AccountingQA Latest Questions

Manvi
Manvi
In: >

External Users
  2. Karan B.com and Pursuing ACCA
    This answer was edited.

    External users are people outside the business or entity who use accounting information. They do not have a direct link with the organization but can influence or can be influenced by the organization's activities. For example - Tax Authorities, Banks, Customers, Trade Unions, Government, Investors,Read more

    External users are people outside the business or entity who use accounting information. They do not have a direct link with the organization but can influence or can be influenced by the organization’s activities.

    For example – Tax Authorities, Banks, Customers, Trade Unions, Government, Investors, or Creditors.

    External Users:

    • Investors – Investors are interested in the past performance and future earnings of the business. They want to track the performance of their business whether it is giving them any benefit or not. A business’s past information helps investors in assessing their investments.
    • Creditors or Suppliers – Some suppliers provide goods and services on credit, and before providing any credit they check the company’s ability to pay. Creditors are interested in the company’s liquidity i.e to see if a company can fulfill short-term obligations.
    • Customers – Customers are more interested in a company’s financial statement as they rely on them for goods and services. They check the ability of the company whether it is providing them good quality goods and will continue to provide them in future.
    • Banks – Banks are most likely interested in the liquidity and profitability of the company. They keep track of whether the company can pay the debt when it is due along with interest.
    • Government – The company’s activities are central to the economy and must be met by them. The government controls a company’s actions if they break a law or damage the environment.
    • Environmental agencies – They keep an eye on organizations whether their activities are harming the environment or not.
    • Trade unions – They take an active part in the decision-making process. They want to see the financial statements of the company and want to decide the compensation of the employees they represent.
    • Tax authorities – They determine whether the business has declared the correct amount of tax in its tax returns. They conduct audits of the tax returns to verify them with the accounting records disclosed.

    Here is a summary of external users

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Vijay
VijayCurious
In: >

Companies Act
  2. Naina@123 (B.COM and CMA-Final)
    This answer was edited.

    Simply explaining the meaning of the useful life of an asset, it is nothing but the number of years the asset would remain in the business for purpose of revenue generation, making it more simple, the amount of time an asset is expected to be functional and fit for use.  It is also called economic lRead more

    Simply explaining the meaning of the useful life of an asset, it is nothing but the number of years the asset would remain in the business for purpose of revenue generation, making it more simple, the amount of time an asset is expected to be functional and fit for use.  It is also called economic life or service life

    It is a useful concept in accounting as it is used to work out depreciation. By knowing this useful life of an asset an entity can easily analyze how to allot the initial cost of an asset across the relevant accounting period rather than doing it unfairly manner.

    How do we calculate the useful life of an asset?

    The useful life of an asset is not an accounting policy, but an accounting estimate. calculating useful life is not an exact phenomenon but an estimate that is done because it directly impacts how much an asset is to expense every year.

    Factors affecting “how long an asset is expected to be useful” depends on some stated points as below:

    1. Usage, the more the assets are used, the more quickly it will deteriorate.
    2. Whether the asset is new at the time of purchase or reused model.
    3. Change in technology.

    As per the companies act 2013, some of the useful life of assets are stated below

    To know more about the different categories of assets you can follow the given link useful life of assets.

    POINT TO BE NOTED:- There lies a huge difference in the useful life v/s the physical life of an asset. It is very important to note that amount of time an asset is used in a business is not always be same as an asset’s entire life span.

     

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Jasmeet_Sethi
Jasmeet_SethiCurious
In: >

DrawingsTrial Balance
  2. Manvi Pursuing ACCA
    This answer was edited.

    Drawings mean the certain sum of amount or goods withdrawn by owners from the business for personal use. The drawings account is not an asset/liability/expense/income account, it is a contra account to the owner's equity or capital account. Drawings A/c will always have a debit balance. Drawings A/cRead more

    Drawings mean the certain sum of amount or goods withdrawn by owners from the business for personal use. The drawings account is not an asset/liability/expense/income account, it is a contra account to the owner’s equity or capital account. Drawings A/c will always have a debit balance.

    Drawings A/c debit balance is contrary to the Capital A/c credit balance because any withdrawal from the business for personal use will reduce the capital.

    Effect on Trial Balance: Drawings will be shown in the debit column of the trial balance.

    Effect on Financial Statements: The owner’s drawings will affect the company’s balance sheet by decreasing the asset that is withdrawn, and a corresponding decrease in the owner’s equity or capital invested.

    Example:

    Mr.B a sole proprietor withdraws $100 each month for personal use. At the end of the year Drawings A/c had a debit balance of $1,200.

    Mr.B records drawings of $100 each month and debits drawings a/c and credits cash a/c. At the end of the year, he will transfer the balance and will debit capital a/c and credit drawings a/c by $1,200.

    He will show a balance of $1,200 ($100*12) in the trial balance in the debit column. Assuming closing capital of $50,000.

    In the financial statement, the balance of drawings a/c will be deducted from the owner’s capital because it is a contra account and this will reduce the owner’s capital for the year.

     

     

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prashant06
prashant06
In: >

DrawingsIncome Statement
  2. Radha M.Com, NET
    This answer was edited.

    Whenever the proprietor/owner of a business withdraws cash or goods from the business for his/her personal use, we call it drawings. For example, Alex, proprietor of a soap manufacturing company, takes 50 pack of soaps costing 30 each for his personal use. So, 1,500 (50*30) will be considered as draRead more

    Whenever the proprietor/owner of a business withdraws cash or goods from the business for his/her personal use, we call it drawings. For example, Alex, proprietor of a soap manufacturing company, takes 50 pack of soaps costing 30 each for his personal use. So, 1,500 (50*30) will be considered as drawings of Alex. One important thing to note here is whenever goods are withdrawn for personal use they are valued at cost.

    Drawings are not an asset/liability/expense/income to the business. The drawings account is a contra-equity account. A contra-equity account is a capital account with a negative balance i.e. debit balance. It reduces the owner’s equity/capital.

    Drawings being a contra-equity account has a debit balance, reducing the owner’s capital in the business. This is because withdrawals for personal use represent a reduction of the owner’s equity in the business.

    Drawings are not shown in the Income Statement as they are neither an expense nor an income for the business. However, the following journal entries are passed to record drawings for the year:

    Drawings A/c is debited because it reduces the owner’s capital. Cash/Purchases A/c is debited as a withdrawal reduces the assets of the business.

    At the end of the year, drawings A/c are closed by transferring it to the owner’s capital A/c. We post the following entry to close the drawings A/c at the end of the year:

    In the balance sheet, drawings are shown by deducting it from the owner’s capital A/c.

    Let us take our earlier example of Alex. He withdrew soaps worth 1,500. At the end of the year, his capital was worth 5,500. The journal entry for recording the drawings is as follows:

    In the balance sheet, drawings worth 1,500 are shown as follows:

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Jasmeet_Sethi
Jasmeet_SethiCurious
In: >

Current AssetsLoose Tools
  2. Karan B.com and Pursuing ACCA
    This answer was edited.

    Current assets are all the assets of the company which are expected to be used, sold, or consumed within one year. Current assets are those assets that can be converted into cash easily. For example - Inventory, Accounts Receivable, Cash, and Cash Equivalents. Loose tools are parts of machinery or sRead more

    Current assets are all the assets of the company which are expected to be used, sold, or consumed within one year. Current assets are those assets that can be converted into cash easily.

    For example – Inventory, Accounts Receivable, Cash, and Cash Equivalents.

    Loose tools are parts of machinery or spare parts of machinery. Loose can be classified on the nature of use whether it is a fixed asset or a current asset. If loose tools are used regularly or within one accounting year, it is classified as a current asset.

    Loose tools are usually classified as a current asset, however, there is one exception i.e it is excluded from the current ratio.

    They are excluded from the current ratio because the current ratio takes into account only current assets, and the nature of loose tools is either a fixed asset or a current asset and can’t be converted into cash easily.

    The current ratio is calculated to check the liquidity of the company.

    Loose tools appear in the Asset Side of the Balance Sheet under the head Current Asset, subhead Inventories.

    The extract of the Balance Sheet is as follows:

    When the balance sheet prepared under Schedule III loose tools is shown under notes to accounts under sub-head Inventories on the asset side.

    When the balance sheet is in a T format loose appears as a current asset after recording fixed assets on the asset side.

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A_Team
A_Team
In: >

Final AccountsLoose Tools
  2. Vijay Curious M.Com
    This answer was edited.

    Let me begin by giving a small explanation of what loose tools are before we dive into their accounting treatment. Loose tools are assets that are used in various steps of the production process and therefore are vital for the conversion of raw materials into finished goods. They are considered as cRead more

    Let me begin by giving a small explanation of what loose tools are before we dive into their accounting treatment.

    Loose tools are assets that are used in various steps of the production process and therefore are vital for the conversion of raw materials into finished goods. They are considered as current assets of the business as their useful life is limited. They have a small monetary value (cost-efficient) and high turnover. Examples of loose tools include screwdrivers, hammers, etc.

    One may say loose tools like screwdrivers and hammers can be used for more than one year and therefore should be classified as non-current assets. But unlike fixed assets, these loose tools have a high probability of being misplaced or lost. Hence they are classified as current assets.

    Since loose tools are treated as an asset for the business, they are shown as a debit balance in the trial balance.

    The cost of loose tools consumed for the year will be shown on the debit side of the Profit & Loss A/c as an expense. In the balance sheet, loose tools are shown on the Assets side under the head Current Assets and sub-head Inventories. Since they aid the production process, loose tools are shown as a part of the inventory of the business.

    Let us take an example,

    XYZ Ltd. at the beginning of the year had loose tools worth 5,000. During the year they purchased loose tools worth 500. At the end of the year, the company valued its loose tools at 4,500.

    Now let us find the cost of loose tools consumed. The formula for finding the cost of loose tools consumed is as follows:

    Cost of loose tools consumed  = Opening inventory of loose tools + Purchases of loose tools – Closing inventory of loose tools

    Cost of loose tools consumed = 5,000 + 500 – 4,500 = 1,000

    So, the cost of loose tools consumed (1000) will be shown on the debit side of the P&L A/c as follows:

    The closing inventory of loose tools worth 4,500 will be shown on the assets side of the balance sheet under the head current assets and sub-head inventory in the following manner:

    One thing to remember here is there is an exception to loose tools. While calculating liquidity ratios like the Current ratio, Quick ratio, etc. loose tools are excluded from current assets. The reason for this is loose tools cannot be easily converted into cash i.e. they are less liquid. The purpose of calculating the current ratio is to check the liquidity of a company. Including loose tools (which cannot be easily converted into cash) in current assets defeats the purpose of calculating the ratio.

     

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Simerpreet
SimerpreetHelpful
In: >

Working Capital
  2. 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.

    working capital formula

    Sources of Working Capital

    Any transaction that increases the amount of working capital for 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 and long term sources of working capital

    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 debenture holders.

    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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