AccountingQA Latest Questions

Ishika Pandey
Ishika PandeyCurious
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  2. SidharthBadlani CA Inter Student

    A bills receivable book is a subsidiary book that shows the details of various bills receivables drawn on customers. It shows the amount, due date, date when the bill was drawn, name of the acceptor, and various other details pertaining to each bill. A bills payable book is a subsidiary book that shRead more

    A bills receivable book is a subsidiary book that shows the details of various bills receivables drawn on customers. It shows the amount, due date, date when the bill was drawn, name of the acceptor, and various other details pertaining to each bill.

    A bills payable book is a subsidiary book that shows the details of various bills that suppliers have drawn on the business. It shows the amount, due date, date when the bill was drawn, name of the drawer and various other details pertaining to each bill.

    The total of both these books is ultimately transferred to the general ledger. From there, it is used in drafting the balance sheet.

    Importance of bills receivable and bills payable books

    Bills receivable books help us know the amount that each customer is liable to pay us on specific dates while bills payable books help us know the amounts that we have to pay our various suppliers on certain dates.

    Together these books help us handle our cash flows in an efficient manner.

    We can evaluate our credit cycle. Bills receivable books help us avoid bad debts while bills payable books help us to avoid defaults.

     

    Difference between bills receivable and bills payable

    These are the primary differences between bills payable and bills receivable:

    • Bills receivable represent the amounts that the business is to receive from customers while bills payable represent the amounts that the business has to pay to suppliers.
    • Bills receivable are recorded as an asset in the balance sheet while bills payable are recorded as a liability.
    • Bills receivable are drawn by the business on the customers while the bills payable are drawn by the suppliers on the business.
    • Bills receivable are the outcome of credit sales while bills payable are the outcome of credit purchases.
    • Bills receivable result in an inflow of cash while bills payable result in an outflow of cash.
    • The dishonor of a bill receivable is recorded as an increase in the debtors of the business. Default on payment of bills payable may occur either because the business has become bankrupt or the business may record an increase in creditors.

    We can conclude that both bills receivable and bills payable books are subsidiary books. Bills receivable shows the details of every bill that the business has drawn on each credit customer. Bills payable show the details of every bill that each credit supplier has drawn on the business.

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Ishika Pandey
Ishika PandeyCurious
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  2. SidharthBadlani CA Inter Student
    This answer was edited.

    Yes, accounting is necessary even for not-for-profit organizations. NPOs or not-for-profit organizations are those that are created for the welfare of the society. They intend to advance some social cause. For example charities, orphanages etc Accounting for NPOs becomes necessary as the trustees ofRead more

    Yes, accounting is necessary even for not-for-profit organizations.

    NPOs or not-for-profit organizations are those that are created for the welfare of the society. They intend to advance some social cause. For example charities, orphanages etc

    Accounting for NPOs becomes necessary as the trustees of these institutions are liable to their members, the donors and the government. They discharge this function with documenting activities of the institution.

     

    What is a not-for-profit organization?

    A not-for-profit organization is an entity that undertakes charitable activities. These institutions do not have earning profit as their primary motive. Their focus is on extending social welfare.

    Every not-for-profit organization usually has a group of trustees that are responsible for handling all its operations. These trustees are accountable to the members of the NPO.

    A not-for-profit organization usually relies on donations and grants as its primary source of revenue. They do not charge the stakeholders to whom they extend their services or goods.

     

    What does accounting for Not-for-profit organizations entail

    The professionals undertaking accounting of not-for-profit organizations must have a significant knowledge of statutory provisions and accounting principles. Here is a brief overview of what accounting for a not-for-profit organizations entails

    • Ensuring that the institution fulfills all the legal compliances necessary for it to continue functioning as a NPO.
    • Documenting all the activities of the institution and ensuring that the NPO has the necessary permits to carry out those activities.
    • Accounting for all the revenue receipts and expenses of the institution. The professional must keep in mind that the interests of the members and other stakeholders are not being subjected to any prejudice.
    • In India, every NPO has to compulsorily prepare a receipt and payment account, income and expenditure account and a balance sheet. These have to be submitted to the Registrar of Societies before the due dates.

    • Every professional undertaking the accounting of a not-for-profit organization must keep in mind that a single non-compliance or partial-compliance can result in the NPO losing out on its tax-exempt status.
    • In the past there have been many instances when NPOs have been used for the purpose of money laundering or tax evasion.
    • This has resulted in the government making the compliances for these institutions more stringent. The institutions are now required to be more transparent regarding their operations.

    We can conclude that accounting is an indispensable requirements for not-for-profit organizations to be able to continue their operations and claim the statutory benefits that the government has extended to them.

     

     

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Ishika Pandey
Ishika PandeyCurious
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  2. SidharthBadlani CA Inter Student
    This answer was edited.

    Yes, the account receivable is a sub ledger account. It is an account that is used to record the payment history of each and every customer to whom the business has sold goods or provided services on credit. Accounts receivable represent the amount that the customers owe to the business with respectRead more

    Yes, the account receivable is a sub ledger account. It is an account that is used to record the payment history of each and every customer to whom the business has sold goods or provided services on credit.

    Accounts receivable represent the amount that the customers owe to the business with respect to the goods sold or services provided to them on credit. They are also known as trade receivable or debtors.

    The accounts receivable subledger shows various details of every transaction like the invoice number, amount due, date of payment, discount allowed etc. The subledger accounts are also known as the subsidiary accounts.

     

    Difference between general ledger and subledger accounts

    Here is a list of the major differences between sub-ledgers and the general ledger:

    • The subsidiary accounts or the sub ledger are a subset of the general ledger. In other words we can say that subsidiary accounts are a part of the general ledger.
    • The trial balance is prepared with the help of the general ledger and not with the help of subsidiary accounts.
    • The trial balance is prepared with the help of the general ledger and not with the help of subsidiary accounts.
    • The subledger accounts help us to store large volumes of data. They provide us with detailed and comprehensive analysis of each item of financial statements. On the other hand, a general ledger provides us with superficial information about every item in one place.

    Importance/ use of Subsidiary Account

    The usefulness of an accounts receivable sub ledger account lies in the fact that it provides detailed information about the money different customers owe to the business.

    For example, the general ledger account may show that the total balance of trade receivable is 1 lakh without indicating the individual amount that each customer owes to the business. The subsidiary account can help us by showing that customer A owes 50000 rupees, customer B owes 30000 rupees while customer C owes 20000 rupees.

    In short, the subsidiary accounts provide detailed information about each and every transaction. They help us to find useful information quickly and easily. They help us analyze the business policies and take corrective actions.

    Thus, we can conclude that accounts receivable is a subledger account that provides us detailed information about the various credit transactions and the amount that each customer owes to the business. It helps us analyze our credit policies and take corrective actions. It helps us identify and classify bad debts as such on

     

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Ishika Pandey
Ishika PandeyCurious
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  2. SidharthBadlani CA Inter Student
    This answer was edited.

    Debtors are treated as an asset. A debtor is a person or an entity who owes an amount to an enterprise against credit sales of goods and/or services rendered. When goods are sold to a person on credit that person is called a debtor because he owes that much amount to the enterprise. Debtors are consRead more

    Debtors are treated as an asset.

    A debtor is a person or an entity who owes an amount to an enterprise against credit sales of goods and/or services rendered.

    When goods are sold to a person on credit that person is called a debtor because he owes that much amount to the enterprise.

    Debtors are considered assets in the balance sheet and are shown under the head of current assets.

    For example – Ram Sold goods to Sam on credit, Sam did not pay for the goods immediately, so here Sam is the debtor for Ram because he owes the amount to Ram. This amount will be payable at a later date.

    Liabilities Vs Assets

    Liabilities

    It means the amount owed (payable) by the business.  Liability towards the owners ( proprietor or partners ) of the business is termed internal liability. For example, owner’s capital, etc

    On the other hand, liability towards outsiders, i.e., other than owners ( proprietors or partners ) is termed as an external liability.
    For example creditors, bank overdrafts, etc.

    Assets

    An asset is a resource owned or controlled by a company. The benefit from the asset will accrue to the business in current and future periods. In other words, it’s something that a company owns or controls and can use to generate profits today and in the future.
    For example – machinery, building, 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. They are readily realizable into cash.

    In other words, we can say that the expected realization period of current assets is less than the operating cycle period.

    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.

     

    Why debtors are treated as assets?

    Now let me explain to you why debtors are treated as assets and not as liabilities because of the following characteristics :

    • We can say that the expected realization period is less than the operating cycle period.
    • Expected to be converted into cash in the normal course of business.
    • In the business, debtors are treated as current assets which we can see on the asset side of the balance sheet.
    • Debtors have a debit balance.

     

    Conclusion

    Now after the above discussion, I can conclude that debtors are considered to be an asset and not a liability.

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Ishika Pandey
Ishika PandeyCurious
In: >

  2. SidharthBadlani CA Inter Student
    This answer was edited.

    Yes, a creditor is a liability. Creditors are treated as current liability. A creditor is a person who provides money or goods to a business and agrees to receive repayment of the loan or the payment of goods at a later date. The loan may be extended with or without interest. Creditors may be secureRead more

    Yes, a creditor is a liability. Creditors are treated as current liability.

    A creditor is a person who provides money or goods to a business and agrees to receive repayment of the loan or the payment of goods at a later date. The loan may be extended with or without interest.

    Creditors may be secured creditors or unsecured creditors. In the case of secured creditors, some collateral is usually pledged to them. In the case of a default, they can sell or otherwise dispose of the collateral in any manner to recover the money due to them.

    In the case of unsecured creditors, no collateral is pledged against the amount due to them. In the case of a default, they can approach a Court to enforce repayment but cannot sell any asset of the company by themselves.

    Why are Creditors treated as a liability?

    An asset is something from which the business is deriving or is likely to derive economic benefit in the future. The business has legal ownership of that asset which is legally enforceable in a court of law. For example, Plant and Machinery, accrued interest, building, etc

    A liability is a legal obligation of the business. It may be in the form of outstanding payments or loans or the owner’s share of the company that the company has to pay them as and when demanded.

    As the company has a legal obligation to pay money to the creditor, they are treated as a liability. Most creditors are to be repaid within 1 year and are hence classified as current assets.

    Treatment and Importance of Creditors

    Creditors are mostly treated as current liabilities. They are shown under the head “current liabilities” of the balance sheet of a company.

    The significance/importance of creditors is as follows:

    • The amount due to creditors affects the current and acid test ratio of a company significantly.
    • It affects the short-term cash requirements of a company.
    • It affects the credit policy of the company. A company can extend longer credit periods to customers if it can avail longer credit periods from its suppliers.
    • Having too many creditors or a large amount due to creditors can affect investor sentiment negatively regarding the business.

    We can conclude that the creditor being a person to whom the business is legally liable to pay a certain sum of money after a certain period of time has to be classified as a liability.

    Creditors play a major role in determining the success of a business. They act as a major constituent of the supply cycle of the business and affect the cash flows of the business. They are shown under the head “current liabilities” of the balance sheet of a company.

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