AccountingQA Latest Questions

Bonnie
BonnieCurious
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  2. GautamSaxena Curious .

    Capitalize in Accounting The term 'capitalized' in accounting means to record an expenditure as an asset on the balance sheet. Capitalization takes place when a business buys an asset that has a useful life. The cost of the relevant asset is then allocated to expense over its useful life i.e charginRead more

    Capitalize in Accounting

    The term ‘capitalized’ in accounting means to record an expenditure as an asset on the balance sheet. Capitalization takes place when a business buys an asset that has a useful life. The cost of the relevant asset is then allocated to expense over its useful life i.e charging depreciation, etc. This means that the relevant expenditure will appear on the balance sheet instead of the income statement. The capitalizing of the expenses is a benefit for the company as the assets bought by them for the long-term are subjected to depreciation and capitalizing expenses can amortize or depreciate the costs. This process is called capitalization.

    In order to capitalize any expense, we’ll have to make sure it meets the criteria stated below.

    The assets exceeding the capitalization limit

    The companies set a capitalization limit, below which the expenses are considered too immaterial to be capitalized. Therefore, the limit is supposed to be followed and considered as it controls the capitalization of the expenses. Generally, the capitalization limit is $1,000.

    The assets have a useful life 

    The companies also seek to generate revenues for a long period of time. Thus, the asset should have a long and useful life at least a year or more. Thereby, the business can record it as an asset and depreciate it over its valuable life.

    Most of the important principles of capitalization in accounting are from the matching principle.

     

    Matching Principle

    The matching principle states that the expenses in the accounting should be recorded when they are incurred and not when the payment is made. This helps the business identify the amounts spent to generate revenue.

    For e.g, the company bought machinery for manufacturing goods with more efficiency. It is supposed to have a useful life for a period of over 10 years. Instead of expensing the entire cost of the machinery, the company will write off (depreciated) the cost of the asset over its useful life i.e 10 years. Therefore, the asset will be written off as it is used and these types of assets are automatically used as capitalized assets.

     

    Benefits of Capitalization

    Capitalization is of course recording expenses as an asset but this indeed has benefits.

    • This reduces the fluctuation of income over time as the fixed assets (long-term) are costly. For the small business owners or the small firms, it’s even greater.
    • The capitalization of expenditures increases the company’s asset balance, without changing the company’s liability balance. This improves the financial ratios like the current ratio.
    •  Small businesses have a provision for tax benefits related to the depreciation of capitalized assets. Section 179 of depreciation allows those business owners to depreciate certain assets quicker than others are allowed.

     

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Bonnie
BonnieCurious
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  2. A_Team (MBA - Finance Student) ISB College

    Profitability ratios measure how profitable a company is and are used to assess its performance and efficiency. Based on the income statement and balance sheet of a company, these ratios are calculated. In terms of profitability ratios, there are several types, each providing a different viewpoint.Read more

    Profitability ratios measure how profitable a company is and are used to assess its performance and efficiency. Based on the income statement and balance sheet of a company, these ratios are calculated.

    In terms of profitability ratios, there are several types, each providing a different viewpoint.

    The following are some common profitability ratios:

    Gross profit margin: This ratio measures the percentage of revenue that remains after the cost of goods sold has been deducted. Producing and selling efficiently is indicated by this metric.

    Net profit margin: An organization’s net profit margin is the portion of revenue left after all expenses have been deducted. A company’s profitability is measured by this indicator.

    Return on assets (ROA): This ratio measures how profitable a company’s assets are. In other words, it indicates how effectively a company generates profits from its assets.

    Return on equity (ROE): This ratio measures the profitability of a company’s equity. It shows how effectively a company generates profits from its shareholders’ investments.

    Analysts and investors use profitability ratios to evaluate a company’s performance and profitability ability.

    An investor or analyst can evaluate a company’s relative strength and identify potential opportunities or risks by comparing its profitability ratios with its peers or its industry averages.

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Ayushi
AyushiCurious
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  2. Pooja_Parikh Aspiring Chartered Accountant
    This answer was edited.

    The major affairs of the company are handled by the manager and hence he is entitled to receive some compensation for his efforts. This is termed Managerial Remuneration. The manager has to bring out the maximum potential of the employees while ensuring that the interests of the shareholders and othRead more

    The major affairs of the company are handled by the manager and hence he is entitled to receive some compensation for his efforts. This is termed Managerial Remuneration. The manager has to bring out the maximum potential of the employees while ensuring that the interests of the shareholders and other stakeholders are secured.

    MAXIMUM REMUNERATION

    As per section 197 of the Companies Act, the Company has certain limits on paying maximum remuneration, depending on whether he is working full-time or part-time. If the company has only one whole-time manager, he is entitled to a maximum remuneration of 5% of net profits. If there is more than one whole time manager, then the percentage increases to 10%.

    For part-time directors, the remuneration allowed is 1% of net profits (if there is a whole-time director present) and if no whole-time manager is present, then remuneration for a part-time director is 3%.

    Therefore, a company can only pay a maximum remuneration of 11% of net profits.

    A public company is allowed to pay remuneration in excess of 11% by :

    • Passing a special resolution approved by the shareholders
    • Subject to compliance with Schedule V conditions

    Remuneration can be paid to such managers who do not have any direct interest in the company and also possesses special knowledge and expertise along with a graduate-level qualification.

    PENALTY

    Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of managerial remuneration shall be punishable with a fine that can vary from Rs. 1 Lakh to a maximum of Rs. 5 Lakhs.

    However, Sec 197 applies to only public companies and hence private companies are free to pay managerial remuneration with no upper limit.

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AbhishekBatabyal
AbhishekBatabyalHelpful
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  2. GautamSaxena Curious .
    This answer was edited.

    The land is a fixed asset and is treated as a long-term asset account.  Explanation The land is a fixed asset which is also referred to as a long-term asset. The fixed assets are those assets that are not expected to be cashed, consumed, last, sold, or written off within one accounting year and areRead more

    The land is a fixed asset and is treated as a long-term asset account. 

    Explanation

    The land is a fixed asset which is also referred to as a long-term asset.

    The fixed assets are those assets that are not expected to be cashed, consumed, last, sold, or written off within one accounting year and are purchased for long-term use. The fixed assets are also called non-current assets and the reason behind it is that current assets are easily converted into cash within one year and they are not.

    Fixed assets are planned by the company to be used for the long term in order to generate income.

    Example- Land, building, furniture, plants & equipment, etc.

     

    Why is land an asset?

    Although the land is not depreciated, it is still considered to be an asset because just like other assets the business spends its own money to acquire it.

    It can also be used by the business for different operations and it doesn’t create any liability for the business. Instead, reselling the land after a few years can help the company earn a huge margin of profit.

     

    Land in the balance sheet

    On the asset side of the balance sheet, the land is stated under the heading long-term assets.

    Balance Sheet (for the year…)

     

    Therefore, the land is a fixed asset and is treated as a long-term asset account.

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Simerpreet
SimerpreetHelpful
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  2. SidharthBadlani CA Inter Student
    This answer was edited.

    Accrued expenses are those expenses that have already been incurred but not paid. The business has already received the benefit of these goods or services but is yet to pay for them. For example, X Ltd took an insurance policy on 30th September 20XX. The premium is to be paid annually on 30th SeptemRead more

    Accrued expenses are those expenses that have already been incurred but not paid. The business has already received the benefit of these goods or services but is yet to pay for them.

    For example,

    • X Ltd took an insurance policy on 30th September 20XX. The premium is to be paid annually on 30th September every year for the next 20 years.
    • While preparing the financial statements for the year 20XX – 20XX+1, the business will recognize insurance premiums for the period 30th September, 20XX to 31st March 20XX+1 as an accrued expense. The premium would be actually paid on September 20XX+1.
    • As we can see, the company has already incurred the insurance premium for the period 30th September, 20XX to 31st March 20XX+1.
    • Thus, it has to recognize the same as an expense of that period only even though it will be actually paid in the next accounting period.

    Why does the concept of accrued expenses arise in accounting?

    The concept of accrued expenses arises in accounting because accounting records transactions on an accrual and not cash basis.

    Accounting on an accrual basis implies recording transactions as and when they are incurred while recording transactions on a cash basis means recording them as and when cash is actually paid for receiving those services.

    For example,

    • X Ltd ordered 5 televisions from LG. It received the delivery of all 5 televisions on 1st March, 20XX. However, it received the invoice for those televisions on 31st April, 20XX.
    • Now, the question arises as to whether while preparing the financial statements on 31st March, 20XX, X Ltd will recognize the cost of those 5 televisions as a purchase expenditure.
    • If X Ltd were recording transactions on a cash basis, they would not have recognized the cost of those 5 televisions as a purchase expenditure in the financial statements prepared on 31st March 20XX as the payment had been made in the next financial year.
    • Thus, in that case, that purchase would be recorded in the financial statements of the next year.
    • However, accounting is done on an accrual basis. As per accrual basis, as the event of purchase has occurred during the financial year ending 31st March 20XX, it must be recorded in financial statements for that period only.
    • Thus, due to the accrual basis, X Ltd will record that expenditure in the financial statements prepared on 31st March 20XX even though cash has been paid in the next financial year.

    Treatment of Accrued Expenses

    Accrued expenses are classified as current liabilities. That is because the business has a short-term obligation to pay these expenses. The other party has a legal right to receive the amount due. In other words, accrued expenses become payable in the near term.

    As current liabilities, accrued expenses are carried in the balance sheet on the liabilities side. They are also recognized in the income statement as an expense as per the concept of accrual basis of accounting.

    Conclusion

    Accrued expenses are the expenses for which the business has already received the benefit of goods or services but which are payable in an accounting period other than the one in which such benefit is received.

    As per the accrual basis of accounting, they are recognized in the year in which the expense is incurred. The expense is carried forward as a current liability until the period in which it is actually paid.

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