AccountingQA Latest Questions

Aadil
AadilCurious
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  2. Karan B.com and Pursuing ACCA

    In accounting, sales returns are the goods returned by the customer to the seller. This can be due to goods delivered is damaged or defective. A return can also be due to late delivery, or the wrong items being sent to the buyer. Sales return is a subsidiary book in which all the details are recordeRead more

    In accounting, sales returns are the goods returned by the customer to the seller. This can be due to goods delivered is damaged or defective. A return can also be due to late delivery, or the wrong items being sent to the buyer.

    Sales return is a subsidiary book in which all the details are recorded for the goods returned which were sold on credit. It is also known as return inwards.

    Accounting for Sales Return

    Whenever there is a sale return, the seller will debit the sales return account and credit the debtor’s account. The total amount of sales returns is deducted from the gross sales for the period giving the figure for net sales. Debtor’s account is credited because the amount receivable from debtors will reduce.

    The sales return is a contra account to the sales.

    Format of sales return book:

    In the above format, a credit note is a statement prepared by the seller and sent to the buyer. In this statement, all the details are mentioned in respect of the goods sent by the buyer and are an indication that the buyer’s account is credited in respect of the goods received.

    For example, Mr. A sold goods to Mr. B costing Rs 50,000 on 1 December. On 5 December, goods amounting to Rs 15,000 were found defective and were returned immediately to Mr. A.

    Mr. A will account for this in the following way:

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AbhishekBatabyal
AbhishekBatabyalHelpful
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  2. Ayushi Curious Pursuing CA
    This answer was edited.

    The term ‘bad debt’ and ‘write off’ are often used together in a sentence but they have different meanings. First, we will discuss them in brief to understand the differences between them. Bad debts We know, debtors for a business are their assets because the business has the right to receive moneyRead more

    The term ‘bad debt’ and ‘write off’ are often used together in a sentence but they have different meanings. First, we will discuss them in brief to understand the differences between them.

    Bad debts

    We know, debtors for a business are their assets because the business has the right to receive money from the debtors due to the goods supplied to them.

    But if due to circumstances, there appears no probability that the amount due to one or more debtors will be realised to the business, then such debts are categorised as bad debts.

    In short, bad debts refer to the amount of money that will not be received from some debtors of the business due to some circumstances like insolvency of debtor etc.

    Bad debt is deducted from debtors account by the following journal entry:

    Bad debts A/c Dr. Amt
    To Debtors A/c Cr. Amt
    (Being bad debts written off from debtors)

    As bad debts are losses to a business, it is ultimately written off from the profit and loss account.

    Profit and loss A/c Dr. Amt
    To Bad debts A/c Cr. Amt
    (Being bad debts written off to profit and loss account)

    Write off

    In layman terms, write off means to deduct something out from something. In accounting, write off means to deduct or reduce value of assets by crediting it to a liability account which is usually a reserve account or the profit and loss account.

    It also refers to the elimination of an item from the books of accounts particularly losses and expenses.

    Generally, writing off is associated with the following:

    1. Bad debts.
    2. Damaged Inventories.
    3. Loss on issue or redemption of debentures.
    4. Preliminary expenses.
    5. Bad loans and advances.

    Write off can be done in one of the following methods:

    1. Direct write-off: The write off is directly done by crediting asset account or loss account and debiting the reserve or P/L account.
    2. Indirect write-off: Here, an intermediate account is involved between the asset account and liabilities account. A common example is writing off of bad debts where the bad debts account is the intermediate account.

    Hence, the following differences can be observed between bad debts and write off or writing off:

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

    Business commencement with cash The term 'started the business with cash' is basically the commencement of business. In order to start any business, a certain sum of money has to be invested by the owner, which is known as the business's capital in accounting. Commencement of business refers to theRead more

    Business commencement with cash

    The term ‘started the business with cash’ is basically the commencement of business. In order to start any business, a certain sum of money has to be invested by the owner, which is known as the business’s capital in accounting.

    Commencement of business refers to the starting or beginning of the business. In companies, it’s a declaration issued by the company’s directors with the registrar stating that the subscribers of the company have paid the amount agreed. In a sole proprietorship, the business can be commenced with the introduction of any asset such as cash, stock, furniture, etc.

    Therefore, we may also call it the first journal entry of business because generally, people tend to start the business with cash rather than something else.

    Journal entry

    Explanation via rules

    As per the golden rules of accounting, the cash a/c is debited as the rule says “debit what comes in, credit what goes out.” Whereas the capital a/c is credited because “debit all expenses and losses, credit all incomes and gains”

    As per modern rules of accounting, cash is a current asset, and assets are debited when they increase. Whereas, on the increment on liabilities, they are credited, therefore, capital a/c is credited.

     

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Simerpreet
SimerpreetHelpful
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  2. Akash Kumar AK
    This answer was edited.

    Partnership Firm Persons who have entered into a partnership with one another to carry on a business are individually called “Partners“; collectively called a “Partnership Firm”; and the name under which their business is carried on is called the “Firm Name” In simple words, A partnership is an agreRead more

    Partnership Firm

    Persons who have entered into a partnership with one another to carry on a business are individually called “Partners“; collectively called a “Partnership Firm”; and the name under which their business is carried on is called the “Firm Name”

    In simple words, A partnership is an agreement between two or more people who comes together to run a business on a partnership deed, which is called a Partnership firm. A Partnership Deed is a written agreement between partners who are willing to form a Partnership Firm. It is also called a Partnership Agreement.

    It has no separate legal entity which cannot be separated from the members. It is merely a collective name given to the individuals composing it. This means, a partnership firm cannot hold property in its name, and neither it can sue nor be sued by others.

     

    Contents of a Partnership Deed

    A Partnership Deed shall mainly include the following contents:

    1. Name of the Partnership firm
    2. Address of the Partnership firm
    3. Details of all the Partners
    4. Date of commencement of the Business
    5. The amount of capital contributed by each of the partners forming the Partnership firm
    6. The Profit sharing ratio (The Business profit shared among the partners on a ratio basis)
    7. The rate or amount of Interest on Capital & the rate or amount of Interest on drawings to each partner respectively.
    8. The salary is payable to each of the partners of the firm.
    9. The rights, duties, and power of each partner of the firm.
    10. The duration of the existence of the firm

     

    Types of Partners

    The following are the various types o partners

    1. Working partner or Active partner
    2. Sleeping partner
    3. Limited partner
    4. Partner in profit only
    5. Nominal or quasi partner
    6. Minor as a partner

     

    Types of Partnership Firms

    There are four types of partnership which are as below.

    1. General Partnership
    2. Limited Partnership
    3. Partnership at will
    4. Particular Partnership

    Essential characteristics of a partnership firm

    1. Two or More persons: There must be at least two persons to form a partnership. A person cannot enter into a partnership with himself. The maximum number of persons in a partnership should not exceed 50.
    2. Agreement between partners: There must be an agreement between the parties in a partnership. The relation of partnership arises from the formation of a contract i.e., Partnership deed.
    3. Mutual Agency: Partnership business can be carried on by all the partners or by any of them acting on behalf of the others. in simple words, every partner is an agent to the other partners and of the form. Each partner is liable for acts performed by other partners on behalf of the firm.
    4. Registration of Firm: Registration of a partnership firm is not compulsory under the Act. The only document or even an oral agreement among partners required is the ‘partnership deed’ to bring the partnership into existence.
    5. Unlimited Liability: the liability of the partners is unlimited for the debts of the firm. In case the assets of the firm are insufficient to pay the debts in full, the personal property of each partner can be attached to pay the creditors of the firm.
    6. Non-Transferability of interest: there is a restriction in the transfer of shares of profits of the partnership without the prior consent of all other partners.
    7. Sharing of profits: The profits must be distributed among the partners in an agreed ratio. Similarly, losses should be shared among the partners.
    8. Lawful Business: The business carried on by the partners must be lawful. Illegal acts such as theft, dacoity, smuggling, etc., cannot be called partnerships.
    9. Utmost good faith: A partner must observe utmost good faith in all dealings with his co-partners. He must render true accounts and make no secret profits from the business.

     

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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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Simerpreet
SimerpreetHelpful
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  2. Kajal

    A Realisation account is prepared at the time of dissolution of the Partnership firm to ascertain profit or loss from the sale of assets and payment of liabilities of the firm. All assets that can be converted into cash (i.e. from which any value can be realised) and all external liabilities to be pRead more

    A Realisation account is prepared at the time of dissolution of the Partnership firm to ascertain profit or loss from the sale of assets and payment of liabilities of the firm. All assets that can be converted into cash (i.e. from which any value can be realised) and all external liabilities to be paid are transferred to the Realisation A/c.

    So, Cash and Bank (already in liquid form), fictitious assets (doesn’t have any value to be realised), Partner’s Loan (internal liability) and Undistributed profits (not something that can be realised) are not included in the Realisation account.

     

    DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP FIRM

    It means the firm closes down its business and comes to an end. Simply, it means the firm will cease to exist in the future. As the firm is closing down, its assets are sold, liabilities are paid off, and the remaining amount (if any) is distributed among the partners.

     

    REALISATION ACCOUNT

    This account is prepared only once, at the time of dissolution of the Partnership firm. It is opened to dispose of all the assets of the firm and make payments to all the external creditors of the firm.

    It ascertains the profit earned or loss incurred on the realisation of assets and payment of liabilities.

     

    Items not included in Realisation A/c

     

    1. ASSETS

    CASH AND BANK BALANCES are not included in the Realisation account as the purpose of the Realisation account is to sell assets to realise cash, but cash and bank are already in liquid form and thus, not included.

    These are directly used for the payment of liabilities and if there is any remaining amount, then that amount is distributed among the partners.

     

    FICTITIOUS ASSETS are huge expenses or losses that are written off over the years by writing off a portion of it every year for the next few years like accumulated losses, balance of Advertisement expenses, Preliminary expenses, Loss on the issue of Debentures, etc. They don’t have any physical existence or realisable value.

    Since nothing can be realised from these assets they are not included in the Realisation account. These are transferred to the Partner’s Capital A/c.

     

    2. LIABILITIES

     

    PARTNER’S LOAN refers to the loan given to the firm by any partner of the firm. 

    Suppose, there are three Partners A, B and C. ‘C’ gave the firm a loan of $5,000. This $5,000 will be recorded as a Partner’s Loan and not just as a normal loan taken from an external party.

    Since, Partner’s Loans are the internal obligation of the firm, they are not included in the realisation account instead a separate account is prepared to settle Partner’s Loan after all external liabilities are settled.

    So, we can say in the Realisation account only external liabilities are included and paid.

     

    UNDISTRIBUTED PROFITS  are the  Profits that are not distributed among the Partners like General Reserve, Reserve Fund, and Credit balance of P&L A/c.

    They are not included in the realisation account as they can’t be sold as an asset neither they are any liabilities that should be paid. Undistributed profits belong to the Partners of the firm and thus, are transferred to Partner’s capital A/c.

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prashant06
prashant06
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DrawingsIncome Statement
  2. Radha M.Com, NET
    This answer was edited.

    Whenever the proprietor/owner of a business withdraws cash or goods from the business for his/her personal use, we call it drawings. For example, Alex, proprietor of a soap manufacturing company, takes 50 pack of soaps costing 30 each for his personal use. So, 1,500 (50*30) will be considered as draRead more

    Whenever the proprietor/owner of a business withdraws cash or goods from the business for his/her personal use, we call it drawings. For example, Alex, proprietor of a soap manufacturing company, takes 50 pack of soaps costing 30 each for his personal use. So, 1,500 (50*30) will be considered as drawings of Alex. One important thing to note here is whenever goods are withdrawn for personal use they are valued at cost.

    Drawings are not an asset/liability/expense/income to the business. The drawings account is a contra-equity account. A contra-equity account is a capital account with a negative balance i.e. debit balance. It reduces the owner’s equity/capital.

    Drawings being a contra-equity account has a debit balance, reducing the owner’s capital in the business. This is because withdrawals for personal use represent a reduction of the owner’s equity in the business.

    Drawings are not shown in the Income Statement as they are neither an expense nor an income for the business. However, the following journal entries are passed to record drawings for the year:

    Drawings A/c is debited because it reduces the owner’s capital. Cash/Purchases A/c is debited as a withdrawal reduces the assets of the business.

    At the end of the year, drawings A/c are closed by transferring it to the owner’s capital A/c. We post the following entry to close the drawings A/c at the end of the year:

    In the balance sheet, drawings are shown by deducting it from the owner’s capital A/c.

    Let us take our earlier example of Alex. He withdrew soaps worth 1,500. At the end of the year, his capital was worth 5,500. The journal entry for recording the drawings is as follows:

    In the balance sheet, drawings worth 1,500 are shown as follows:

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Astha
AsthaLeader
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  2. Simerpreet Helpful CMA Inter qualified
    This answer was edited.

    Financial analysis of a company means analyzing the previous data of the company and giving recommendations based on that whether the company will improve in the future on not. It is the process of evaluating the financial performance and stability of the company. There are various types of financiaRead more

    Financial analysis of a company means analyzing the previous data of the company and giving recommendations based on that whether the company will improve in the future on not.

    It is the process of evaluating the financial performance and stability of the company.

    There are various types of financial analysis. They are leverage, growth, cash flow, liquidity, profitability, etc.

    The main objectives of Financial analysis are

    1.Reviewing the current position: In order to know if the company is doing well, past analysis of data is required to be carried out. Regular recording of the transactions helps to understand the financial position of the company.

    For example, A company wants to generate a revenue of 2000 crores in the next 5 years. The last four years’ data shows revenue as 1100, 1300,1600, 1800 crores respectively.

    So from the above, we can say that the company is performing well and looks like it will reach the desired target in the fifth year or may perform better than the target desired.

    However, if the revenue declines, it will cause concern for the team but the team will get time to gear up and work efficiently to achieve the desired target.

    2. Ease in decision making: For Future decision-making, quarterly financials play an important role. Subsidiary books and accounts like the sales book, purchase orders, manufacturing a/c, etc. help in giving more reliable information.

    For example, If sales are increasing inconsistently in a quarter, and in the next quarter the level of sales decrease due to any reason then the management can analyze and change the strategy.

    3. Performance Comparison: It helps in comparing the performance of the business every month, quarterly, half-yearly, and yearly. Analyzing the data can help the management to compare if the company is proceeding in the right direction.

    4. Assessing the profitability: Financial statements are used to assess the profitability of the firm. The analysis is made through the accounting ratios, trend line, etc. Accounting ratios calculated for a number of years shows the trend of change of position i.e. positive, negative or static. The assessing of the trend helps the management to analyze if the company is making profits or not.

    5. Measure the solvency of the firm: Financial analysis helps to measure the short-term and long-term efficiency of the firm for the benefit of the Stakeholders.

    6. Helps the end-users: The owners are the end-users for whom the financial statements are prepared. Financial statements are the summaries that are prepared for providing various disclosures to the owners which helps them understand the statements in a better way. If the end-users arrive at the right decision with the help of financial statements that means the objective is achieved.

    7. Other objectives:

    • It helps to settle disputes among the parties.
    • It helps in the expansion decision of the firm.
    • It helps in analyzing the amount of tax to be paid.
    • It reduces the chances of fraud.
    • It provides information about resources.
    • It provides a true and fair view of financial position.
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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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Jayesh Gupta
Jayesh GuptaCurious
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  2. Spriha Sparsh
    This answer was edited.

    Liabilities are obligations which a business owes to external or internal parties.As per the accounting equation liabilities are equal to the difference between assets and capital. Total Outside Liabilities  in relation to the Borrower can be all secured and unsecured loans, including current liabilRead more

    Liabilities are obligations which a business owes to external or internal parties.As per the accounting equation liabilities are equal to the difference between assets and capital.

    Total Outside Liabilities  in relation to the Borrower can be all secured and unsecured loans, including current liabilities of the Borrower.

    External Liability or outside liability is an obligation which a business has to pay back to external parties i.e. lenders, vendors, government, etc. Payable to Sundry creditors for the supply of any goods for the business or payable to any contractors for receiving any services or payable to the Govt. or other departments for any statutory payments like taxes or other levies. All these liabilities are known as an external liability to the business and are shown on the liability side of the Balance sheet after charging into the profit & loss account of that period.

    Where, Internal Liability – All obligations which a business has to pay back to internal parties such as promoters, employees, etc. are termed as internal liabilities. Example – Capital, Salaries, Accumulated profits, etc.

    Example – Borrowings, Creditors, Taxes, etc.

    Where, 1) Person A takes a loan from person B (person not associated with the company), person B is an external liability to person A.
    2) Person A has a tax liability of Rs.1000, here the government is an external liability to whom A has to pay the liability amount.

    3) Person A got goods on credit from person C for 60 days, C is an external liability to A, which A has to pay within the time period.

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