AccountingQA Latest Questions

Jasmeet_Sethi
Jasmeet_SethiCurious
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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    Drawings mean the certain sum of amount or goods withdrawn by owners from the business for personal use.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    Drawings mean the certain sum of amount or goods withdrawn by owners from the business for personal use.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on Financial Statements: The owner’s drawings will affect the company’s balance sheet by decreasing the asset that is withdrawn, and a corresponding decrease in the owner’s equity or capital invested.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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Vijay
VijayCurious
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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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Manvi
Manvi
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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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Simerpreet
SimerpreetHelpful
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  2. Naina@123 (B.COM and CMA-Final)
    This answer was edited.

    As per the companies act 2013, the rate of depreciation for cars/vehicles and their useful life is mentioned below  They are categorized by the companies act as follows: when these car/ motor vehicles are owned with no intention to sell within the accounting period and are generally used to generateRead more

    As per the companies act 2013, the rate of depreciation for cars/vehicles and their useful life is mentioned below

     They are categorized by the companies act as follows:

    1. when these car/ motor vehicles are owned with no intention to sell within the accounting period and are generally used to generate revenue. For example, giving cars/motor vehicles on lease or hire purpose.
    2. cars/motor vehicles when used for purposes other than the business of hire. For example, a car is owned for official use.

    Car/motor vehicles are considered as fixed tangible assets. Treatment of these cars/ motor vehicles is similar to those of other fixed assets. The depreciation will be shown as an expense in the profit and loss account and also the value of these assets will be adjusted in the balance sheet.

    Explaining with a simple example:  Mars.Ltd purchased a car for Rs 10,00,000, and use it for its official purpose. Its useful life as per act is taken as 6 years and the rate of depreciation as 31.23% as per the WDV method.

    Therefore depreciation as per WDV is calculated as follows

    Cost of car = Rs 10,00,000

    Residual value = NIL

    Rate of depreciation = 31.23%

    depreciation for first-year = Rs (10,00,000 – NIL)*31.23%

    = Rs 3,12,300

    Calculated depreciation on this car will be shown in the profit and loss account as an expense and the same will be treated under the balance sheet every year. Here is the extract of profit and loss and the balance sheet for the above example.

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Jasmeet_Sethi
Jasmeet_SethiCurious
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CreditorsDebtorsDifference BetweenGainProfit
  2. Karan B.com and Pursuing ACCA
    This answer was edited.

    Debtors and Creditors Points of Distinction Debtors Creditors Meaning A debtor is a person or entity that owes money to the other party (the other party is also known as the creditor). A creditor is a person or entity to whom money is owed or who lends money. Nature The debtors will have a debit balRead more

    Debtors and Creditors

    Points of Distinction Debtors Creditors
    Meaning A debtor is a person or entity that owes money to the other party (the other party is also known as the creditor). A creditor is a person or entity to whom money is owed or who lends money.
    Nature The debtors will have a debit balance. The creditors will have a credit balance.
    Receipt of payment The payment or amount owed is received from the debtor. The payment of the amount owed is made to the creditors.
    Nature of account Debtors are account receivables. Creditors are accounts payable.
    Status They are shown under assets in the balance sheet under the head current assets. They are shown as an asset because the amount is receivable from them. They are shown under liabilities in the balance sheet under the head current liabilities. They are shown as a liability because the amount is payable to them.
    Credit / Loan period Debtors are the one who takes a loan or purchase goods on credit and has to pay the money in the agreed time period, with or without interest. Creditors are the ones who provide loans or extend the duration of the credit period.
    Discounts They are the ones who receive discounts. They can offer discounts to debtors.
    Provision for doubtful debts Provision for doubtful debts is created for debtors. No such provision is created for creditors.

     Example:

    Mr. A purchases raw materials from its supplier Mr. D on credit.

    Here for Mr. D, Mr. A will be a debtor because the amount is receivable from him.

    Similarly, for Mr. A, Mr. D will be his creditor because the amount is payable to him.

    Profit and Gain

    Points of Distinction Profit Gain
    Meaning The excess of revenue of a period over its expenses is termed as profit.

    Profit = Total Income-Total Expenses

    		 Gain means profit that arises from incidental events and transactions, such as capital gain.
    Generation It is generated within the operations of a business. It is generated outside the business operation.
    Nature of account Profit calculated will appear in the Profit and Loss A/c. The gain will appear in the income statement.
    Types Gross profit

    Net profit

    Operating profit

    		  

    Capital gain

    Long term capital gain

    Short term capital gain

     

    Example: A company’s sales for the period are $60,000 and expenses incurred are $40,000. Here the profit calculated will be $20,000 because revenue exceeds expenses.

    Profit = Total Income-Total Expenses

    = 60,000 – 40,000

    = $20,000

    Mr. X owned land worth $10,00,000 and after 10 years he sold it at a current market value of $14,00,000. So the gain he earned is $4,00,000. This gain of $4,00,000 will be termed as a capital gain since land is a capital asset.

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Jayesh Gupta
Jayesh GuptaCurious
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  2. Vijay Curious M.Com
    This answer was edited.

    Yes, I agree with your statement that accounting information should be comparable. Comparability is one of the qualitative characteristics of accounting information. It means that users should be able to compare a company's financial statements across time and across other companies. Comparability oRead more

    Yes, I agree with your statement that accounting information should be comparable.

    Comparability is one of the qualitative characteristics of accounting information. It means that users should be able to compare a company’s financial statements across time and across other companies.

    Comparability of financial statements is crucial due to the following reasons:

    1. Intra-Firm Comparison:

    Comparison of financial statements of two or more periods of the same firm is known as an intra-firm comparison.

    Comparability of accounting information enables the users to analyze the financial statements of a business over a period of time. It helps them to monitor whether the firm’s financial performance has improved over time.

    The intra-firm analysis is also known as Time Series Analysis or Trend Analysis.

    To understand intra-firm analysis, I have provided an extract of the balance sheet of ABC Ltd. for two accounting periods.

    2. Inter-Firm Comparison:

    Comparison of financial statements of two or more firms is known as an inter-firm comparison.

    Inter-firm comparison helps in analyzing the financial performance of two or more competing firms in an industry. It enables the firm to know its position in the market in comparison to its competitors.

    Inter-firm comparison is also known as Cross-sectional Analysis.

    I’ve provided the balance sheets of Co. A and Co.B to make an inter-firm comparison.

    Here is a piece of bonus information for you,

    Sector Analysis – it refers to the assessment of economical and financial conditions of a given sector of a company/industry/economy. It involves the analysis of the size, demographic, pricing, competitive, and other economic dimensions of a sector of the company/industry/economy.

    One more important thing to note here is that comparability can only be achieved when the firms are consistent in the accounting principles and standards they adopt. The accounting policies and standards must be consistent across different periods of the same firm and across different firms in an industry.

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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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