AccountingQA Latest Questions

Bonnie
BonnieCurious
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  2. Simerpreet Helpful CMA Inter qualified
    This answer was edited.

    To start with let me first explain the difference between receipts and income & payment and expenditure. Although Receipts and Income may look similar terms, there are some differences. Receipts have their relation with both cash and cheques received on account of various items of the organizatiRead more

    To start with let me first explain the difference between receipts and income & payment and expenditure.

    Although Receipts and Income may look similar terms, there are some differences.

    Receipts have their relation with both cash and cheques received on account of various items of the organization. Whereas, income is considered as a revenue item for finding surplus or deficit of the organization. All the receipts collected during the year may not be considered as income.

    For Example, if an organization sale of its assets that is of a capital nature, it would not be considered as an item of income and hence would be treated in the balance sheet.

    Similarly, Payment and Expenditure are two different terms. Payments are those that have their relation with cash and cheques given for various activities of the organization. Whereas, Expenditure is considered as revenue expenditure for ascertainment of surplus or deficit in the case of a not-for-profit organization. All payments made during the year may not be considered as expenditures.

    Differences

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

    Let me first explain the meaning of both the terms CapEx and OpEx Capital expenditure (in short CapEx) is basically incurred for Fixed assets like building, furniture, machinery, etc., or an intangible asset like Goodwill, patent, etc. This expenses are incurred in order to acquire a new asset or imRead more

    Let me first explain the meaning of both the terms CapEx and OpEx

    Capital expenditure (in short CapEx) is basically incurred for Fixed assets like building, furniture, machinery, etc., or an intangible asset like Goodwill, patent, etc. This expenses are incurred in order to acquire a new asset or improve an existing one or maintain the asset in use.

    Capital expenditure is commonly found in the Cash flow statement under Investing activities as Investment in plant, machinery, equipment, etc.

    Operating Expenditure (in short OpEx) are day-to-day expenses incurred by a firm in order to carry its normal business.

    Expenses such as rent, advertisement, inventory costs, etc.

    Operating Expenses are shown in the income statement of the company as expenses incurred during the period.

    For Example: If a company purchases a printer, the printer would be a capital expenditure and the papers used for the printer would be operating expenditure.

    Difference between CapEx and OpEx

    Example 1: A company wants to lease machinery instead of buying it, in this case buying machinery would be capital expenditure, and leasing the machinery would be an Operating expense.

    Example 2: Buying machinery would cost a company for 50000 and leasing the same would cost 35000. So in this case leasing will be more preferred by a company which means operating expenditure would be preferred instead of a capital expenditure.

    From the point of view of tax treatment operating expenditure is more preferred over Capital expenditure because the expenses incurred during the year are deducted during the same year which reduces the tax levied on net income.

    Some real Examples from the Company Amazon

    This is the cash flow statement of Amazon, where the investing activities shows the capital expenditure incurred by the company during the years.

    This is the income statement of Amazon, it shows the operating expenditure incurred by the company during the year.

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Mehak
Mehak
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  2. Mehak

    Everyone must have heard about the term “cooking the books”. This term is generally associated with Creative accounting. In simple words, Creative accounting is a method of accounting in which the management tries to show a better picture of the business than the reality. Let us now understand thisRead more

    Everyone must have heard about the term “cooking the books”. This term is generally associated with Creative accounting. In simple words, Creative accounting is a method of accounting in which the management tries to show a better picture of the business than the reality. Let us now understand this concept in detail.

    What is Creative accounting?

    Creative accounting is a method of accounting in which the management manipulates the books of accounts by finding loopholes to showcase a better image of the business.

    It is a practice of using accounting loopholes to make a company’s financial position look better than it really is. It is not exactly illegal but it is more of a gray area.

    For example, a business may delay reporting expenses to increase the profits to present a better short-term position.

    The goal of creative accounting is to impress the shareholders, investors, get loans or boost stock prices.

    However, this can also be very risky and have serious consequences. It can reduce the trust of the investors and customers. In some cases, like Enron and WorldCom the world has seen how creative accounting lead to legal consequences.

    Common Techniques of Creative Accounting

    Some of the common techniques used by the business to manipulate the financial position are as follows:

    1. Revenue Recognition: Techniques such as recognizing revenue before it is actually earned is a method of creative accounting.
    2. Expense manipulation: Delaying the recognition of expenses to show a better position of the business in a short-term.
    3. Undervaluing liabilities: Undervaluing the liabilities of the business by not recognizing any future costs such as insurance or warranty etc.
    4. Asset Valuation: Overstating the value of asses or high amount of depreciation can be some ways of manipulating the value of assets.
    5. Tax avoidance: This is a way of reducing the tax liability by manipulating the financial statements to lower the profits.
    6. Cookie jar accounting: This is a method in which profits in the good years are saved in excess to use in the years of difficulty.

    Ethical implications of Creative Accounting

    There are several ethical implications with respect to creative accounting. Some of these are discussed below:

    1. Misleading Stakeholders: Creative accounting is a method to mislead the stakeholders including the investors, creditors, government, etc. This can lead to loss of trust.
    2. Loss of trust: The shareholders will lose trust over the company if the manipulation is discovered. Creative accounting breaches the fundamental of honesty.
    3. Non – compliance: Creative accounting leads to the non-compliance of the rules and regulations of the country which requires the businesses to follow certain accounting and reporting standards.
    4. Unfair competition: Creative accounting can make a company look more profitable and stable than it actually is, misleading investors and customers. This can leave honest businesses, who follow the rules, at a disadvantage.
    5. Moral responsibility: Management and business has the moral responsibility of working in the best interest of the society and the stakeholders.

    Conclusion

    The key takeaways from the above discussion are as follows:

    1. Creative accounting is the practice of using accounting loopholes to make a company’s financial position look better than it really is.
    2. The goal of creative accounting is to impress the shareholders, and investors, get loans, or boost stock prices.
    3. Revenue recognition, expense manipulation, and asset valuation are some of the common techniques of Creative accounting.
    4. The ethical implications of creative accounting include misleading stakeholders, eroding trust, compromising regulatory compliance, promoting unfair competition, neglecting moral responsibility, etc.

     

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Anushka Lalwani
Anushka Lalwani
In: >

A. Cash Book B. Statement C. Journal D. None of These

  2. Akash Kumar AK
    This answer was edited.

    The correct option is A) Cash book let's understand what is petty cash book: A petty cash book is a cash book maintained to record petty expenses. Petty expenses, mean small or minute expenses for which the payment is made in coins or a few notes or which are smaller denominations like tea or coffeeRead more

    The correct option is A) Cash book

    let’s understand what is petty cash book:

    • A petty cash book is a cash book maintained to record petty expenses.
    • Petty expenses, mean small or minute expenses for which the payment is made in coins or a few notes or which are smaller denominations like tea or coffee expenses, postage, bus or taxi fare, stationery expenses, etc.
    • The person who maintains the petty cash book is known as the petty cashier.
    • It is a simple process that helps organizations by focusing on major transactions as petty cashiers handle all small transactions.

     

    Generally, the petty cashbook is prepared as per the Imprest system. As per the Imprest system, the petty expenses for a period (month or week) are estimated and a fixed amount is given to the petty cashier to spend for that period.

    At the end of the period, the petty cashier sends the details to the chief cashier and he is reimbursed the amount spent. In this way, the debit balance of the petty cashbook always remains the same.

     

    The petty cash book has two columns in which

    • Cash received is recorded in the Left column i.e, “Receipts” or “Debit” column.
    • Cash payments are recorded in the Right column i.e, “Payment” or “Credit” column.

     

    Balance of Petty cash book

    The balance of petty cash book is never closed and their balances are carried forward to the next accounting period which is considered one of the most significant qualities of an asset whereas Income doesn’t have any opening balance and their balances get closed at the end of every accounting year.

    A petty cash book is placed under the head current asset in the balance sheet. The Closing Balance of the petty cash book is computed by deducting Total expenditure from the Total cash receipt (as received from the head cashier).

     

    Format for petty cash book

    Only small denominations are recorded in the petty cash book. It varies with the type, quantity, and need of a business. It involves cash and checks.

     

    • Ordinary Petty cash book:

     

    • Analytical Petty cash book:

     

    Conclusion

    A simple petty cash book is a type of cash book because it records the small expenses which involve small transactions in the ordinary daily business.

    A petty cash book is not as important as an income statement, balance sheet, or trail balance it doesn’t measure the accuracy of accounts so it is not treated as a statement.

    No journal entries are made in the books of accounts while spending or purchasing using a petty cash book so, it is not treated as a journal.

     

     

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Simerpreet
SimerpreetHelpful
In: >

Working Capital
  2. Astha Leader Pursuing CA, BCom (Hons.)
    This answer was edited.

    Let us first understand what working capital is. Working capital means the funds available for the day-to-day operations of an enterprise. It is a measure of a company’s liquidity and short term financial health. They are cash or mere cash resources of a business concern. It also represents the exceRead more

    Let us first understand what working capital is.

    Working capital means the funds available for the day-to-day operations of an enterprise. It is a measure of a company’s liquidity and short term financial health. They are cash or mere cash resources of a business concern.

    It also represents the excess of current assets, such as cash, accounts receivable and inventories, over current liabilities, such as accounts payable and bank overdraft.

    working capital formula

    Sources of Working Capital

    Any transaction that increases the amount of working capital for a company is a source of working capital.

    Suppose, Amazon sells its goods for $1,000 when the cost is only $700. Then, the difference of $300 is the source of working capital as the increase in cash is greater than the decrease in inventory.

    Sources of working capital can be classified as follows:

    short term and long term sources of working capital

    Short Term Sources

    • Trade credit: Credit given by one business firm to the other arising from credit sales. It is a spontaneous source of finance representing credit extended by the supplier of goods and services.
    • Bills/Note payable: The purchaser gives a written promise to pay the amount of bill or invoice either on-demand or at a fixed future date to the seller or the bearer of the note.
    • Accrued expenses: It refers to the services availed by the firm, but the payment for which is yet to be done. It represents an interest-free source of finance.
    • Tax/Dividend provisions: It is a provision made out of current profits to meet the tax/dividend obligation. The time gap between provision made and payment of actual payment serves as a source of short-term finance during the intermediate period.
    • Cash Credit/Overdraft: Under this arrangement, the bank specifies a pre-determined limit for borrowings. The borrower can withdraw as required up to the specified limits.
    • Public deposit: These are unsecured deposits invited by the company from the public for a period of six months to 3 years.
    • Bills discounting: It refers to an activity wherein a discounted amount is released by the bank to the seller on purchase of the bill drawn by the borrower on their customers.
    • Short term loans: These loans are granted for a period of less than a year to fulfil a short term liquidity crunch.
    • Inter-corporate loans/deposits: Organizations having surplus funds invest with other organizations for up to six months at rates higher than that of banks.
    • Commercial paper: These are short term unsecured promissory notes sold at discount and redeemed at face value. These are issued for periods ranging from 7 to 360 days.
    • Debt factoring: It is an arrangement between the firm (the client) and a financial institution (the factor) whereby the factor collects dues of his client for a certain fee. In other words, the factor purchases its client’s trade debts at a discount.

    Long Term Sources

    • Retained profits: These are profits earned by a business in a financial year and set aside for further usage and investments.
    • Share Capital: It is the money invested by the shareholders in the company via purchase of shares floated by the company in the market.
    • Long term loans: These loans are disbursed for a period greater than 1 year to the borrower in his account in cash. Interest is charged on the full amount irrespective of the amount in use. These shareholders receive annual dividends against the money invested.
    • Debentures: These are issued by companies to obtain funds from the public in form of debt. They are not backed by any collateral but carry a fixed rate of interest to be paid by the company to the debenture holders.

    Another point I would like to add is that, although depreciation is recorded in expense and fixed assets accounts and does not affect working capital, it still needs to be accounted for when calculating working capital.

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Aadil
AadilCurious
In: >

CapitalReserve CapitalReservesUncalled CapitalUnsubscribed Capital
  2. Ayushi Curious Pursuing CA
    This answer was edited.

    Reserve capital is part of ‘Uncalled capital’. ‘Uncalled capital’ means the outstanding amount on shares on which the call money is not yet called. A company may issue its shares and receive the money either in full or in instalments. The instalments are named: Application money – Received by a compRead more

    Reserve capital is part of ‘Uncalled capital’. ‘Uncalled capital’ means the outstanding amount on shares on which the call money is not yet called.

    A company may issue its shares and receive the money either in full or in instalments. The instalments are named:

    • Application money – Received by a company from the people who apply for allotment of the shares.
    • Allotment money – Called by the company from the people to whom the shares are allotted at the time of allotment.
    • Call money – The outstanding amount is called by way of call money in one or more instalments.

     For example, X Ltd issues 1000 shares at a price of Rs. 100 per share which is payable Rs. 25 at application, Rs. 30 at the allotment, Rs. 25 at the first call and Rs. 20 at the second and final call.

    The shares at fully subscribed and X Ltd has called and received money till the first call. The second call is not made yet.

     This amount of Rs 20,000 (1000 x Rs.20) will be uncalled capital.

    Now, It is up to the management when to make the second and final call.

    If the management shows no intention of calling the outstanding money on such shares, then the uncalled capital will be called reserve capital.

    Such shares which are not fully called are known as party paid shares.

    It is ultimately payable to the company by the shareholders of partly paid shares at the time of dissolution.

    Reserve capital is not shown either in the balance sheet or in the notes to accounts to the balance sheet. But one can ascertain it just by examining the notes to accounts to the balance. If the shares are partly paid and the management seems to have no intention of calling the outstanding money then such uncalled share capital is reserve capital.

    Reserve capital is neither a liability nor an asset for the company.

    But at the time of winding up of the company, it becomes a liability for the shareholders to pay the balance amount of their shares.

    By now, you must have understood why reserve capital is not part of unsubscribed capital. It is because reserve capital is related to shares that are issued and subscribed.

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Anushka Lalwani
Anushka Lalwani
In: >

  2. Radhika
    This answer was edited.

    Unrecorded Assets are the assets that are completely written off but still physically available in the company or assets that are not shown in the books of the company. Unrecorded assets are generally recorded or recognized at the event of admission, retirement, death of a partner when all the assetRead more

    Unrecorded Assets are the assets that are completely written off but still physically available in the company or assets that are not shown in the books of the company.

    Unrecorded assets are generally recorded or recognized at the event of admission, retirement, death of a partner when all the assets and liabilities are revalued or dissolution of the firm.

    Since Accounting Standards require firms to record all the assets and liabilities in their books, it is therefore mandatory to record such unrecorded assets.

    There can be two cases for treatment of such unrecorded assets:

    • Unrecorded Asset entered into the business and recorded in books
    Unrecorded Asset A/c (Dr.) Amt
     To Revaluation A/c Amt

    The unrecorded asset is now debited since it has to be recorded in the books now and Revaluation Account is credited since it is again for the business which will eventually be transferred to Partners’ Capital Account.

    • Unrecorded Asset taken over by a partner and paid cash   
    Cash A/c (Dr.) Amt
     To Partners’ Capital A/c Amt

    If a partner decides to take over an unrecorded asset then his account is credited with that amount and since cash paid by the partner comes into business Cash Account is debited.

    • Unrecorded Asset discovered during Dissolution
    Cash/ A/c (Dr) Amt
     To Realization A/c Amt

    When an unrecorded asset is discovered during the dissolution of the firm, such an asset is sold directly to the outsider and as a result, cash A/c is debited since the cash is entering the business. The entry is made through the Revaluation A/c and it is hence credited.

    Example:

    At the time of revaluation, firms find a typewriter that has not been recorded in the books and is valued at Rs 10,000.  The journal entry to record that typewriter will be:

    Typewriter A/c (Dr.) 10,000
      To Revaluation A/c 10,000

     

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Nistha
Nistha
In: >

Accounting PoliciesAccounting PrinciplesDifference Between
  2. Sandy CMA Final
    This answer was edited.

    To begin with, let me give you a brief explanation of both the terms i.e. Accounting policies and accounting principles- In order to maintain the financial statements, the company’s management adopts various Accounting Policies of its own. This generally includes the rules, the directions as to howRead more

    To begin with, let me give you a brief explanation of both the terms i.e. Accounting policies and accounting principles-

    In order to maintain the financial statements, the company’s management adopts various Accounting Policies of its own. This generally includes the rules, the directions as to how the financial statements will be prepared or how the valuation of depreciation would be done, and so on. These are flexible in nature and vary from company to company.

    For Example 1, Johnson Co. uses FIFO (first in first out) method to value the inventory. That is to say that, while selling its product, it sells those goods or products which it has acquired or produced first.

    It does not consider the LIFO or weighted average cost. The other company may adopt the other method as per its wish.

    Example 2, Johnson Co. uses the straight-line method of depreciating an asset, whereas the other company can opt for a written down value method depending upon the need of the company.

    So what I am trying to explain from this is that the accounting policies are flexible and can be adopted as per the needs of the company.

    Accounting Principles are the rules which the accountants adopt universally for recording and reporting the financial data. It brings uniformity in accounting throughout the practice of accounting. These are generally less flexible in nature.

    For Example, “Cost” is a principle. According to this accounting principle, an asset is recorded in the books at the price paid to acquire it and this cost will be the basis for all the subsequent accounting for the asset.  However, asset market value may change over time, but for the accounting purpose, it continues to be shown at its book value i.e. at which it is acquired.

    Some more examples would be of Matching principle, Consistency principle, Money measurement principle, etc.

    Differences

    Conclusion

    The point is Accounting Principles are the broad direction to reach a goal and to reach that goal helps the accounting policies.

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

    Sundry Debtors in Trial Balance The debtor is a company's asset, and assets are always debited in the trial balance. The trial balance is a statement maintained at the end of an accounting period, listing the ending balances in each general ledger account. There are two sides to this account, debit,Read more

    Sundry Debtors in Trial Balance

    The debtor is a company’s asset, and assets are always debited in the trial balance.

    • The trial balance is a statement maintained at the end of an accounting period, listing the ending balances in each general ledger account.
    • There are two sides to this account, debit, and credit and they include all the transactions done in the business over a particular accounting period.

     

    As we know, assets, expenses, and drawings are always debited. That applies not only in journals but here as well, hence, all of your assets are to be debited.

    Trial Balance Statement

     

    As we can see here, the sundry debtors (on the 4th) are debited like all the other assets, expenses, and losses. In the end, if the basic accounting equation i.e. assets=capital+liability is violated, a mismatch arises which in the balancing figure is shown under the name of suspense account. Such errors must not be found and corrected to avoid any mismatch in the balance sheet of the company.

    Total Assets = Capital + Other Liabilities.

    Therefore, this is how the sundry debtors are treated in the Trial Balance.

     

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