AccountingQA Latest Questions

Karan
Karan
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  2. Pooja_Parikh Aspiring Chartered Accountant
    This answer was edited.

    Retained earnings are kept with the company for growth instead of distributing dividends to the shareholders. Therefore the cost of retained earnings refers to its opportunity cost which is the cost of foregoing dividends by the shareholders. Therefore the cost of retained earnings is similar to theRead more

    Retained earnings are kept with the company for growth instead of distributing dividends to the shareholders. Therefore the cost of retained earnings refers to its opportunity cost which is the cost of foregoing dividends by the shareholders.

    Therefore the cost of retained earnings is similar to the cost of equity without tax and flotation cost. Hence, it can be calculated as

    Kr = Ke (1 – t) (1 – f),

    Kr = Cost of retained earnings
    Ke = Cost of equity
    t = tax rate
    f = flotation cost

    Here, flotation cost means the cost of issuing shares.

    EXAMPLE

    If cost of equity of a company was 10%, tax rate was 30% and flotation cost was 5%, then
    cost of retained earnings = 10% x (1 – 0.30)(1 – 0.05) = 6.65%.

    From the above example and formula, it is clear that the cost of retained earnings would always be less than or equal to the cost of equity since retained earnings do not involve flotation costs or tax.

    A company usually acquires funds from various sources of finance rather than a single source. Therefore the cost of capital of the company will be the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of each individual source of finance. The cost of retained earnings is thus an important factor in calculating the overall cost of capital.

    Another important factor of WACC is the cost of equity. The cost of equity is sometimes interchanged with the cost of retained earnings. However, they are not the same.

     

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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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Aadil
AadilCurious
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  2. GautamSaxena Curious .
    This answer was edited.

    Meaning of Opening Stock Opening stock is the inventory or stock of goods that are available at the beginning of the new accounting year carried down from the previous year's closing stock which is recorded in the books of accounts. In simple words, Opening stock is the goods/quantity/products thatRead more

    Meaning of Opening Stock

    Opening stock is the inventory or stock of goods that are available at the beginning of the new accounting year carried down from the previous year’s closing stock which is recorded in the books of accounts.

    • In simple words, Opening stock is the goods/quantity/products that are held by a business at the beginning of a new accounting period and it is the closing stock of the preceding year carried down.
    • Similarly, the closing stock is the number of unsold goods that remain with the business at the end of an accounting year and is further carried down to the next year as Opening Stock.

     

    Formula

    There are 3 main formulas used for Opening Stock’s calculation. They are-

    • For manufacturing companies

    Opening Stock = Raw Material Cost + Work in Progress + Finished Goods Cost

    • When only Sales, GP, COGS, and Closing Stock are given

    Opening Stock = Sales – Gross Profit – Cost of Goods Sold + Closing Stock

    • You can use this one when only limited information is provided

    Opening Stock = COGS + Closing Inventory – Purchases

     

    Types of Opening Stock

    There are three types of Opening Stock or we may also say that Opening  Stock consists of these 3 elements. They are-

    • Raw Materials- These are the unprocessed goods held by a business that is yet to be converted into finished goods.
    • Work in Progress- These include the goods that are in process but not converted into finished goods.
    • Finished Goods- These are the goods/products that have completed the manufacturing process but have not yet been sold.

    Opening Stock in Final Accounts

    Opening stock is a part of the Trading Account while preparing the Final Accounts. And this is how it is posted in the Trading A/c.

    Trading A/c (for the year ending…)

     

    Example of Opening Stock

    Example

    IKEA, the biggest Furniture manufacturer collected this data on April 1, 2021,

    Timber – $300,000

    Wood – $30,000

    Nails – $15,000

    Pre-cut Wood – $120,000

    Assembled Furniture – $400,000

    Now, adding them (as said earlier, Opening stock is a combination of these three.)

    Opening Stock (Raw Material + Work in Progress + Finished Goods) = $865,000

    Therefore, that’s how one can calculate Opening Stock.

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Aditi
Aditi
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  2. Mehak
    This answer was edited.

    Revenue and income are two accounting terms that are often used interchangeably. However, it is important to understand that these two terms are different. Let us know the difference between the two through the discussion below: What is Revenue? Revenue is the total amount of a business's sales. ItRead more

    Revenue and income are two accounting terms that are often used interchangeably. However, it is important to understand that these two terms are different. Let us know the difference between the two through the discussion below:

    What is Revenue?

    Revenue is the total amount of a business’s sales. It is the total amount earned by a business before deducting any expenses. Revenue is recognized in accounting as soon as a sale happens, even if the payment hasn’t been received yet.

    For example, XYZ Ltd sold 100 pens at a selling price of 10 per pen. The total revenue of the business is hence 1,000.

    What is Income?

    Income is the amount earned by a business after deducting any direct or indirect expenses. It is the amount that is left after subtracting all expenses, taxes and other costs from Revenue.

    Which is a broader term between the two?

    Revenue is a broader term as it includes the total earnings a business generates before deducting any expenses. It includes all sales of goods or services during a specific period.

    On the other hand, income is calculated after deducting certain expenses like taxes, interest, etc. This makes it more specific and refined than revenue.

    Revenue provides a measure of a company’s ability to generate sales and income reflects the efficiency in managing costs and generating profits.

     

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Karan
Karan
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  2. PriyanshiGupta Graduated, B.Com
    This answer was edited.

    Sales return shows the sale price of goods returned by customers. It is deducted from sales or gross sales in the income statement. It is a contra revenue account that represents returns from the customers and deductions to the original selling price, in case of any defective product received by theRead more

    Sales return shows the sale price of goods returned by customers. It is deducted from sales or gross sales in the income statement.

    It is a contra revenue account that represents returns from the customers and deductions to the original selling price, in case of any defective product received by the customer or any other manufacturing default.

    Sales allowances arise when any customer accepts the product at a lower price than the original price or, in other words, a reduction in the price charged by a seller, due to any problem related to the sold product like a quality issue, an incorrect price charged or shipment issue.

    Sales allowances are created before the final billing is paid by the buyer.

    Journal entry for sales return and allowances:

    Dr. Sales return and allowances Amt  
    Cr. Accounts receivable   Amt
    • Sales Return Account is debited because it is reverse of Sales Account which is credited at the time of sale.
    • Account Receivable Account is credited to reverse the debtors debited at the time of sale.
    • Hence Sales Return entry is just reverse of the entry recorded at the time of sale.

     

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Anushka Lalwani
Anushka Lalwani
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  2. GautamSaxena Curious .
    This answer was edited.

    Sundry debtor refers to either a person or an entity that owes money to the business. If someone buys some goods/services from the business and the payment is yet to be received, a group of such individuals or entities is called sundry debtors. Sundry debtors are also referred to as trade receivableRead more

    Sundry debtor refers to either a person or an entity that owes money to the business. If someone buys some goods/services from the business and the payment is yet to be received, a group of such individuals or entities is called sundry debtors. Sundry debtors are also referred to as trade receivables or account receivables.

    The term ‘Sundry’ means various or several, referring to a collection of miscellaneous items combined under one head. Sundry debtors typically arise from core business activities such as sales of goods or services. The business treats them as an asset.

     

    Example

    Suppose you run a business, ABC Ltd. Mr. Y bought goods from you on credit. Therefore, Mr. Y will be recorded as Debtor (current asset) in your books of accounts. Similarly, a collection of such debtors is viewed as sundry debtors from the business’ point of view.

    Journal Entry

    Rules

    As per the golden rules of accounting, we ‘debit the receiver and credit the receiver’. That’s how in this journal entry we’ll be debiting the sundry debtor’s account. Also, ‘debit what comes in and credit what goes out.’ That’s why sales a/c is credited and cash a/c is debited.

    As per the modern rules of accounting, ‘debit the increase in asset and credit the decrease in asset’. That’s why we debit sundry debtors and cash a/c. And credit sales a/c when goods are sold and inventory decreases.

     

    Why debtor is an asset?

    As we know, a debtor refers to a person or entity who owes money to the business which means, the money is to be received by them in the future, making them an asset. On the other hand, creditors are a liability to the firm as we owe them money and it is to be paid by us in the near future, making it an obligation for the firm.

     

    Sundry Debtors in Balance Sheet

    Sundry debtors are shown under the current asset heading on the balance sheet. They are often referred to as account receivables.

     

    Balance Sheet (for the year ending….)

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Anushka Lalwani
Anushka Lalwani
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  2. Akash Kumar AK
    This answer was edited.

    Goodwill In Accounting Aspect, Goodwill refers to an Intangible asset that facilitates a company in making higher profits and is a result of a business’s consistent efforts over the past years which can be the business's prestige, reputation, good name, customer trust, quality service, etc. GoodwillRead more

    Goodwill

    In Accounting Aspect, Goodwill refers to an Intangible asset that facilitates a company in making higher profits and is a result of a business’s consistent efforts over the past years which can be the business’s prestige, reputation, good name, customer trust, quality service, etc.

    Goodwill has no separate existence although the concept of goodwill comes when a company acquires another company with a willingness to pay a higher price over the fair market value of the company’s net asset in simple words the goodwill can be only realized while at the time of sale of a business.

     

    The formula for Goodwill

     

    Types of Goodwill

    there are two types of goodwill.

     

    1. Inherent Goodwill/Self-generated goodwill

    Inherent goodwill is the internally generated goodwill that was created or generated by the business itself. it is generally generated from the good reputation of the business.

    Inherent Goodwill or Self-generated goodwill is generally not shown in the books or never recognized in the books of Accounts and no journal entry for the inherent goodwill is passed.

     

    2. Purchased Goodwill/Acquired Goodwill

    At the time of acquisition of a business by another business, any amount paid over and above the net assets simply refers to the amount of Purchased Goodwill or Acquired goodwill.

    A Journal entry is passed in the case of the Purchase of goodwill.

     

    Type of Account

    generally, Goodwill is considered and recorded as an Intangible asset(long-term asset) due to its physical absence like other long-term assets.

     

    Modern rule of accounting:

    as per the Modern rule of accounting, all Assets or all possessions of a business are comes under the head Asset accounts.

    as Goodwill is treated as an Intangible asset it is an Asset Account.

     

    Journal entry for purchase of goodwill as per Modern rule

    Goodwill A/c Dr. – Amt

    To Cash/Bank A/c – Amt

    (The modern approach of accounting for the Asset account is: “Debit the increase in asset and Credit the decrease in the asset“)

     

    The golden rule of accounting

    As per the golden rule of accounting, all assets or possessions of a business other than those which are related to any person (debtor’s account) are considered Real accounts.

    Such accounts don’t close by the year-end and are carried forward.

    As Goodwill is an Intangible asset it is treated as a Real account as per the golden rule of accounting.

     

    Journal entry for purchase of goodwill as per Golden rule

    Goodwill A/c Dr. – Amt

    To Cash/Bank A/c – Amt

    (The golden rule of accounting for the Real account is: “Debit what comes in and Credit what Goes out“)

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Anushka Lalwani
Anushka Lalwani
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  2. ShreyaSharma none
    This answer was edited.

    Ledger Folio A ledger folio, in simple words, is a page number of the ledger account where the relevant account appears. The term 'folio' refers to a book, particularly a book with large sheets of paper. In accounting, it's used to maintain ledger accounts. The use of ledger folio is generally seenRead more

    Ledger Folio

    A ledger folio, in simple words, is a page number of the ledger account where the relevant account appears. The term ‘folio’ refers to a book, particularly a book with large sheets of paper. In accounting, it’s used to maintain ledger accounts.

    The use of ledger folio is generally seen in manual accounting, i.e the traditional book and paper accounting as it is a convenient tool used for tracking the relevant ledger account from its journal entry. Whereas, in computer-oriented accounting (or computerized accounting), it’s not really an issue to track your relevant ledger account.

    Ledger folio, abbreviated as ‘L.F.’, is typically seen in journal entries. The ledger folio is written in the journal entries, after the ‘date’ and ‘particulars’ columns. It is really convenient when we’re dealing with and recording a large number of journal entries. As we will be further posting them into ledger accounts, thus, ledger folio comes in as a really useful component of journal entries.

    • The number in the ledger folio may be numeric or alphanumeric.
    • The ledger folio column in the journal has nothing to do with the accounting principles and rules. It’s used by us as per our methods and needs.

     

    Example

    We’ll look at how the ledger folio column is used while recording journal entries.

     

    We can find the relevant ledger accounts on the page numbers of the book as mentioned in the above entries, i.e. the cash and sales account on page – 1 whereas, the purchases and sundry creditors on page – 2 of the relevant ledger book.

     

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Aditi
Aditi
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  2. Mehak
    This answer was edited.

    Assets can be classified as Financial or Non-financial assets. One might wonder why this is necessary.  Let us dive into this concept, beginning with understanding what financial and non-financial assets are and why they are classified as such. What are Assets? Assets are things that have a monetaryRead more

    Assets can be classified as Financial or Non-financial assets. One might wonder why this is necessary.  Let us dive into this concept, beginning with understanding what financial and non-financial assets are and why they are classified as such.

    What are Assets?

    Assets are things that have a monetary value and are beneficial for a business. Assets are commonly classified as tangible, intangible, current, fixed, financial, non-financial, etc.

    Plant and machinery, land, buildings, cash, bank balance, patents, etc are some of the examples of assets that a business has.

    What are Financial Assets?

    Financial assets are the things of value that are held by a person for their underlying value. They are intangible and do not have a physical form. For example – Stocks, bonds, debentures, options, futures, etc.

    The value of these assets may change over time depending upon the market conditions, changes in government policies, fluctuations in interest rates, etc.

    In comparison to non-financial or physical assets, financial assets are more liquid as they can be traded and can be converted into cash.

    What are Non-financial assets?

    Non-financial assets are tangible or intangible assets that have a value but cannot be easily converted into cash. They are not as liquid and generally not traded.

    Examples of such assets are buildings, plant and machinery, patents, trademarks, etc.

    Why do we separate Financial and Non-Financial Assets?

    The following are several important reasons why it is important to segregate the same:

    1. It helps in the proper classification of assets on the Financial Statements.
    2. It helps in liquidity management.
    3. It helps in Risk assessment.
    4. Tax management can be done accurately.

    Difference between Financial and Non – Financial Asset

     

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Anushka Lalwani
Anushka Lalwani
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  2. AbhishekBatabyal Helpful Pursuing CA, BCOM (HONS)
    This answer was edited.

    Meaning The term ‘Sundry creditors’ consist of two words:  ‘Sundry’ and ‘creditors’.  The word ‘sundry’ means the items which are not significant enough to be named separately. It also refers to a collection of miscellaneous items. Creditors are the person from whom money is borrowed or goods are puRead more

    Meaning

    The term ‘Sundry creditors’ consist of two words:  ‘Sundry’ and ‘creditors’. 

    The word ‘sundry’ means the items which are not significant enough to be named separately. It also refers to a collection of miscellaneous items.

    Creditors are the person from whom money is borrowed or goods are purchased on credit by a business or a non-business entity. They have to be repaid after a period of time which is usually less than or up to one year.

    By combining the meaning of both words, ’sundry’ and ‘creditor’, the term ‘sundry creditor’ will refer to the collection of insignificant creditors of an entity.

    Back in the days when accounting records were maintained on paper, only the records of those creditors were maintained separately, from whom goods are purchased regularly and in large amounts. 

    But there used to be numerous other creditors with whom the transactions were occasional and insignificant. To reduce the paperwork, records of all such creditors were maintained on a single page or book under the head ‘Sundry Creditors’

    Nowadays, as accounting records are maintained digitally, hence maintaining records of each and every creditor is not a problem. 

    Hence, every creditor whether small or big, is grouped under the head ‘Sundry creditor’ or ‘Trade Creditor’.

     

    Accounting Treatment 

    Sundry creditors are the persons to whom a business owes money. 

    Hence, as per golden rules of accounting, Sundry creditor is a personal account and the golden rule for personal account is, ‘Debit the receiver and credit the giver’ 

    We know sundry creditors are liabilities, hence, as per modern rule of accounting, sundry creditors are credited in case of increase and debited in case of decrease.

    Example, a business purchased goods for Rs. 10,000 from ABC & Co. The journal entry will as follows:

    Here, ABC & Co is the creditor. It is credited as it is a personal account and the creditor has given the goods to the business, hence the giver is credited.

    From point of view of modern rules of accounting, ABC & Co. is a creditor, a liability. On purchase of goods on credit, a liability is created. Hence, ABC & Co A/c is credited.

     

    Balance sheet

    Sundry creditor is a current liability, so it is shown on the liabilities side of a balance sheet. Trade payable and accounts payable mean sundry creditors only.

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