AccountingQA Latest Questions

Astha
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  1. Simerpreet Curious CMA Inter qualified
    This answer was edited.

    Let us begin with a short explanation of what opening balance is: The opening balance is the amount of funds that are bought forward from the end of one accounting period to the beginning of a new accounting period. In a firm’s account, the first entry done is of the opening balance. It can either hRead more

    Let us begin with a short explanation of what opening balance is:

    The opening balance is the amount of funds that are bought forward from the end of one accounting period to the beginning of a new accounting period.

    In a firm’s account, the first entry done is of the opening balance. It can either have a debit balance or a credit balance depending upon whether the firm has a negative or positive balance.

    Opening balance of a ledger

    Opening balance is the first entry of the ledger account at the beginning of an accounting period.

    In the case of a newly started business, there will be no closing balances and as such there will be no balances to be carried forward. In such a case, the investment and capital of the business will be entered as an opening balance for the current accounting period.

    So the first and foremost part is to identify on which side of the ledger i.e. the debit side or the credit side the opening balance is to be entered.

    For Example, A trial balance is given which represents the debit and credit balances, accordingly, I will prepare different ledger accounts to make it simpler.

    The trial balance shows the opening balance of various accounts. Now posting them in ledger accounts.

    As the Furniture is an Asset account, the opening balance will be on the debit side of the ledger account.

    As Sundry creditor is a credit account,  we put the opening balance on the credit side.

    As the Capital is a credit account,  we put the opening balance on the credit side.

    As Wages is a debit account,  we put the opening balance on the debit side.

    As the Discount received is a credit account,  we put the opening balance on the credit side.

    Exception

    Drawing Account.

    Drawing account is an exception to this topic. It is considered a contra account to the owner’s capital account because it reduces the value of the owner’s equity. Drawings, therefore, have no opening balance.

    Contra Entry.

    Contra entry involves transactions of cash and bank. Any entry which involves both the cash and bank is contra entry.

    For example, we deposit cash 5000 into the bank.

    Accounting entry for this transaction would be

    In this case, the ledger entry would be

    As the bank account has a debit balance, the opening balance would come on the debit side.

    As the cash account has a credit balance, the opening balance would come on the credit side.

    Alternatively, If we withdraw cash 5000 from the bank.

    Accounting entry would be

    In this case, the ledger entry would be

    As the Cash account has a debit balance, the opening balance would come on the debit side.

    As the Bank account has a credit balance, the opening balance would come on the credit side.

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Jasmeet_Sethi
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DrawingsTrial Balance
  1. 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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Bonnie
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  1. Astha Leader Pursuing CA, BCom (Hons.)
    This answer was edited.

    There are two types of ledger accounts in the accounting system – temporary and permanent. Temporary accounts are those whose balances zero out and we do not carry forward balances to the next year. Examples are revenue and expenses accounts or nominal accounts. The balances of such accounts are traRead more

    There are two types of ledger accounts in the accounting system – temporary and permanent.

    Temporary accounts are those whose balances zero out and we do not carry forward balances to the next year. Examples are revenue and expenses accounts or nominal accounts. The balances of such accounts are transferred to the profit and loss account and therefore are not balanced.

    Permanent accounts are those whose balances are carried forward to the next accounting year in form of opening balances. These accounts are balanced and such balances are transferred to the balance sheet. Examples are assets, liability and capital accounts or personal and real accounts.

    Balancing an account means equaling both the debit and the credit side of the account. Generally, there is a difference between the accounts recorded as a carry down balance in the case of permanent accounts and as a transfer balance in the case of temporary accounts.

    Balancing serves as a check to the double-entry rule of accounting.

    Balanced accounts

    As discussed above, the balanced accounts are shown in the balance sheet and the balancing figure for such accounts are carried forward to the next accounting period.

    Unbalanced accounts

    As per the above discussion, the balancing figures of unbalanced accounts are transferred to the profit and loss account and no balances are carried forward to the next accounting period.

    Suppose a company Shine Ltd. has machinery costing 5,00,000 at the beginning of the accounting period and charges depreciation of 10% on the asset. The company also has creditors amounting to 50,000 at the beginning of the period and purchases goods amounting to 30,000 on credit. It has a cash balance of 95,000 at the beginning of the period and earns interest amounting to 10,000.

    Following ledgers would be prepared to record the above entries:

    The above ledgers can be shown as follows:

    The balance of the machinery account will be shown in the balance sheet and therefore it is a balanced account.

    The balance is transferred to the profit and loss account and therefore depreciation account is an unbalanced account.

    The balance of creditors account will be shown in the balance sheet and therefore it is a balanced account.

    The balance is transferred to the profit and loss account and therefore purchases account is an unbalanced account.

    The balance of the cash account will be shown in the balance sheet and therefore it is a balanced account.

    The balance is transferred to the profit and loss account and therefore interest account is an unbalanced account.

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Bonnie
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  1. Simerpreet Curious CMA Inter qualified
    This answer was edited.

    When in a single transaction two or more accounts are involved, such kinds of transactions are termed as Compound entries. Example 1, Johnson Co. purchased goods worth 5,000, and half of the amount was paid in cash and the other half by cheque. So here three accounts are involved: Purchase account-Read more

    When in a single transaction two or more accounts are involved, such kinds of transactions are termed as Compound entries.

    Example 1, Johnson Co. purchased goods worth 5,000, and half of the amount was paid in cash and the other half by cheque.

    So here three accounts are involved:

    Purchase account- That is to be debited.

    Cash account- That is to be credited.

    Bank account- That is to be credited.

    Journal entry:

    Now posting the above journal entry in a ledger account.

    In the Journal, the Purchase account has been debited. So in the ledger, the purchase account will also be debited. Since the purchase account is debited in the ledger, the corresponding two credit accounts of this entry i.e. the cash and the bank will be written on the debit side in the particulars column. So while posting, the amount to be considered would be the amount individually paid in cash and bank as shown in the journal entry.

    Cash a/c is credited with the purchase account.  In the ledger, purchase a/c will be posted on the credit side. So while posting, the amount to be considered would be the amount individually paid in cash.

    Bank a/c is credited with the purchase account. In the ledger, purchase a/c will be posted on the credit side. So while posting, the amount to be considered would be the amount individually paid in Bank a/c.

    Example 2,  Johnson Co purchased goods and made payment in cash 2,000. Along with it, it also paid commission and interest of 1,000 and 500 respectively.

    So here four accounts are involved:

    Purchase account- That is to be debited.

    The commission allowed account- That is to be debited.

    Interest allowed account- That is to be debited.

    Cash account- That is to be credited.

    Journal Entry:

    Now posting the above journal entry in a ledger account.

    In the journal entry, the cash account has been credited. So in the ledger, the cash account will also be credited. Since the cash account is credited in the ledger, the corresponding three accounts will also be credited in the particulars column. As in the journal entry the three debit accounts viz. Purchase, the commission allowed, and interest allowed, the amounts written against them shall be entered in the respective accounts in the amount column on the credit side of the cash account.

    Purchase a/c is debited with a cash account.  In the ledger, Cash a/c will be posted on the debit side. So while posting, the amount to be considered would be the amount individually paid in the Purchase account.

    The commission allowed a/c is debited with a cash account.  In the ledger, cash a/c will be posted on the debit side. So while posting, the amount to be considered would be the amount individually paid in Commission allowed a/c.

    Interest allowed a/c is debited with a cash account.  In the ledger, cash a/c will be posted on the debit side. So while posting, the amount to be considered would be the amount individually paid in Interest allowed a/c.

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Jasmeet_Sethi
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To ascertain the debtors and creditors of the business To ascertain the financial position of the business To ascertain the profit or loss of the business To ascertain the collective effect of all ...

  1. Manvi Pursuing ACCA
    This answer was edited.

    The correct answer is 4. To ascertain the collective effect of all transactions pertaining to a particular account. The reason being is that in the ledger account all the effects are recorded for example,  how much money is spent on a particular type of expense or how much money is receivable from aRead more

    The correct answer is 4. To ascertain the collective effect of all transactions pertaining to a particular account. The reason being is that in the ledger account all the effects are recorded for example,  how much money is spent on a particular type of expense or how much money is receivable from a debtor. In ledger accounts, information can be obtained about a particular account.

    Ledger is the Principal book of accounts and also called the book of final entry. It summarises all types of accounts whether it is an Asset A/c, Liability A/c, Income A/c, or Expense A/c. The transactions recorded in the Journal/Subsidiary books are transferred to the respective ledger accounts opened.

     

    Importance of preparing ledger accounts:

    1. Ledger accounts get the ready results i.e. helps in identifying the amount payable or receivable.
    2. It is necessary for the preparation of the Trial Balance.
    3. The financial position of the business is easily available with the help of Assets A/c and Liabilities A/c.
    4. It helps in preparing various types of income statements on the basis of balances shown in ledger accounts.
    5. It can be used as a control tool as it shows balances of various accounts.
    6. It is useful for the management to forecast or plan for the future.
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Manvi
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  1. Simerpreet Curious CMA Inter qualified
    This answer was edited.

    Sales Return is shown on the debit side of the Trial Balance. Sales Return is also called Return Inward. Sales Return refers to those goods which are returned by the customer to the seller of the goods. The goods can be returned due to various reasons. For example, due to defects, quality differenceRead more

    Sales Return is shown on the debit side of the Trial Balance.

    Sales Return is also called Return Inward.

    Sales Return refers to those goods which are returned by the customer to the seller of the goods. The goods can be returned due to various reasons. For example, due to defects, quality differences, damaged products, and so on.

    In a business, sales is a form of income as it generates revenue. So, when the customer sends back those goods sold earlier, it reduces the income generated from sales and hence goes on the debit side of the trial balance as per the modern rule of accounting Debit the increases and Credit the decreases.

    For Example, Mr. Sam sold goods to Mr. John for Rs 500. Mr. John found the goods damaged and returned those goods to Mr. Sam.

    So, here Sam is the seller and John is the customer.

    The journal entry for sales return in the books of Mr. Sam will be

    Particulars Amt Amt
    Sales Return A/c 500
         To Mr John 500

    Treatment in Trial Balance

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Radha
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  1. Vijay Curious M.Com
    This answer was edited.

    The difference between a ledger & a trial balance is as follows: Basis Ledger Trial Balance Meaning Ledger is a book/register in which all the accounts are put together. A Trial Balance is a statement showing the debit and credit balance of all the accounts to ascertain the arithmetical accuracyRead more

    The difference between a ledger & a trial balance is as follows:

    Basis Ledger Trial Balance
    Meaning Ledger is a book/register in which all the accounts are put together. A Trial Balance is a statement showing the debit and credit balance of all the accounts to ascertain the arithmetical accuracy of the books of accounts.
    Basis of preparation Journal is the basis for recording transactions in the ledger. The closing balances of different accounts in the ledger are the basis for preparing the trial balance.
    Objective It is prepared to see the net effect of various transactions affecting a particular account. It is prepared to check the arithmetical accuracy of the books of accounts.
    Format A ledger has four identical columns on the debit and credit sides: 1. Date, 2. Particulars, 3. Journal Folio, 4. Amount. A Trial Balance has five columns: 1. S.No, 2. Name of Accounts, 3. Ledger Folio, 4. Debit Balance, 5. Credit Balance.
    Stage of Recording A ledger is prepared after recording the transactions in the journal. A trial balance is prepared after posting the transactions in the ledger.
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A_Team
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  1. Simerpreet Curious CMA Inter qualified
    This answer was edited.

    Specimen of Ledger account This is the specimen of a ledger account. J.F. here represents the journal folio. A Ledger account is an account that consists of all the business transactions that take place during the current financial year. For Example, cash, bank, machinery, A/c receivable account, etRead more

    Specimen of Ledger account

    This is the specimen of a ledger account. J.F. here represents the journal folio.

    A Ledger account is an account that consists of all the business transactions that take place during the current financial year.

    For Example, cash, bank, machinery, A/c receivable account, etc.

    After the financial data is recorded in the Journal. It is then classified according to the nature of accounts viz. Asset, liability, expenses, revenue, and capital to be posted in the ledger account.

    With this head, the identification as to whether the opening balance will come under the debit side or the credit side is done.

    The table below would help to understand the concept of opening balance in the ledger.

    For further clarification of the concept let me give you a practical example.

    Suppose, a manufacturing firm Amul purchased machinery for, say, Rs 2,50,000. The installation charges were Rs 25,000 and the opening balance of machinery during the year was Rs 5,00,000.

    So as the machinery account comes under the category assets, its opening balance would come under the debit side of the ledger account.

    And as purchase and installation charges mean expenses for the firm, they would also come under the debit side of the account.

    And in case of any sale of a part of the machinery, it would be posted on the credit side of the account as the sales would generate revenue for the firm.

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Aadil
Curious
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  1. Vijay Curious M.Com
    This answer was edited.

    As you know all transactions occurring in a business are recorded in the journal (book of original entry) in chronological order. After recording them in the journal, they are posted to their respective ledger accounts. Here I've explained the steps involved in posting a journal entry to the ledger.Read more

    As you know all transactions occurring in a business are recorded in the journal (book of original entry) in chronological order. After recording them in the journal, they are posted to their respective ledger accounts.

    Here I’ve explained the steps involved in posting a journal entry to the ledger.

    Posting of an account debited in the journal entry:

    Step 1: Identify the account which has to be debited in the ledger.

    Step 2: Write the date of the transaction under the ‘Date Column’ of the debit side of the ledger account.

    Step 3: Write the name of the account which has been credited in the journal entry in the ‘Particulars Column’ on the debit side of the account as “To (name of the account)”.

    Step 4: Write the page number of the journal where the entry exists in the ‘Journal Folio (JF) Column’.

    Step 5: Enter the amount in the ‘Amount Column’ on the debit side of the ledger account.

    Posting of an account credited in the journal entry:

    Step 1: Identify the account which has to be credited in the ledger.

    Step 2: Write the date of the transaction under the ‘Date Column’ of the credit side of the ledger account.

    Step 3: Write the name of the account which has been debited in the journal entry in the ‘Particulars Column’ on the credit side of the account as “By (name of the account)”.

    Step 4: Write the page number of the journal where the entry exists in the ‘Journal Folio (JF) Column’.

    Step 5: Enter the amount in the ‘Amount Column’ on the credit side of the ledger account.

    I’ll explain the process of preparing a ledger A/c with a simple transaction.

    On 1st May ABC Ltd. purchased machinery for 5,00,000. In the Journal the following entry will be made.

    Machinery A/c   5,00,000
       To Bank A/c   5,00,000
    (Being machinery purchased for 5,00,000)

    Let’s assume that this entry appears on page no. 32 of the journal. Now we will open Machinery A/c and Bank A/c in the Ledger.

    On the debit side of the Machinery A/c “To Bank A/c” will be written. In the Bank A/c “By Machinery A/c” will be written on the credit side.

    An extract of both the accounts are as follows:

    Machinery A/c

    Date Particulars J.F. Amt. Date Particulars J.F. Amt.
    May-01 To Bank A/c 32   5,00,000

     

    Bank A/c

    Date Particulars J.F. Amt. Date Particulars J.F. Amt.
    May-01 By Machinery A/c 32   5,00,000
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