‘Reserve and surplus’ is a heading under ‘Equities and Liabilities’ in which various reserves and surplus of profit of an enterprise appear. Reserve are the amount set aside to meet with uncertainties of the future. They have credit balance as they are internal liabilities of an enterprise. While ‘sRead more
‘Reserve and surplus’ is a heading under ‘Equities and Liabilities’ in which various reserves and surplus of profit of an enterprise appear. Reserve are the amount set aside to meet with uncertainties of the future. They have credit balance as they are internal liabilities of an enterprise. While ‘surplus’ generally means the surplus amount in the profit and loss A/c or the operating surplus in case of a non-profit organisation, reserves are of many types:
- Revenue reserve
- Specific reserves
- Reserves created from shareholder’s contribution
- Capital reserve
- Secret reserves
Let’s discuss each of the above:
- Revenue reserves:
Revenue reserve has two different definitions.
First – Revenue reserves are the reserves that are created out of the profit made by an enterprise in the ordinary course of business. As per this definition, the examples of revenue reserves are:
- General reserve: There is no restriction on the purpose for which this reserve can be used. It is a free reserve. Generally, this reserve is used to pay dividends.
- Debenture Redemption Reserve: This reserve is mandatory to be created by law. The purpose is to ensure the timely redemption of debentures.
- Dividend Equalisation Reserve: This reserve is created to maintain a steady rate of dividend every year even if the enterprise reports loss in any financial year.
- Capital Redemption Reserve: This reserve can be solely used to issue bonus shares to fill the void created in total capital by redemption of preference shares.
- Workmen Compensation Reserve: This reserve is created to pay for uncertain compensation that an enterprise may be liable to pay to its employees.
- Investment Fluctuation Reserve: This reserve is created out of the profit of
  Second: Revenue reserve is a reserve from which can be used to any use. It can be the payment of dividends, creation of other reserves or reinvestment in the business. It is another name for general reserve.
- Specific reserves
These are the reserves that are restricted to specific purposes only. These reserves are not free reserves i.e. dividends cannot be declared out of these reserves. However, if in case such reserve is not a statutory reserve, an enterprise can very well use such reserves for other purposes too. Specific reserves can be further classified into two types:
- Statutory specific reserves: These are reserves that are mandatory to be created to comply with legal provisions applicable to an enterprise. Use of such reserves is restricted to some specific purposes.
If such reserves are not created whenever applicable or if the amount in such reserves is used for a purpose other than the purpose for which it is created, the enterprise can invite face legal consequences. The examples of statutory reserves are as follows:
- Capital Redemption Reserve
- Debenture Redemption Reserve
- Securities Premium Reserve
- Non – Statutory specific reserves: It is not mandatory to create such reserves. They are created to meet with specific uncertainties of the future.
- Workmen Compensation Reserve
- Investment Fluctuation Reserve
Important Note: Statutory reserve in the context of insurance companies means the minimum amount of cash and marketable securities to be set aside to comply with legal requirements.
- Reserves created from shareholder’s contribution
This is a reserve that is created out of a shareholder’s contribution. Securities premium reserve is the only such reserve that is created out of such shareholder’s contribution.
Securities Premium Reserve: It is a reserve that is created when securities of a company such as shares or debentures are issued at a premium. The share or debenture premium money is created for this reserve. The purposes of which this reserve may be used as per section 52 of the Companies Act, 2013 are as follows:
- For the issue of fully paid bonus shares.
- For meeting preliminary expenses incurred by the company
- For meeting the expense, commission or discount allowed on the issue of securities of the company.
- In providing premium payable on the redemption of preference shares.
- For the purchase of its own shares or other securities under section 68.
- Capital Reserve:
Capital reserve is a reserve that is created out of the profit made by an enterprise from its non-operating activities like
- selling of capital assets(fixed assets) at a profit
- buying a business at profit (where net assets acquired is more than the purchase consideration)
This reserve is used to finance long term projects of a company like buying or construction of fixed assets, writing off capital losses( selling of fixed assets at loss).
- Secret Reserve:
A secret reserve is a reserve that exists but its existence is not shown in the balance sheet of an enterprise. An enterprise creates such reserves to hide from its competitor that it is in a better financial position than it appears in its balance sheet. Although the creation of secret reserves is prohibited by law, there are provisions for banking companies to create such reserves.
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Definition Contingent Asset is an asset the existence, ownership, or value of which may be known or determined only on the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events. However, the difference between Contingent assets is not disclosed whereas Contingent liabilities are discloRead more
Definition
Contingent Asset is an asset the existence, ownership, or value of which may be known or determined only on the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events.
However, the difference between Contingent assets is not disclosed whereas Contingent liabilities are disclosed by way of notes they do have different criteria for recognition which are discussed below.
For example:– a claim that an enterprise is pursuing through the legal process, where the outcome is uncertain, is a contingent asset.
Contingent liabilities are defined as obligations relating to existing conditions or situations which may arise in the future depending on the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain events.
For example:- Billis discounted but not yet matured, arrears of dividend on cum –preferences-shares, etc.
Meaning as per AS – 29
Now let me try to explain to you the meaning according to Accounting Standard 29 of the above contingent assets and liabilities which is as follows:-
• Contingent asset
A contingent asset is a possible asset that arises from past events the existence of which will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events.
Not wholly within the control of the enterprise.
It usually arises from unplanned or unexpected events that give rise to the possibility of an inflow of economic benefits to the enterprise.
• Contingent liability
A possible obligation that arises from past events the existence of which will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events.
Not wholly within the control of the enterprise.
A present obligation that arises from past events but is not recognized because it is not probable that the outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation or,
A reliable estimate of the amount of obligation cannot be made.
Recognition In Financial Statements
Contingent assets and liabilities are recognized as follows:-
• Contingent Assets
As per the prudence concept s well as present accounting standards, an enterprise should not recognize a contingent asset.
It is possible that the recognition of contingent assets may result in the recognition of income that may never be realized.
However, when the realization of income is virtually certain, the related asset no longer remains contingent.
• Contingent liability
As per the rules, it is not recognized by an enterprise.
When recognized?
Contingent assets are assessed continually and if it has become virtuality an outflow of economic benefits will arise.
The assets and the related income are recognized in the financial statements of the period in which the change occurs.
Contingent liability is assessed continually to determine whether an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits has become probable.
And if it becomes probable that an outflow or future economic benefits will require for an item previously dealt with as a contingent liability.
A provision is recognized in financial statements of the period in which the change probability occurs except in extremely rare circumstances where no reliable estimate can be made.
Disclosure
Now we will see how contingent assets and liability are disclosed which is mentioned below:-
• Contingent asset
These contingent assets are not disclosed in financial statements.
A contingent asset is usually disclosed in the report of the approving authority ( ie.e., Board Of Directors in the case of a company, and the corresponding approving authority in case of any enterprise), if ab inflow of economic benefits is probable.
• Contingent Assets
A contingent liability is required to be disclosed by way of a note to the balance sheet unless the possibility of an outflow of a resource embodying economic benefit is remote.
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