is a potential asset or economic benefit that does not exist currently but may arise in the near future. Such an asset arises from an uncertain and unpredictable event.

    To make it clear with an example: String Co. filed a lawsuit against a competitor company Weave Tech Co. for infringing on company ABC’s patent. Even if it is probable (but not certain) that Strings Co. will win the lawsuit, it is a contingent asset.

    As such, it will not be recorded in Strings Co. general ledger accounts until the lawsuit is settled.

    At most the Strings Co. can do is, prepare a note disclosing the fact that it has filed the lawsuit the outcome of which is uncertain.

    Disclosing Contingent Assets

    • The probability of occurrence is virtually certain or probable: It will be disclosed as an asset in the balance sheet.

    For Example, The court orders for reimbursement to Strings Co. say 1,00,000 for the damages, but it has not yet received the money. Although it is virtually certain that the company will receive the money in the near future, it will be treated as an asset and can be disclosed in the balance sheet on the assets side.

    • The probability of occurrence is probable: It will be disclosed as notes to accounts below the balance sheet.

    For Example, Strings Co. filed a lawsuit against a competitor company Weave Tech for infringing on Strings Co. patent. Even if it is probable (but not certain) that Strings Co. will win the lawsuit, it is a contingent asset.

    As such, it will not be recorded in Strings company’s general ledger until the lawsuit is settled.

    At most the Strings Co. can do is, prepare a note disclosing the fact that it has filed the lawsuit the outcome of which is uncertain. 

    • The probability of occurrence is remote or not probable:  It will not be treated as a contingent asset.

    In this case, the disclosure of it is not permitted.

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Astha
Leader
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  1. Simerpreet Curious CMA Inter qualified
    This answer was edited.

    Capital work in progress is a non-current asset of an entity. It is also known as CWIP in short. CWIP is the work which is not yet completed but the amount for which has already been paid. Suppose, at the time of preparing a balance sheet, if an asset is not completed, all the costs incurred on thatRead more

    Capital work in progress is a non-current asset of an entity. It is also known as CWIP in short.

    CWIP is the work which is not yet completed but the amount for which has already been paid.

    Suppose, at the time of preparing a balance sheet, if an asset is not completed, all the costs incurred on that asset up to the balance sheet date are to be transferred to an account called capital work in progress.

    Example 1: A machinery under installation.

    There are several expenses incurred while installing machinery, expenses such as labor charges, Initial delivery and handling costs, Assembly and installation cost, etc are included in CWIP and when the asset is completed and is ready to use, all the costs are transferred to the relevant accounts.

    To make it simpler, let me pass journal entries relating to this example.

    When an expense is incurred/paid:

    When an asset is complete and put to use:

    Example 2: A Contractor is constructing a building. The following expenditures are being incurred to date:

    i) Raw materials – 5,00,000

    ii) Payment to Architect – 3,50,000

    iii) Advance for Equipments – 1,50,000

    Following accounting entries will be passed to record the expenditure on CWIP assets:

    The following accounting entry will be passed once assets are ready to use:

    Disclosure in the Balance sheet

    CWIP account is shown separately in the balance sheet below the fixed asset.

    we cannot depreciate capital work in progress. It can only be depreciated when the asset is put to use.

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Simerpreet
Curious
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  1. Astha Leader Pursuing CA, BCom (Hons.)
    This answer was edited.

    Let us first understand what working capital is. Working capital means the funds available for the day-to-day operations of an enterprise. It is a measure of a company’s liquidity and short term financial health. They are cash or mere cash resources of a business concern. It also represents the exceRead more

    Let us first understand what working capital is.

    Working capital means the funds available for the day-to-day operations of an enterprise. It is a measure of a company’s liquidity and short term financial health. They are cash or mere cash resources of a business concern.

    It also represents the excess of current assets, such as cash, accounts receivable and inventories, over current liabilities, such as accounts payable and bank overdraft.

    Sources of Working Capital                             

    Any transaction that increases the amount of working capital of a company is a source of working capital.

    Suppose, Amazon sells its goods for 1,000 when the cost is only 700. Then, the difference of 300 is the source of working capital as the increase in cash is greater than the decrease in inventory.

    Sources of working capital can be classified as follows:

    Short Term Sources

    • Trade credit: Credit given by one business firm to the other arising from credit sales. It is a spontaneous source of finance representing credit extended by the supplier of goods and services.
    • Bills/Note payable: The purchaser gives a written promise to pay the amount of bill or invoice either on-demand or at a fixed future date to the seller or the bearer of the note.
    • Accrued expenses: It refers to the services availed by the firm, but the payment for which is yet to be done. It represents an interest-free source of finance.
    • Tax/Dividend provisions: It is a provision made out of current profits to meet the tax/dividend obligation. The time gap between provision made and payment of actual payment serves as a source of short-term finance during the intermediate period.
    • Cash Credit/Overdraft: Under this arrangement, the bank specifies a pre-determined limit for borrowings. The borrower can withdraw as required up to the specified limits.
    • Public deposit: These are unsecured deposits invited by the company from the public for a period of six months to 3 years.
    • Bills discounting: It refers to an activity wherein a discounted amount is released by the bank to the seller on purchase of the bill drawn by the borrower on their customers.
    • Short term loans: These loans are granted for a period of less than a year to fulfil a short term liquidity crunch.
    • Inter-corporate loans/deposits: Organizations having surplus funds invest with other organizations for up to six months at rates higher than that of banks.
    • Commercial paper: These are short term unsecured promissory notes sold at discount and redeemed at face value. These are issued for periods ranging from 7 to 360 days.
    • Debt factoring: It is an arrangement between the firm (the client) and a financial institution (the factor) whereby the factor collects dues of his client for a certain fee. In other words, the factor purchases its client’s trade debts at a discount.

    Long Term Sources

    • Retained profits: These are profits earned by a business in a financial year and set aside for further usage and investments.
    • Share Capital: It is the money invested by the shareholders in the company via purchase of shares floated by the company in the market.
    • Long term loans: These loans are disbursed for a period greater than 1 year to the borrower in his account in cash. Interest is charged on the full amount irrespective of the amount in use. These shareholders receive annual dividends against the money invested.
    • Debentures: These are issued by companies to obtain funds from the public in form of debt. They are not backed by any collateral but carry a fixed rate of interest to be paid by the company to the debentureholders.

    Another point I would like to add is that, although depreciation is recorded in expense and fixed assets accounts and does not affect working capital, it still needs to be accounted for when calculating working capital.

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Astha
Leader
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  1. Simerpreet Curious CMA Inter qualified
    This answer was edited.

    Let us begin with a short explanation of what opening balance is: The opening balance is the amount of funds that are bought forward from the end of one accounting period to the beginning of a new accounting period. In a firm’s account, the first entry done is of the opening balance. It can either hRead more

    Let us begin with a short explanation of what opening balance is:

    The opening balance is the amount of funds that are bought forward from the end of one accounting period to the beginning of a new accounting period.

    In a firm’s account, the first entry done is of the opening balance. It can either have a debit balance or a credit balance depending upon whether the firm has a negative or positive balance.

    Opening balance of a ledger

    Opening balance is the first entry of the ledger account at the beginning of an accounting period.

    In the case of a newly started business, there will be no closing balances and as such there will be no balances to be carried forward. In such a case, the investment and capital of the business will be entered as an opening balance for the current accounting period.

    So the first and foremost part is to identify on which side of the ledger i.e. the debit side or the credit side the opening balance is to be entered.

    For Example, A trial balance is given which represents the debit and credit balances, accordingly, I will prepare different ledger accounts to make it simpler.

    The trial balance shows the opening balance of various accounts. Now posting them in ledger accounts.

    As the Furniture is an Asset account, the opening balance will be on the debit side of the ledger account.

    As Sundry creditor is a credit account,  we put the opening balance on the credit side.

    As the Capital is a credit account,  we put the opening balance on the credit side.

    As Wages is a debit account,  we put the opening balance on the debit side.

    As the Discount received is a credit account,  we put the opening balance on the credit side.

    Exception

    Drawing Account.

    Drawing account is an exception to this topic. It is considered a contra account to the owner’s capital account because it reduces the value of the owner’s equity. Drawings, therefore, have no opening balance.

    Contra Entry.

    Contra entry involves transactions of cash and bank. Any entry which involves both the cash and bank is contra entry.

    For example, we deposit cash 5000 into the bank.

    Accounting entry for this transaction would be

    In this case, the ledger entry would be

    As the bank account has a debit balance, the opening balance would come on the debit side.

    As the cash account has a credit balance, the opening balance would come on the credit side.

    Alternatively, If we withdraw cash 5000 from the bank.

    Accounting entry would be

    In this case, the ledger entry would be

    As the Cash account has a debit balance, the opening balance would come on the debit side.

    As the Bank account has a credit balance, the opening balance would come on the credit side.

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Simerpreet
Curious
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  1. Astha Leader Pursuing CA, BCom (Hons.)
    This answer was edited.

    Depreciation refers to that portion of the value of an asset that a company uses in an accounting year to generate revenue. Assets are written off in form of depreciation over time also called the useful life of the asset. It denotes the wear and tear of an asset over time. Suppose, a company namedRead more

    Depreciation refers to that portion of the value of an asset that a company uses in an accounting year to generate revenue. Assets are written off in form of depreciation over time also called the useful life of the asset. It denotes the wear and tear of an asset over time.

    Suppose, a company named Johnson ltd. purchases machinery for 50,000 that has a useful life of 5 years with nil salvage value. Then the yearly depreciation to be charged can be calculated as:

    Is Depreciation a Cash Flow?

    Cash flows are inflows and outflows of cash and cash equivalents in an entity. The payments made by the entity denote the outflows whereas the revenues or incomes of the entity denote the inflows. Talking about cash flows, depreciation is a non-cash item of expense which means it neither results in inflow nor outflow of cash resources.

    In the adjacent Profit and Loss statement, a cash payment of 7,000 for electricity implies outflow of cash however, depreciation of 10,000 is merely an imputed cost to write off an asset or we can say, a part of profits set aside each year so that there are sufficient funds available to procure a new asset after the currently available asset is discarded.

    However, cash flow statements are affected by depreciation. Depreciation is added back to the net profits while calculating cash flows from operating expenses since it is a non-cash item and has been deducted while calculating net profits in the profit and loss statement.

    Depreciation does not directly impact the amount of cash generated or expended by a business but it is tax-deductible and will reduce the cash outflows related to income taxes. Thus, depreciation affects cash flow by reducing the amount of cash a business has to pay for income taxes.

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