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  1. AbhishekBatabyal Curious Pursuing CA, BCOM (HONS)

    Introduction Income tax means the tax charged on the income of a person which the person has earned during a financial year. As per the Income-tax act, 1961, the income tax on income earned during a financial year is assessed in the following financial year and tax is to be paid on the assessed incoRead more

    Introduction

    Income tax means the tax charged on the income of a person which the person has earned during a financial year. As per the Income-tax act, 1961, the income tax on income earned during a financial year is assessed in the following financial year and tax is to be paid on the assessed income if payable.

    The year in which the income is earned is called the Previous Year and the following year in which the previous year’s income is assessed is known as the Assessment Year

    Steps involved in the computation of Income-tax of a person:

    1. Determination of residential status of the person
    2. Classification and computation of income under the five heads of income
    3. Clubbing of income of spouse, minor child etc
    4. Set-off or carry forward of losses
    5. Computation of Gross Total Income
    6. Deductions from Gross Total Income to arrive at Total Income
    7. Application of the rates of taxes on total income
    8.  Advance tax and tax deducted at source
    9. Arrival  at Tax payable/ Tax refundable
    10. Determination of residential status of the person

    Determination of residential status of the person

    The residential status of a person is of great significance for ascertaining the taxability of a person’s income as per the Income-tax act, 1961. As per the act, a person can fall into one of the following criteria:-

    1. Resident and Ordinarily Resident in India
    2. Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident in India
    3. Non-Resident

    Classification and computation of income under the five heads of income

    Now, a person’s income can be from various sources. As per section 14 of the Income-tax act, there are five main heads of income for computation of income tax:

    1. Income from Salary
    2. Income from House Property
    3. Profits and Gains from Business or Profession
    4. Capital Gains
    5. Income from other sources

    Income under each head is to be computed as per provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961.

    Clubbing of income of spouse, minor child etc

    Some individual taxpayers divert some portion of their income to their spouses and minor child in order to reduce their tax liability as the slab rate of income tax for individuals is progressive.

    Such diverted income is to be clubbed with the income of the assessee as per the provisions of the Income-tax act.

    Set-off and carry forward of losses

    Losses suffered under the heads of the income like ‘Profit and Gains from Business and Profession’, ‘Income from House property’ can be set off against the income earned under other heads as per provision of the act.

    If set off is not possible in the current assessment year then the loss can be carried forward to the next assessment year.

    Computation of Gross Total Income

    Gross Total Income is arrived at by computing the total of income under all five heads of income after giving necessary deductions as applicable under each head of income.

    Deductions from Gross Total Income to arrive at Total Income

    Income tax act, 1961 allows specific deduction from the Gross Total Income under sections 80C to 80U. These deductions are provided to encourage certain kinds of investments like life insurance premiums etc and provide relief on certain spending like medical expenses, interest expenses on home loans etc which leads to the overall welfare of the people.

    After allowing the deductions from Gross Total Income, we arrive at Total Income.

    Application of the rates of taxes on total income

    Tax is calculated at a rate on the total income. The rate and calculation of income tax depend on the type of assessees.

    Individuals and HUFs

    For individuals who are below the age of 60 years and HUFs:

    For individuals over 60 years and 80 years of age, the basic exemption limit is ₹3,00,000 and ₹5,00,000 respectively.

    Also, as per section 115BAC, individuals and HUFs have the option to choose an alternative slab rate of tax as per which the income tax is charged at concessional rates. But, the various exemptions and deductions like housing rent allowance, leave travel concession, standard deduction on salary income cannot be availed. This slab rate system was introduced recently to reduce the complexity of filling IT returns by small taxpayers.

    Rates of tax related to other types of assessees is not provided for sake of simplicity.

    Advance tax and tax deducted at source

    After calculating the tax on total income as per specified rates, the income tax amount is to be reduced by the advance tax and tax deducted at the source.

    Tax payable/ Tax refundable

    After performing all the steps above, we arrive at Income tax payable or tax refundable.

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  1. AbhishekBatabyal Curious Pursuing CA, BCOM (HONS)
    This answer was edited.

    Journal entry for goods purchased by cheque The journal entry for goods purchased by cheque is as follows: In this journal entry, purchase account and bank account are involved. The explanation is given below. Explanation Purchase Whenever there is a purchase of goods, the purchase account is debiteRead more

    Journal entry for goods purchased by cheque

    The journal entry for goods purchased by cheque is as follows:

    In this journal entry, purchase account and bank account are involved. The explanation is given below.

    Explanation

    Purchase

    Whenever there is a purchase of goods, the purchase account is debited.

    Goods refer to the items which an enterprise manufactures or purchases and sells to generate its business revenue.

    If there is a purchase of any other item which does not satisfy the above definition of goods, then the purchase account is not involved.

    For example, if stationery is purchased and the enterprise does not trade in stationery items, then the purchase account will not appear in the journal entry.

    Payment by cheque

    Payment by cheque means the payment amount will be deducted from the bank account balance. Hence, in the given journal entry, the bank account is involved.

    The logic behind the debit and credit

    The golden rules of accounting

    Purchase is an expense hence it is a nominal account. The golden rule for nominal accounts is “Debit all expense and loss and credit all incomes and gains”

    Hence, the purchase account is debited.

    Bank is a real account and the golden rule of accounting for real accounts is, “Debit what comes in, credit what goes out”.

    Hence, the bank account is credited as money is going out of the bank.

    Modern rules of accounting

    Purchase is an expense account, and expenses are debited when increased and credited when decreased.

    Hence, the purchase account is debited here.

    A bank account is an asset account. Asset accounts are debited in case of an increase and credited in case of a decrease. Hence, the bank account is credited here.

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  1. SidharthBadlani CA Inter Student
    This answer was edited.

    Prepaid expense means a service to be rendered in the future period for which the business has already paid the remuneration. Prepaid expenses are classified as assets. The benefits of this payment will accrue to the business at a later period.  For example, insurance is often paid for annually on tRead more

    Prepaid expense means a service to be rendered in the future period for which the business has already paid the remuneration. Prepaid expenses are classified as assets. The benefits of this payment will accrue to the business at a later period. 

    For example, insurance is often paid for annually on the basis of the calendar year. A business may pay insurance every year on 1st January for that entire year. While preparing the financial statements on 31st March, it will recognize the insurance premium for the period 1st April to 31st December of the next financial year as a prepaid insurance expense. 

    Why are prepaid expenses classified as assets? 

    First of all, let us understand what an asset is. An asset is anything over which the business has ownership rights and which it can sell for money. The benefits of this asset should accrue to the business. 

    In light of this definition, let us analyze prepaid expenses as an asset. As the business has already paid for these goods or services, it becomes a legal right of the business to receive the relevant goods or services at a later date. As the benefit of this expense would accrue to the business only at a later date, the prepaid expenses are classified as an asset. 

    Some examples of prepaid expenses are prepaid insurance, prepaid rent etc

    Treatment of Prepaid Expenses

    Prepaid expenses are recorded in the balance sheet under the heading “Current Assets” and sub-heading “Other Current Assets”

    As per the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or GAAP, expenses must be recognized in the accounting period to which they relate or in which the benefit due to them is likely to arise. Thus, we cannot recognize the prepaid expenses in the accounting period in which they are incurred. 

    Prepaid assets are classified as assets and carried forward in the balance sheet to be debited in the income statement of the accounting period to which they relate. 

    Adjusting Entries

    Adjusting entries are those entries that are used to recognize prepaid expenses in the income statement of the period to which they relate. These entries are not used to record new transactions. They ensure compliance with GAAP by recognizing the expenses in the period to which they relate. 

    Conclusion

    The GAAP and basic definition of an asset govern the treatment of prepaid expenses as an asset. The business incurs them in an accounting period different from the accounting period in which their benefit would accrue to the business. The business has a legal right to receive those goods or services. 

    The business carries them as a current asset on the balance sheet. In the relevant accounting period, they are recognized in the income statement. 

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  1. Ishika Pandey ca aspirant
    This answer was edited.

    Definition Prepaid expenses are those expenses whose payments are done in advance which can be for the goods or services whose benefit will accrue in the subsequent accounting period. For example prepaid rent, prepaid insurance, etc.   Current assets are defined as cash and other assets that arRead more

    Definition

    Prepaid expenses are those expenses whose payments are done in advance which can be for the goods or services whose benefit will accrue in the subsequent accounting period.

    For example prepaid rent, prepaid insurance, etc.

     

    Current assets are defined as cash and other assets that are expected to be converted into cash or consumed in the production of goods or rendering of services in the normal course of business.

    Or in other words, we can say that the expected realization period is less than the operating cycle period although it is more than the period of 12 months from the date of the balance sheet.

    For example, goods are purchased with the purpose to resell and earn a profit, debtors exist to convert them into cash i.e., receive the amount from them, bills receivable exist again for receiving cash against it, etc.

     

    Current liabilities are defined as liabilities that are payable normally within 12 months from the end of the accounting period or in other words which fall due for payment in a relatively short period.

    For example bills payable, short-term loans, etc.

     

    Classification of prepaid expense

    Now let me try to explain to you the classification of prepaid expenses for business owners and financial professionals which is as follows :

    • Business owners
      • In the case of business owners prepaid expense is treated as an asset which we can see on the asset side of the balance sheet.
      • Or in other words, we can say that it is initially recorded as a prepaid expense as an asset in the balance sheet and subsequently its value is expensed over time in the profit and loss account.

     

    • Financial professionals
      • In the case of financial professionals, we consider prepaid expenses as Once expenses incur, the prepaid asset account is reduced, and an entry is made to the expense account on the income statement.

     

    Conclusion

    Now after the above explanation, I can conclude that prepaid expense is a current asset. prepaid expenses are classified under the head current assets in the balance sheet.

    This is because they provide future economic benefits to the company. As such, they are assets that can be used to generate revenue in the future.

     

    Example

    Insurance premium of Rs 50000 has been paid for one year beginning (previous year). The financial year ends on 31st  march YYYY.

    It means the premium for 6 months i.e., 1st April, YYYY(current year) to 30th September, YYYY(current year) amounting to Rs 25000 is paid in advance.

    Thus, of premium paid in advance (Rs 25000)  is a Prepaid Expense. It will be accounted as an expense in the financial year ending  31st  march next year. In the balance sheet as at 31st march YYYY ( current year ) it will be shown as Current Asset.

     

    Key points

    There are a few things to keep in mind when dealing with prepaid expenses.

    • First, is that the expenses are actually prepaid. This means that the expenses were paid for before they were used.

     

    • Second, it is essential to track the number of prepaid expenses that have been used. That is to make sure that the prepaid expenses are not overstated on the company’s financial statements. This can happen if the company pays for more goods or services than it actually

     

    • Last but not least it is important to keep in mind that changes in the value of prepaid expenses can impact the company’s net income. For example, if the company’s prepaid insurance increases in value, this will increase the company’s net income.
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  1. Ishika Pandey ca aspirant
    This answer was edited.

    Definition The trial balance is a list of all the closing balances of the general ledger at the end of the year. Or in other words, I can say that it is a statement showing debit and credit balances. A trial balance is prepared on a particular date and not on a particular period. Importance As the tRead more

    Definition

    The trial balance is a list of all the closing balances of the general ledger at the end of the year. Or in other words, I can say that it is a statement showing debit and credit balances.

    A trial balance is prepared on a particular date and not on a particular period.

    Importance

    As the trial balance is prepared at the end of the year so it is important for the preparation of financial statements like balance sheet or profit and loss

    Purpose of trial balance which are as follows:

      • To verify the arithmetical accuracy of the ledger accounts
      • This means trial balance indicates that equal debits and credits have been recorded in the ledger accounts.
      • It enables one to establish whether the posting and other accounting processes have been carried out without any arithmetical errors.
      • To help in locating errors
      • There can be some errors if the trial balance is untallied therefore to get error-free financial statements trial balance is prepared.
      • To facilitates the preparation of financial statements
      • A trial balance helps us to directly prepare the financial statements and then which gives us the right to not look or no need to refer to the ledger accounts.

     

    Preparation of trial balance

      • To verify the correctness of the posting of ledger accounts in the terms of debit credit amounts periodically, a periodic trial balance may be prepared ( say ) at the end of the month or quarter, or half year.
      • There is no point in denying that a trial balance can be prepared at any time.
      • But it should at least be prepared at the end of the accounting period to verify the arithmetical accuracy of the ledger accounts before the preparation of financial statements.

     

    Methods of preparation

    • Balance method
    • Total amount methods

     

    These are two methods that you can use to prepare trail balance, now let me explain to you in detail about these methods which are as follows:-

     

    Balance method

    • The balances of all the accounts ( including cash and bank account ) are incorporated in the trial balance.
    • When ledger accounts are balanced only this method can be used.
    • This method is generally used by accountants for preparation of the financial statements.

     

    Total amount method

    • Under this method, the total amount of debit and credit items in each ledger account is incorporated into the trial balance.
    • This method can be used immediately after the completion of posting from the books of the original entry ledger.

     

    Steps to prepare a trial balance

    • First, we need to decide the method to opt for the preparation of the trial balance which is mentioned above.
    • Then once opted, collect all the balances as per the method adopted and prepare accordingly by posting the debit and credit side of the trial balance.
    • After this process arrange all the accounts in order of their nature (assets, liabilities, equity, income, and expenses ).
    • Then you have to total debit and credit balances separately.
    • After the above steps if there is any difference between the total debit and credit side balances then that is adjusted through the suspense account.

     

    A suspense account is generated when the above case arises that is trial balance did not agree after transferring the balance of all ledger accounts including cash and bank balance.

    And also errors are not located in  timely, then the trial balance is tallied by transferring the difference between the debit and credit side to an account known as a suspense account.

     

    Rules of trial balance

    When we prepare a trial balance from the given list of ledger balances, the following rules to be kept in mind that are as follows :

    • The balance of all
    • Assets accounts
    • Expenses accounts
    • Losses
    • Drawings
    • Cash and bank balances

    Are placed in the debit column of the trial balance.

    • The balances of
    • liabilities accounts
    • income accounts
    • profits
    • capital

    Are placed in the credit column of the trial balance.

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