AccountingQA Latest Questions

Ishika Pandey
Ishika PandeyCurious
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  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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Astha
AsthaLeader
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  2. GautamSaxena Curious .
    This answer was edited.

    Current Assets & Examples Current Assets are those assets that are bought by the company for a short duration and are expected to be converted into cash, consumed, or written off within one accounting year. They are also called short-term assets. These short-term assets are typically called currRead more

    Current Assets & Examples

    Current Assets are those assets that are bought by the company for a short duration and are expected to be converted into cash, consumed, or written off within one accounting year. They are also called short-term assets.

    These short-term assets are typically called current assets by the accountants and have no long-term future in the business. Current assets may be held by a company for a duration of a complete accounting year, 12 months, or maybe less. A major reason for the conversion of current assets into cash within a very short amount of time is to pay off the current liabilities.

    Examples

    Some of the major examples of current assets are – cash in hand, cash at the bank, bills receivables, sundry debtors, prepaid expenses, stock or inventory, other liquid assets, etc.

    • All of these assets are converted into cash within one accounting year.
    • Liquid assets are a part of current assets. Although they are easier to be converted into cash than current assets.
    • Current assets (along with current liabilities) help in the calculation of the current ratio. And they’re also referred to as circulating/floating assets.
    • Current assets are shown on the balance sheet (on the asset side) under the heading, current assets.

    Current assets on the balance sheet

    Balance Sheet (for the year…)

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prashant06
prashant06
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  2. Naina@123 (B.COM and CMA-Final)
    This answer was edited.

    Prepaid expenses are those expenses that have not been expired yet but their payment has already made in advance. There are many examples of prepaid expenses such as rent paid in advance, interest paid in advance, unexpired insurance You might be wondering what kind of account it is? As the name sugRead more

    Prepaid expenses are those expenses that have not been expired yet but their payment has already made in advance. There are many examples of prepaid expenses such as rent paid in advance, interest paid in advance, unexpired insurance

    You might be wondering what kind of account it is? As the name suggests it should be an expense but actually it’s an asset. When we initially record prepaid expenses we consider them as current assets and show them in the balance sheet. It turns out to be an expense when we use the service/item for what we have paid for in advance.

    The entry for the above explanation is as follows:

    From the modern rule, we know Assets and expenses increased are debits while decrease in assets and expenses are credit.

    As this is asset, increase in asset therefore we debit prepaid expense and on the other hand we pay cash/ bank on behalf of that asset in advance hence there is decrease in assets hence credited. The entry will be as follows:

    Prepaid Expense A/c                                                  …….Dr XXX
               To Cash/ Bank XXX

    when this prepaid expense actually becomes expense we pass the adjusting entry. The entry will be as follows:

    Expense A/c                                                               …….Dr XXX
               To Prepaid expense XXX

    Let me give you simple example of the above entry.

    Suppose you pay advance rent of Rs 9,000 for six months for the space you haven’t used yet. So you need to record this as prepaid expense and show it on the asset side of the balance sheet under current assets. Since you paid for the same the entry would be as follows:

    Prepaid Rent A/c                                                  …….Dr 9,000
               To Cash/ Bank 9,000

    As each month passes we will adjust the rent with prepaid rent account. Since the rent was advanced for 6 months, therefore (9,000/6) Rs 1500 will be adjusted each month with the rent expense account. The adjustment entry will be:

    Rent A/c                                                               …….Dr 1,500
               To Prepaid rent 1,500

    The process is repeated until the rent is used and asset account becomes nil.

     

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Aditi
Aditi
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  2. Mehak
    This answer was edited.

    Every business requires research and development to create innovative products for consumers. More innovative and creative products and services are more popular among customers, leading to increased revenue and profits for the business. Creating new products or designing changes and testing existinRead more

    Every business requires research and development to create innovative products for consumers. More innovative and creative products and services are more popular among customers, leading to increased revenue and profits for the business.

    Creating new products or designing changes and testing existing products also forms a part of research and development.

    Examples of Research and Development costs are –

    1. Salaries of employees
    2. Cost of making prototypes
    3. Cost of raw material
    4. Overhead expenses

    Let us now understand how research and development costs are treated in Financial Statements.

    Research and Development Costs are generally shown as an expense in the Income Statement.

    IAS-38

    IAS-38 majorly governs the accounting of research and development costs. There are two phases in R&D:

    • Research: During this phase, costs are incurred for understanding or designing the product. These costs are expensed as incurred costs as there is an uncertainty of a future benefit.
    •  Development: Economic value can be ascertained during this phase and hence, the costs incurred can be capitalized as Intangible assets. To be recognised as intangible assets, the following conditions shall be satisfied:

    1. it is developed with the intention of putting it to use in the future

    2.  the asset shall hold an economic value

    3. the costs can be measured reliably

    Treatment of R&D costs in the Financial statements:

      1. Income statement: Research costs are shown as expenses in the income statement. However, development costs if capitalized as intangible assets can be amortised over time.
      2. Balance Sheet: Capitalised development costs are shown as intangible assets under the Assets head of the Balance Sheet.

    Conclusion

    The above discussion can be summarised as follows:

    1. Research and development is essential for creating innovative and creative products and services.
    2. Accounting standard IAS-38 governs the accounting for Research and Development.
    3. Research costs are usually shown as an expense in the Income statement of the business.
    4.  Development costs when capitalised can be shown as Intangible assets in the Balance Sheet.
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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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A_Team
A_Team
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Goodwill Patents Preliminary Expense A/c Claims Receivable

  2. Karishma
    This answer was edited.

    Fictitious assets are expenses or losses not written off entirely in the profit and loss account during the accounting year in which they occur. Fictitious assets have no realizable value or physical existence. In the above, (C) preliminary expense is a fictitious asset. Preliminary expenses are theRead more

    Fictitious assets are expenses or losses not written off entirely in the profit and loss account during the accounting year in which they occur. Fictitious assets have no realizable value or physical existence.

    In the above, (C) preliminary expense is a fictitious asset. Preliminary expenses are the expenses incurred before the incorporation of a business. The word ‘fictitious’ means fake, these are not actually the assets of a company even though they are represented in the assets of the balance sheet.

    Since the benefit of a fictitious asset is received over a period of time, the whole amount is not charged to the profit and loss account. The amount is amortized over several years. These expenses are non-recurring in nature. These expenses are shown as assets under the head miscellaneous expenditure. Also known as deferred revenue expenditure.

     

    For example: A company incurred $50,000 as promotion costs before the formation of the business. This promotion cost will be deferred over 5 years. In the first year, $10,000 will be charged to the profit and loss account and the remaining $40,000 will be shown as an asset under the heading miscellaneous expenditure. Subsequently, $10000 will be charged to profit and loss for the next 4 years. The amount of $50,000 will be deferred over a span of 5 years.

    Some other examples of fictitious assets :

    • Promotional expenses: Expenses incurred for the promotion of business before the formation of the company such as advertising expenditures are amortized over many years.
    • Loss on the issue of shares or debentures: When a company issues shares or debentures at a discount, the discount is classified as a fictitious asset and is not treated as an expense or loss. It is amortized over several years.
    • Incorporation costs: Costs incurred during the formation of a business are incorporation costs. These include registration costs, licensing fees, legal fees and other costs incurred in setting up the business. These are fictitious assets and are amortized over several years.
    • Loss on Sale of Machinery: When a loss is incurred on the sale of machinery or equipment, that loss is also treated as a fictitious asset and is amortized over several years.

     

    Goodwill

    Goodwill is not a fictitious asset because goodwill has a realizable value and can be sold in the market. Goodwill is an intangible asset which does not have a physical existence but can be traded for monetary value. Goodwill has an indefinite life and is sold when the business is sold. Goodwill can be self-generated or purchased. Goodwill is shown as an intangible asset under the heading fixed asset in the financial statements.

     

    Patents

    Patents are intangible assets which do not have a physical existence but have realizable value and can be sold in the market. So, patents do not come under the category of fictitious assets. Patents are basically intellectual property. The purchase price of the patent is the initial purchase cost which is amortized over the useful life of the asset. Patents are shown as intangible assets under the heading fixed asset in the balance sheet of the company.

     

    Claim receivable

    Claim receivable is an asset if the claim has been authorized by the insurance company. Claim receivable has a monetary value, so does not come under the category of a fictitious asset. If the claim is not yet authorized by an insurance company, it will be shown as a footnote in the financial statements. Authorized claim receivable is shown as a current asset in the financial statement.

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A_Team
A_Team
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  2. Ishika Pandey Curious ca aspirant
    This answer was edited.

    Definition 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. Or in other words, we can say that the expected realization period is less than the operating cRead more

    Definition

    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.

    Or in other words, we can say that the expected realization period is less than the operating cycle period although it is more than the period of 12 months from the date of the balance sheet.

    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.

     

    List of current assets

    The list of current assets is as follows:-

    • Cash in hand
    • Cash equivalents
    • Bills receivables
    • Sundry debtors
    • Prepaid expenses
    • Accrued income
    • Closing stock
    • Short-term investments ( marketable securities )
    • Other liquid assets

     

    Now here are a few definitions for the above list of current assets which are as follows:-

    • Cash in hand

    Cash comprises cash on hand and demand deposits with banks.

     

    • Cash equivalents

    Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

     

    • Bills receivables

    It means a bill of exchange accepted by the debtor, the amount of which will be received on the specific date.

     

    • Sundry debtors

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

     

    • Prepaid expenses

    Expense that has been paid in advance and benefit of which will be available in the following years or year.

     

    • Accrued income

    Income that has been earned in the accounting period but in respect of which no enforceable claim has become due in that period by the enterprise.

     

    • Closing stock

    Stock or inventory at the end of the accounting period which is shown in the balance sheet and which is valued on the basis of the “ cost or net realizable value, whichever is lower “ principle is called closing stock.

     

    • Short term investment

    Investments that are also known as marketable securities and are held for a temporary period of time i.e, for less than 12 months, and can be easily converted into cash are called short-term investments.

     

    Criteria for classification

    Now let us see the classification of assets in the case of companies as per Schedule III of the Companies act 2013.

    An asset is a current asset if it satisfies any one of the following criteria which are as follows:-

    • It is held primarily for the purpose of being traded.

     

    • It is expected to be realized in or is intended for sale or consumption in the company’s normal operating cycle.

     

    • It is expected to be realized within 12 months from the reporting date.

     

    • It is cash and cash equivalent unless it is restricted from being exchanged or used to settle a liability for at least 12 months after the reporting date.

     

    Here is an extract of the balance sheet showing current assets 

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A_Team
A_Team
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  2. Bonnie Curious MBA (Finance)

    Yes, non-current assets are also known as fixed assets. These are long-term assets that are not intended for sale but are used by a company in its business operations. Examples of non-current assets include property, plant, and equipment, as well as intangible assets like patents and trademarks. TheRead more

    Yes, non-current assets are also known as fixed assets. These are long-term assets that are not intended for sale but are used by a company in its business operations.

    Examples of non-current assets include property, plant, and equipment, as well as intangible assets like patents and trademarks. These assets are recorded on a company’s balance sheet and are reported at their historical cost or at their fair market value, depending on the type of asset.

     

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