AccountingQA Latest Questions

Karan
Karan
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  2. AbhishekBatabyal Helpful Pursuing CA, BCOM (HONS)
    This answer was edited.

    The term "principal book of accounts'' refers to the set of ledgers that an entity prepares to group the similar transactions recorded as journal entries under an account. So to put it simply, the principal book of accounts mean ledgers. Ledgers are prepared by posting the debits and credits of a joRead more

    The term “principal book of accounts” refers to the set of ledgers that an entity prepares to group the similar transactions recorded as journal entries under an account.

    So to put it simply, the principal book of accounts mean ledgers.

    Ledgers are prepared by posting the debits and credits of a journal entry to the respective accounts.

    A ledger groups the transactions concerning the same account. For example, Mr B is a debtor of X Ltd. Hence all the transactions entered into with Mr. will be grouped into the ledger Mr B A/c in the books of X Ltd.

    Ledgers are of utmost importance because all the information to any account can be known by its ledger.

    Preparation of ledger is very important because all the information to any account can be known by its ledger. Ledgers also display the balance of each and every account which may be debit or credit. This helps in the preparation of the trial balance and subsequently the financial statements of an entity.

    Hence, it is the most important book of accounts and calling it the ‘books of final entry’ is also justified.

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Aadil
AadilCurious
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  2. Rahul_Jose Aspiring CA currently doing Bcom

    A statutory reserve is any reserve that has to be maintained by an Act or law. When it comes to insurance, a statutory reserve is a reserve that an insurance company is legally bound to maintain to ensure that the company is able to meet its policy obligations. In India, as per the Banking RegulatioRead more

    A statutory reserve is any reserve that has to be maintained by an Act or law. When it comes to insurance, a statutory reserve is a reserve that an insurance company is legally bound to maintain to ensure that the company is able to meet its policy obligations. In India, as per the Banking Regulations Act, every banking company has to maintain at least 25% of its net profits as statutory reserves.

    The companies are required to maintain such reserves to guarantee the availability of cash when it is required by the customer. Common examples of statutory reserves are Cash reserve ratio (CSR), Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR).

    Treatment

    • Statutory reserves are shown in the Profit and Loss account under the head “appropriations”.
    • It is also shown under the head Reserves and Surplus (Schedule 2) in the Balance Sheet.

    Method

    Rule-Based Approach – The company calculates the amount required by using standard formulas. However, since they are pre-determined formulas, it does not cover all risk determining factors.

    Principle-based approach – This method is used to protect customers and ensure that the company stays solvent. They hold a higher amount of reserves than required after predicting all possible risks.

    Statutory reserves are different from general reserves as general reserves are maintained voluntarily by the company. A company that does not follow statutory requirements will face financial penalties. These reserves are mostly maintained in the form of cash.

    Maintenance of reserves gives confidence to investors that their money is secure. However, funds from these reserves can be used only for specific purposes. They should also maintain such reserves whether or not they earn profits.

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Aadil
AadilCurious
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  2. Ayushi Curious Pursuing CA
    This answer was edited.

    The term ‘contra’ means  'opposite'. Therefore, a contra revenue account is an account that is opposite of the revenue accounts of a business i.e. sales account. It has the opposite balance of the revenue account i.e. debit balance. The purpose of the contra revenue account is to ascertain the actuaRead more

    The term ‘contra’ means  ‘opposite’. Therefore, a contra revenue account is an account that is opposite of the revenue accounts of a business i.e. sales account. It has the opposite balance of the revenue account i.e. debit balance.

    The purpose of the contra revenue account is to ascertain the actual amount of sales and record the items which have reduced the sales.

    These are the contra revenue accounts commonly seen in businesses:

    • Sales return account: This account records the amount of goods sold returned by customers. The journal entry for recording sale return is as follow:

    The total sales return is deducted from the sales in the balance sheet. Though being opposite of the sales account, the sale return account is not an expense account. It is considered an indirect loss as it reduces sales.

    • Sale Discount account: This account records the amount of discount allowed to customers. The journal entry for recording sale discounts is as follows:

    Sales discount is an expense hence it is debited to the profit and loss account.

    Sales returns and sales discounts are shown in the trading and profit and loss account in the following manner:

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A_Team
A_Team
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  2. Ayushi Curious Pursuing CA

    In trial balance, the treatment of the general reserve is that it is presented on the credit side. A trial balance is a statement prepared to check the arithmetical accuracy of the books of accounts. It features the closing balances of all the assets, liabilities and equity of a business. General reRead more

    In trial balance, the treatment of the general reserve is that it is presented on the credit side.

    A trial balance is a statement prepared to check the arithmetical accuracy of the books of accounts. It features the closing balances of all the assets, liabilities and equity of a business.

    General reserve is a free reserve created out of revenue profits of a business to meet future needs and uncertainties. By free reserve, we mean dividends can be freely declared and distributed out of it.

    Since the general reserve is an internal liability i.e. liability to the owner or owners or the business, it has a credit balance and is hence shown on the credit side of the trial balance.

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Bonnie
BonnieCurious
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  2. GautamSaxena Curious .
    This answer was edited.

    Bills Payable Book Bills payable book, also known as a B/P book is a subsidiary or secondary book of account in which transactions relating to bills of exchange are recorded. It includes the recording of bills that are payable by a business. In a business where the number of bills exchanging hands iRead more

    Bills Payable Book

    Bills payable book, also known as a B/P book is a subsidiary or secondary book of account in which transactions relating to bills of exchange are recorded. It includes the recording of bills that are payable by a business.

    In a business where the number of bills exchanging hands is large in number, it is very useful, as it is tough to journalize all the bills drawn. A bills payable account generally has a credit balance as it is supposed to be paid at maturity and be a liability.

    Format for B/P book

    • The person, who draws the bill of exchange, is called a “drawer”.
    • The customer, on whom it is drawn, is called a “drawee” or an “acceptor”.

     

    Bills Payable A/c

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

    Definition Prepaid expenses are those expenses whose payments are done in advance which can be for the goods or services whose benefit will accrue in the subsequent accounting period. A prepaid expense is a current asset. prepaid expenses are classified under the head current assets in the balance sRead more

    Definition

    Prepaid expenses are those expenses whose payments are done in advance which can be for the goods or services whose benefit will accrue in the subsequent accounting period.

    A prepaid expense is a current asset. prepaid expenses are classified under the head current assets in the balance sheet.

    This is because they provide future economic benefits to the company. As such, they are assets that can be used to generate revenue in the future.

    For example prepaid rent, prepaid insurance, 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.

    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.

     

    Current liabilities are liabilities that are payable generally within 12 months from the end of the accounting period or in other words which fall due for payment in a relatively short period.

    For example bills payable, short-term loans, etc.

     

    Why current assets and not a  current liability?

    Now let me try to explain to you that prepaid expenses are classified as current assets  and not as a current liability which is as follows :

      • 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.
      • expected to be converted into cash or consumed in the production of goods or rendering of services in the normal course of business.
      • In the business prepaid expense are treated as an asset which we can see on the asset side of the balance sheet.
      • Or in other words, we can say that it is initially recorded as a prepaid expense as an asset in the balance sheet and subsequently its value is expensed over time in the profit and loss account.

     

    Example

    Now let us take an example for explaining prepaid expenses which are mentioned below.

    An insurance premium of Rs 50000 has been paid for one year beginning (previous year). The financial year ends on 31st  march YYYY.

    It means the premium for 6 months i.e., 1st April, YYYY(current year) to 30th September, YYYY(current year) amounting to Rs 25000 is paid in advance.

    Thus, of premium paid in advance (Rs 25000)  is a Prepaid Expense. It will be accounted as an expense in the financial year ending  31st  march next year. In the balance sheet as of 31st march YYYY ( current year ) it will be shown as Current Asset.

    Here is an extract of the profit /loss account and balance sheet of the above example:

     

    Key points

    There are a few things to keep in mind when dealing with prepaid expenses.

    • First, is that the expenses are actually prepaid. This means that the expenses were paid for before they were used.

     

    • Second, it is essential to track the number of prepaid expenses that have been used. That is to make sure that the prepaid expenses are not overstated on the company’s financial statements. This can happen if the company pays for more goods or services than it actually

     

    • Last but not least it is important to keep in mind that changes in the value of prepaid expenses can impact the company’s net income. For example, if the company’s prepaid insurance increases in value, this will increase the company’s net income.

     

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