AccountingQA Latest Questions

Aadil
AadilCurious
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  2. Aditi
    This answer was edited.

    Deferred Tax Liability A deferred tax liability represents an obligation to pay taxes in the future. These taxes are owed by a company but are not due to be paid until a future date. Companies that incur such an obligation prepare and maintain two financial reports every year: a tax statement and anRead more

    Deferred Tax Liability

    A deferred tax liability represents an obligation to pay taxes in the future. These taxes are owed by a company but are not due to be paid until a future date.

    Companies that incur such an obligation prepare and maintain two financial reports every year: a tax statement and an income statement.

    This is because companies maintain their books as per book accounting rules (GAAP/IFRS), but they have to pay taxes according to tax accounting rules, and they each have to follow their own guidelines.

    For example, a tax statement follows the cash basis of accounting, and an income statement follows the accrual basis of accounting.

    Companies calculate their profit as per the accounting rules as well as tax laws known as accounting income and taxable income, respectively. Some differences arise due to the application of different provisions of law.

    These temporary differences are accounted for, recognized, and carried forward in the books of accounts and create deferred tax.

     

    Example

    Here is an example of deferred tax liability.

    In the given example, tax as per income statement is 70,000, whereas as per tax statement it is 56,000. This temporary difference is termed as deferred tax liability of 14,000.

    When accounting income is more than taxable income, it creates Deferred Tax Liability. It will be adjusted in the books of accounts during one or more subsequent year(s).

     

     

    How Does it Arise?

    There are several instances under which a company creates a deferred tax liability. Some other instances are:

    Depreciation Methods

    • One of the most common reasons for deferred tax liability is when a company uses different depreciation methods in the Income and Tax Statement.
    • Assets are depreciated by calculating the straight-line method in the Income Statement, while the written-down value method is used in the Tax Statement.
    • Since the straight-line value method produces lower depreciation when compared to the WDV method, accounting income is temporarily higher than taxable income.
    • The company recognises deferred tax liability as this difference between accounting income and taxable income.

    Treatment of Revenue & Expenses

    • Deferred tax liability can also arise when there is a difference in the way revenue and expenses are treated in books of accounts.
    • As mentioned earlier, accounting rules follow the accrual basis of accounting while tax laws follow the cash basis of accounting.
    • Meaning in the tax statement, income and expenses are recorded when they are received or paid, not when they are incurred or realised.
    • This difference in the treatment of revenue and expenses creates deferred tax liability.

     

     

    Impact on Financial Statements

    Recognising deferred tax liability and its subsequent effect on the company’s financial statement is important as it simplifies the process of auditing and analysing financial reports.

    Balance Sheet

    • Deferred tax liabilities are recorded on the liability side of the balance sheet under non-current liabilities.

    Cash Flow Statement

    • The deferred tax liability is added back to the net income in calculating cash flow from operating activities to show the actual cash flow.
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Astha
AsthaLeader
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Contingent Assets
  2. Simerpreet Helpful CMA Inter qualified
    This answer was edited.

    To begin with, let me first give you a small explanation of what Contingent assets are A contingent asset is a potential asset or economic benefit that does not exist currently but may arise in the near future. Such an asset arises from an uncertain and unpredictable event. To make it clear with anRead more

    To begin with, let me first give you a small explanation of what Contingent assets are

    A contingent asset is a potential asset or economic benefit that does not exist currently but may arise in the near future. Such an asset arises from an uncertain and unpredictable event.

    To make it clear with an example: String Co. filed a lawsuit against a competitor company Weave Tech Co. for infringing on company ABC’s patent. Even if it is probable (but not certain) that Strings Co. will win the lawsuit, it is a contingent asset.

    As such, it will not be recorded in Strings Co. general ledger accounts until the lawsuit is settled.

    At most the Strings Co. can do is, prepare a note disclosing the fact that it has filed the lawsuit the outcome of which is uncertain.

    Disclosing Contingent Assets

    • The probability of occurrence is virtually certain or probable: It will be disclosed as an asset in the balance sheet.

    For Example, The court orders for reimbursement to Strings Co. say 1,00,000 for the damages, but it has not yet received the money. Although it is virtually certain that the company will receive the money in the near future, it will be treated as an asset and can be disclosed in the balance sheet on the assets side.

    • The probability of occurrence is probable: It will be disclosed as notes to accounts below the balance sheet.

    For Example, Strings Co. filed a lawsuit against a competitor company Weave Tech for infringing on Strings Co. patent. Even if it is probable (but not certain) that Strings Co. will win the lawsuit, it is a contingent asset.

    As such, it will not be recorded in Strings company’s general ledger until the lawsuit is settled.

    At most the Strings Co. can do is, prepare a note disclosing the fact that it has filed the lawsuit the outcome of which is uncertain. 

    • The probability of occurrence is remote or not probable:  It will not be treated as a contingent asset.

    In this case, the disclosure of it is not permitted.

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Jasmeet_Sethi
Jasmeet_SethiCurious
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CreditorsDebtorsDifference BetweenGainProfit
  2. Karan B.com and Pursuing ACCA
    This answer was edited.

    Debtors and Creditors Points of Distinction Debtors Creditors Meaning A debtor is a person or entity that owes money to the other party (the other party is also known as the creditor). A creditor is a person or entity to whom money is owed or who lends money. Nature The debtors will have a debit balRead more

    Debtors and Creditors

    Points of Distinction Debtors Creditors
    Meaning A debtor is a person or entity that owes money to the other party (the other party is also known as the creditor). A creditor is a person or entity to whom money is owed or who lends money.
    Nature The debtors will have a debit balance. The creditors will have a credit balance.
    Receipt of payment The payment or amount owed is received from the debtor. The payment of the amount owed is made to the creditors.
    Nature of account Debtors are account receivables. Creditors are accounts payable.
    Status They are shown under assets in the balance sheet under the head current assets. They are shown as an asset because the amount is receivable from them. They are shown under liabilities in the balance sheet under the head current liabilities. They are shown as a liability because the amount is payable to them.
    Credit / Loan period Debtors are the one who takes a loan or purchase goods on credit and has to pay the money in the agreed time period, with or without interest. Creditors are the ones who provide loans or extend the duration of the credit period.
    Discounts They are the ones who receive discounts. They can offer discounts to debtors.
    Provision for doubtful debts Provision for doubtful debts is created for debtors. No such provision is created for creditors.

     Example:

    Mr. A purchases raw materials from its supplier Mr. D on credit.

    Here for Mr. D, Mr. A will be a debtor because the amount is receivable from him.

    Similarly, for Mr. A, Mr. D will be his creditor because the amount is payable to him.

    Profit and Gain

    Points of Distinction Profit Gain
    Meaning The excess of revenue of a period over its expenses is termed as profit.

    Profit = Total Income-Total Expenses

    		 Gain means profit that arises from incidental events and transactions, such as capital gain.
    Generation It is generated within the operations of a business. It is generated outside the business operation.
    Nature of account Profit calculated will appear in the Profit and Loss A/c. The gain will appear in the income statement.
    Types Gross profit

    Net profit

    Operating profit

    		  

    Capital gain

    Long term capital gain

    Short term capital gain

     

    Example: A company’s sales for the period are $60,000 and expenses incurred are $40,000. Here the profit calculated will be $20,000 because revenue exceeds expenses.

    Profit = Total Income-Total Expenses

    = 60,000 – 40,000

    = $20,000

    Mr. X owned land worth $10,00,000 and after 10 years he sold it at a current market value of $14,00,000. So the gain he earned is $4,00,000. This gain of $4,00,000 will be termed as a capital gain since land is a capital asset.

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

    Personal Accounts: The accounts of persons, firms, companies, etc. are personal accounts. There is a further classification to personal accounts- Accounts of Natural Persons: The transactions relating to individual human beings fall under this category. For Example, accounts of Joseph, Richard, MorrRead more

    Personal Accounts: The accounts of persons, firms, companies, etc. are personal accounts. There is a further classification to personal accounts-

    • Accounts of Natural Persons: The transactions relating to individual human beings fall under this category. For Example, accounts of Joseph, Richard, Morris, etc.
    • Accounts of Artificial Persons: The transactions relating to firms, organizations, companies, institutions, associations, etc. fall under this category. For Example, Oil India Ltd, Symbiosis college, Assam Tea company, etc.
    • Representative Personal Accounts: The transactions relating to certain person or a group of persons, although the name of the concerned person or persons are not mentioned in the account head, such types of accounts come under this head. Such type of accounts generally include outstanding accounts or prepaid accounts. For Example, accounts like wages outstanding, outstanding salary, commission received in advance, salary prepaid, etc.

    Note: When any Prefix or Suffix is used before/ after any nominal account head, such account is classified as Representative personal account under traditional approach.

    For Example, Salary A/c is a nominal account whereas salary outstanding A/c is a personal account as the word outstanding is being used as a prefix to Salary A/c.

    The Accounting rule for Personal Account is –

    Debit the Receiver of the benefit.

    Credit the Giver of the benefit.

    Real Account: The transactions relating to tangible things i.e. the things that can be seen, touched and physically exchanged and the intangible things that cannot be seen, touched but the presence can be felt comes under this category. For Example, tangible things like Cash, goods, building, machinery, etc. and intangible things like goodwill, patent, trademarks, etc.

    The Accounting rule for Real Account is –

    Debit what comes in.

    Credit what goes out.

    Nominal Accounts: The transactions relating to losses, expenses, incomes and gains comes under this category. For Example, Rent paid, wages paid, commission received, interest paid/ received, etc.

    The Accounting rule for Nominal Account is –

    Debit Expenses and Losses.

    Credit Gains and Incomes.

    Some Common Examples under the three heads are

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Manvi
Manvi
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  2. Ayushi Curious Pursuing CA
    This answer was edited.

    The journal entry for commission received is as presented below: Cash A/c / Bank A/c  / A Personal A/c    Dr.    -   ₹                     To Commission received A/c          -        ₹         (Being ₹ commission received)   The commission received means an amount received by a person or entity forRead more

    The journal entry for commission received is as presented below:

    Cash A/c / Bank A/c  / A Personal A/c    Dr.    –   ₹

                        To Commission received A/c          –        ₹        

    (Being ₹ commission received)

      The commission received means an amount received by a person or entity for the provision of a service. For example, a firm sold goods worth ₹10,000 of a manufacturer and was paid an amount of ₹1000 in cash as commission. So, the entry in the books of accounts of the firm will be as follows:

    Cash A/c       Dr.       ₹1000

    To Commission received A/c    ₹1000

    Now, let’s understand the logic behind the journal entry through the modern rules of accounting.

    Cash account, bank account and personal account are asset accounts. Hence, they are debited when assets are increased.

    While the commission received account is an income account. Hence, when income increases, it is credited.

    As per the traditional rules i.e. the golden rules of accounting, these are the explanations:

    Commission can be received in cash or bank. Hence the Cash or Bank account is debited as they are real accounts.

    “Debit what comes in, credit what goes out”

    Also, when it is not received but accrued, then a personal account is debited (the person or entity who has received the service but has not paid for it yet).  The following rule applies to the personal account.

    “Debit the receiver, credit the giver”

     Commission received is an income, thus it is a nominal account. It will be credited because of the following rule of nominal accounts:-

    “Debit all expense and losses, credit all income and gains”

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Rahul_Jose
Rahul_Jose
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  2. Radhika
    This answer was edited.

    The commercial banks are required to keep a certain amount of their deposits with the central bank and the percentage of deposits that the banks are required to keep as reserves is called Cash Reserve Ratio. The banks have to keep the amount to maintain the Cash Reserve Ratio with the RBI. CRR meansRead more

    The commercial banks are required to keep a certain amount of their deposits with the central bank and the percentage of deposits that the banks are required to keep as reserves is called Cash Reserve Ratio.

    The banks have to keep the amount to maintain the Cash Reserve Ratio with the RBI.

    CRR means that commercial banks cannot lend money in the market or make investments or earn any interest on the amount below what is required to be kept in CRR.

    RBI mandates Cash Reserve Ratio so that a percentage of the bank’s deposit is kept safe with the RBI, hence, in an uncertain event bank can still fulfill its obligation against its customers.

    CRR also helps RBI to control liquidity in the economy. When CRR is kept at a higher rate, the lower the liquidity in the economy, and similarly when CRR is kept at a lower rate, there is higher liquidity in the economy.

    The Reserve Bank of India also regulates inflation through the Cash Reserve Ratio:

    • During inflation, that is when RBI wants to apply contractionary monetary policy, it increases CRR so that the money left with banks to lend is reduced. Such measures reduce the money supply in the economy and therefore help combat inflation.
    • During deflation, that is when RBI wants to apply expansionary monetary policy, it reduces CRR, so that the money left with banks to lend is increased. Such measures increase the money supply in the economy and therefore help combat deflation.

    The formula for CRR is- 

    Reserves maintained with Central Banks / Bank Deposits * 100%

    For example:

    The current CRR is 3% which means that for every Rs 100 deposit in the commercial banks have to keep Rs 3 as a deposit with RBI.

     

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Rahul_Jose
Rahul_Jose
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  2. Pooja_Parikh Aspiring Chartered Accountant

    Financial Reporting is a common practice in accounting where the financial statements of the company are disclosed to present its financial information and performance over a particular period. It is important to know where a company’s money comes from and where it goes. Types of Financial StatementRead more

    Financial Reporting is a common practice in accounting where the financial statements of the company are disclosed to present its financial information and performance over a particular period. It is important to know where a company’s money comes from and where it goes.

    Types of Financial Statements

    There are 4 important types of financial statements such as:

    • Income Statement: This statement summarises a company’s revenue, expenses and profits. It is prepared to calculate the net profit of the company.
    • Balance Sheet: It portrays the company’s assets and liabilities in a statement. This is used to understand the financial position of the company.
    • Statement of Retained Earnings: This statement reveals a company’s changes in equity during an accounting period.
    • Cash Flow Statement: It shows the amount of cash flowing in and out of the business. It is helpful in understanding the liquidity position of the business.

    Importance of Financial Reporting

    • Understanding these financial statements is helpful in making financial decisions. One can identify certain trends and hurdles while analyzing financial statements.
    • It helps the top order management to keep a check on its outstanding debt and how to manage them effectively.
    • Financial reports are also required to be prepared by law for tax purposes. Therefore these statements have to be prepared to calculate taxable income. It also ensures that the companies are compliant with the required laws and regulations.
    • True and accurate financial reporting is also important for potential investors who need to understand the financial performance and position to come to a decision.

     

     

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Jasmeet_Sethi
Jasmeet_SethiCurious
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  2. GautamSaxena Curious .
    This answer was edited.

    Fluctuating Capital Fluctuating capital is a capital that is unstable and keeps changing frequently. In the fluctuating capital, the capital of each partner changes from time to time. In partnership firms, each partner will have a separate capital account. Any additional capital introduced during thRead more

    Fluctuating Capital

    Fluctuating capital is a capital that is unstable and keeps changing frequently. In the fluctuating capital, the capital of each partner changes from time to time. In partnership firms, each partner will have a separate capital account. Any additional capital introduced during the year will also be credited to their capital account. In the fluctuating capital method, only one capital a/c is maintained i.e no current accounts like in the fixed capital a/c method. Therefore, all the adjustments like interest on capital, drawings, etc. are completed in the capital a/c itself.

    It is most commonly seen in partnership firms and it is not essential to mention the Fluctuating Account Method in the partnership deed.

    • All the adjustments resulting in a decrease in the capital will be debited to the partner’s capital, such as drawings made by each partner, interest on drawings, and share of loss.
    • Similarly, the activities or adjustments that lead to an increase in the capital are credited to the partner’s capital account, such as interest on capital, salary, the share of profit, and so on.

    Fluctuating Capital Account Format

     

     

     

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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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