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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Bonnie
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  2. Rahul_Jose Aspiring CA currently doing Bcom
    This answer was edited.

    A balance sheet of a company is a financial statement that depicts the assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity of the company at a point of time, usually at the end of the accounting year. A balance sheet of a company is reported in a vertical format which is different from that of a partnershiRead more

    A balance sheet of a company is a financial statement that depicts the assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity of the company at a point of time, usually at the end of the accounting year. A balance sheet of a company is reported in a vertical format which is different from that of a partnership where the horizontal format is used.

    COMPONENTS OF A BALANCE SHEET

    The three main components of a balance sheet are Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ equity.

    • Assets: They are divided into two main categories that are current assets and non-current assets. If an asset is expected to be realised within 12 months or is primarily held for being traded, or is cash or cash equivalent, then those assets are termed as current assets. All assets that are not current assets are grouped under non-current assets. They are normally realised after 12 months.
    • Liabilities: They are categorised as current liabilities and non-current liabilities. If the amount owed by the company to an outside party is due to be settled in 12 months, then it can be termed as a current liability. The rest of the liabilities are referred to as non-current liability.
    • Shareholders’ Equity: This is the money owed to the owners of the company, that is shareholders. It is also called net assets since it is equal to the difference between total assets and total liabilities. Their main categories are Shareholders’ Capital and Reserves and Surplus.

    FORMAT OF BALANCE SHEET

    As per the Companies Act 2013, the following format should be used for preparing a balance sheet.

    From the above Balance sheet, we should get:

    Assets = Liabilities + Shareholders’ Equity

    Relevant notes for each component should also be prepared when necessary.

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Jasmeet_Sethi
Jasmeet_SethiCurious
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  2. AishwaryaMunot

    Meaning of Working Capital Firstly, let’s understand the meaning of the working capital. Working capital is the factor which demonstrates the liquidity position of the business to carry out day to day operations. It majorly includes cash & bank balances and liquid assets. Managing working capitaRead more

    Meaning of Working Capital

    Firstly, let’s understand the meaning of the working capital. Working capital is the factor which demonstrates the liquidity position of the business to carry out day to day operations. It majorly includes cash & bank balances and liquid assets.

    Managing working capital is a crucial process to maintain short term liquidity and so ultimately resulting into achieving long term objectives efficiently. Working capital can be calculated by deducting business’s current liabilities from current assets.

    To achieve the ideal working capital requirement for any business, it is important to understand various types of working capital and various ways to manage it.

    Coming to Permanent Working Capital, also called as Fixed Working Capital, it is the minimum working capital required or maintained by businesses. Such type of working capital is maintained to take care of regular financial obligations like creditors, inventory, salaries etc.

    Irrespective of scale of operations carried out in business, Permanent Capital is maintained by businesses which can be in form of Net Working Capital.

    There is no specific formula for calculating Fixed Working Capital, it completely depends upon the business’s assets and liabilities. So accordingly, it can be estimated through the balance sheet of the business.

    For calculating Permanent Working Capital, you can follow below steps:

    1. Calculate Net Working Capital for each day for a whole month
    2. Find the smallest value among them
    3. That will be Permanent Working Capital for the month
    4. Follow the above steps for every month
    5. There you have the annual figure for Permanent Working Capital

    The requirement of Permanent Working Capital changes as the business expands. It is crucial to make sure that the working capital level does not fall below the Permanent Working Capital requirement.

    Types of Permanent Working Capital:

    Permanent working capital is further divided into two types:

    1. Regular working capital – This refers to capital required to maintain healthy cashflow for purchases of raw materials, payment of wages etc.
    2. Reserve working capital – This refers to amount which is more than regular working capital to take care of unexpected business expenses due to contingent events.
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AbhishekBatabyal
AbhishekBatabyalHelpful
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  2. ShreyaSharma none
    This answer was edited.

    Land in the balance sheet The land is an asset and hence it is shown on the asset side of 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…) Explanation The land is a fixed asset and is supposed not to be caRead more

    Land in the balance sheet

    The land is an asset and hence it is shown on the asset side of 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…)

    Explanation

    The land is a fixed asset and is supposed not to be cashed, consumed, last, sold, or written off within one accounting year and is 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.

    • The sole purpose of buying fixed assets like the land is that they are planned to be used for the long term in order to generate income.
    • Examples of fixed assets – Land, buildings, furniture, plants & equipment, etc.
    • Also called non-current assets and capital assets.

     

    Why is it shown on the asset side?

    The land is an asset, although it is not depreciable it is still considered to be an asset because just like other assets the business spends its own money to acquire it, and it gives them a long-term benefit while reselling it.

    Therefore, the land is shown on the asset side under the fixed asset heading.

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A_Team
A_Team
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  2. SidharthBadlani CA Inter Student
    This answer was edited.

    Prepaid expense means a service to be rendered in the future period for which the business has already paid the remuneration. Prepaid expenses are classified as assets. The benefits of this payment will accrue to the business at a later period.  For example, insurance is often paid for annually on tRead more

    Prepaid expense means a service to be rendered in the future period for which the business has already paid the remuneration. Prepaid expenses are classified as assets. The benefits of this payment will accrue to the business at a later period. 

    For example, insurance is often paid for annually on the basis of the calendar year. A business may pay insurance every year on 1st January for that entire year. While preparing the financial statements on 31st March, it will recognize the insurance premium for the period 1st April to 31st December of the next financial year as a prepaid insurance expense. 

    Why are prepaid expenses classified as assets? 

    First of all, let us understand what an asset is. An asset is anything over which the business has ownership rights and which it can sell for money. The benefits of this asset should accrue to the business. 

    In light of this definition, let us analyze prepaid expenses as an asset. As the business has already paid for these goods or services, it becomes a legal right of the business to receive the relevant goods or services at a later date. As the benefit of this expense would accrue to the business only at a later date, the prepaid expenses are classified as an asset. 

    Some examples of prepaid expenses are prepaid insurance, prepaid rent etc

    Treatment of Prepaid Expenses

    Prepaid expenses are recorded in the balance sheet under the heading “Current Assets” and sub-heading “Other Current Assets”

    As per the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or GAAP, expenses must be recognized in the accounting period to which they relate or in which the benefit due to them is likely to arise. Thus, we cannot recognize the prepaid expenses in the accounting period in which they are incurred. 

    Prepaid assets are classified as assets and carried forward in the balance sheet to be debited in the income statement of the accounting period to which they relate. 

    Adjusting Entries

    Adjusting entries are those entries that are used to recognize prepaid expenses in the income statement of the period to which they relate. These entries are not used to record new transactions. They ensure compliance with GAAP by recognizing the expenses in the period to which they relate. 

    Conclusion

    The GAAP and basic definition of an asset govern the treatment of prepaid expenses as an asset. The business incurs them in an accounting period different from the accounting period in which their benefit would accrue to the business. The business has a legal right to receive those goods or services. 

    The business carries them as a current asset on the balance sheet. In the relevant accounting period, they are recognized in the income statement. 

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Simerpreet
SimerpreetHelpful
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  2. Kajal
    This answer was edited.

    Trading A/c is a nominal account which follows the rule "Debit all expenses and losses, Credit all incomes and gains". So, all expenses relating to the purchase or manufacturing of goods are shown on the debit side of the Trading A/c. It includes Opening Stock, Purchases, Wages, Carriage Inward, ManRead more

    Trading A/c is a nominal account which follows the rule “Debit all expenses and losses, Credit all incomes and gains”.

    So, all expenses relating to the purchase or manufacturing of goods are shown on the debit side of the Trading A/c. It includes Opening Stock, Purchases, Wages, Carriage Inward, Manufacturing Expenses, Dock charges, and other direct expenses that are directly related to the manufacturing or purchase.

     

    TRADING ACCOUNT

    Trading A/c is prepared for calculating the Gross Profit or Gross Loss arising from the trading activities of a business.

    Trading activities are mostly related to buying and selling of goods. However, in between buying and selling, a lot of activities are involved like transportation, warehousing, etc. So, all the expenses that are directly related to manufacturing or purchase of goods are also recorded in the Trading A/c.

     

     

    DEBIT SIDE OF TRADING A/C

    The items shown on the Dr. side are,

    OPENING STOCK – Stock is nothing but goods that are either obtained for resale or manufactured for sale and are yet unsold on any particular date.

    The value of stock at the beginning of an accounting year is called Opening stock while the value of the stock at the end of an accounting year is called closing stock.

    The closing stock of the last year becomes the opening stock of the current year.

    Opening stock includes,

    1. Opening Stock of Raw materials
    2. Opening Stock of Semi-finished goods
    3. Opening Stock of Finished goods

    For example – Suppose you are in the business of manufacturing and trading shirts. On 31st March 2023, there was unused raw material worth $10,000 and shirts worth $50,000 remained unsold.

    So, we have Closing Stock of Raw material – $10,000

    Closing Stock of Finished Goods – $50,000

    This closing stock of last year becomes your opening stock during the current year i.e. on 1st April 2023, we have

    Opening Stock of raw material – $10,000

    Opening Stock of Finished Goods – $50,000

    PURCHASES – Goods that have been bought for resale or raw materials purchased for manufacturing the product are terms as Purchases. These goods must be related to the business you are doing.

    It includes cash as well as credit Purchases.

    Continuing with the above example, suppose you bought raw material worth $ 1,00,000 for manufacturing and shirts worth $50,000 for resale (and not for personal consumption) then both these will be termed as purchases for you. So, your purchases will be $1,50,000 ($1,00,000 + $50,000)

    PURCHASES RETURN – When goods bought are returned to the suppliers due to any reason. This is known as Purchase return. Purchase return is deducted from the Purchases.

    In the above example, you bought shirts worth $50,000 for resale. Out of which shirts worth $20,000 were defective. So, you returned them to the supplier. This return of $20,000 is your purchase return or return outwards (as goods are going out)

    WAGES – Wages are paid to the workers who are directly engaged in the loading, unloading and production of goods.

    For example – Paid $10,000 to workers for manufacturing shirts.

    However, it would be included in Trading A/c only if the wages are paid for work which is directly related to the manufacturing or purchase of goods otherwise it will be shown in P&L A/c.

    Suppose you hired a manager to take care of your business and paid him $20,000 as salary. This salary is indeed an expense for the business but is not directly related to the manufacturing of goods. Since it is an indirect expense, it can only be recorded in P&L  A/c and not in the Trading A/c.

    CARRIAGE or CARRIAGE INWARDS or FREIGHT – It refers to the cost of transporting goods from the supplier.

    Suppose, you ordered raw material in bulk which was transported to you by a van and you paid its fare. This fare is nothing but your carriage inwards.

    However, if carriage or freight is paid on bringing an asset, the amount should be added to the asset account and must not be debited to the trading account.

    MANUFACTURING EXPENSES – All expenses incurred in the manufacture of goods such as  Coal, Gas, Fuel, Water, Power, Factory rent, Factory lighting etc.

    DOCK CHARGES – These are charged by port authorities when unloading goods at a dock or wharf. Such charges paid in connection with goods purchased are considered direct expenses and are debited to Trading a/c.

    IMPORT DUTY or CUSTOM DUTY – It is a tax collected on imports and specific exports by a country’s customs authorities. If import duty is paid on the import of goods, then they are shown on the Dr. side of the Trading A/c.

    For example –  Paid $15,000 as import duty for importing shirts for resale.

    ROYALTY – Royalty refers to the amount paid for the use of assets belonging to another person. It includes royalty for the use of intangible assets, such as copyrights, trademarks, or franchisee agreements. It is also paid for the use of natural resources, such as mining leases.

    Royalty is charged to the Trading A/c as it increases the cost of production.

    GROSS PROFIT – When sales exceed the amount of purchases and the expenses directly connected with such purchases i.e. when Credit side> Debit side.

     

    CREDIT SIDE OF TRADING A/C

    SALES – When goods are sold to earn a profit, it is called sales. It can be cash sales or credit sales.

    SALES RETURN – When the goods sold are returned by the customer, it is known as a sales return. Sales return is deducted from the sales.

    CLOSING STOCK – The goods remaining unsold at the end of the year are termed as closing stock. It is valued at cost price or market price whichever is less.

    GROSS LOSS – If purchases and direct expenses exceed sales, then it is a Gross loss. In other words, when Debit side > Credit side.

     

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Jayesh Gupta
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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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Astha
AsthaLeader
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  2. Naina@123 (B.COM and CMA-Final)
    This answer was edited.

    Return inwards in simple terms means sending back goods by the customer to the seller. Simply speaking when your customer purchases items from your business but is not satisfied with the items so received they return those items back to you. Some of the reasons for sending back the items are statedRead more

    Return inwards in simple terms means sending back goods by the customer to the seller. Simply speaking when your customer purchases items from your business but is not satisfied with the items so received they return those items back to you. Some of the reasons for sending back the items are stated below:

    • Incorrect items delivered by the seller
    • The excess amount delivered to the buyer
    • Return of expired/ spoiled good

     

    In such a case, the return is initiated by the buyer and a credit note is issued to the buyer, and the same is recorded in the books of accounts. Also, this return inward is deducted from the total sales.

    Example: M/s Pest ltd sold 4 units of fertilizers spraying tools of Rs 10,000 each to Mr. Zen. On inspection, he found 1 unit worth Rs 10,000 so received to be defective. Therefore the return of Rs 10,000 was initiated and goods were returned to the seller. A credit note of Rs 10,000 will be raised by the seller (M/s Pest ltd) to the buyer (Mr. Zen). The following adjustment will be shown in the trading account.

     

    Return outwards means returning the goods by the buyer to the supplier. In layman language, when you purchase items for your business and you are not happy with the items then you may decide to return them.

    In this case, a debit note is issued to the seller and is recorded in the books of accounts, and the same is reduced from the total purchases in the trading account so prepared.

    Example: Suppose you are dealing in a business of clothing. You purchased 20 shirts for Rs.10,000 from a wholesale market. When you sold these shirts, you found 10 shirts worth Rs 5,000 to be defective which were returned by your customer. Therefore you will return these shirts to the wholesale market from where you purchased them. The following adjustment will be shown in the trading account.

     

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A_Team
A_Team
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  2. Vijay Curious M.Com

    Cash Book is called a journalized ledger because it is considered to be both a journal as well as a ledger. As you know Cash Book is a subsidiary book. But like a journal, the transactions in the Cash Book are recorded in it for the first time from the source documents/vouchers. Hence it is considerRead more

    Cash Book is called a journalized ledger because it is considered to be both a journal as well as a ledger.

    As you know Cash Book is a subsidiary book. But like a journal, the transactions in the Cash Book are recorded in it for the first time from the source documents/vouchers. Hence it is considered to be a journal for all cash transactions.

    Cash Book can also be viewed as a Cash A/c because all transactions involving cash are recorded in it. It provides a summary of cash transactions. Hence it is considered to be a ledger account for cash transactions.

    Since Cash Book is both a journal and ledger, you can very well call it a ‘journalized ledger’.

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