The asset of stock

The asset of stock

Learning objectives

After you have studied this chapter, you should be able to: l explain why it is inappropriate to use a stock account to record increases and

decreases in stock l describe the two causes of stock increasing l describe the two causes of stock decreasing l explain the difference between a purchase account and a returns inwards

account l explain the difference between a sales account and a returns outwards account l explain how to record increases and decreases of stock in the appropriate

accounts l explain the meanings of the terms ‘purchases’ and ‘sales’ as used in accounting l explain the differences in recording purchases on credit as compared to

recording purchases that are paid for immediately in cash l explain the differences in recording sales on credit as compared to recording sales that are paid for immediately in cash

Introduction

In this chapter, you will learn how to record movements in stock in the appropriate ledger accounts and how to record purchases and sales on credit, as opposed to

purchases and sales for cash.

3.1 Stock movements

In the examples in Chapter 1, goods were sold at the same price at which they were bought. This is, of course, extremely unusual. In fact, any new business doing this wouldn’t last terribly long. Businesses need to make profits to survive, as many ‘dot.com’ Internet companies discovered in 2000 when their bubble burst and all the losses they had been making took effect.

Normally, goods and services are sold above cost price, the difference being profit . As you know, when goods and services are sold for less than their cost, the difference is a loss .

Chapter 3 l The asset of stock

Activity

3.1 Let’s think about the double entry implications if all sales were at cost price. Fill in the blanks in the following:

As we did in Chapter 1, it would be possible to have a stock account with goods purchased being _________ to the stock account (as purchases represent __ _________ in the asset, stock) and goods sold being _________ to it (as sales represent __ _________ in the asset, stock).

The difference between the two sides of the stock account would then represent the cost of the goods unsold at that date. (We’ll ignore things like wastage and losses of stock for now.) However, most sales are not priced at cost and, therefore, the sales figures include elements of profit or loss. Because of this, in most cases, the difference between the two sides of the stock account would not represent the cost of the stock of goods. Maintaining a stock account on this basis would therefore serve no useful purpose.

To address this, we subdivide the way stock is reported into several accounts, each one show- ing a movement of stock. Firstly, we must distinguish between transactions that cause stock to increase and those that cause stock to decrease. Let’s deal with each of these in turn.

1 Increase in stock. This can be due to one of two causes: ( a) The purchase of additional goods.

( b) The return in to the business of goods previously sold. The reasons for this are numerous. The goods may have been the wrong type; they may, for example, have been surplus to requirements or faulty.

To distinguish the two aspects of the increase of stocks of goods, two accounts are opened: ( i) a Purchases Account – in which purchases of goods are entered; and

ii) a Returns Inwards Account – in which goods being returned in to the business are entered. (This is also known as the Sales Returns Account.)

So, for increases in stock, we need to choose which of these two accounts to use to record the debit side of the transaction.

2 Decrease in stock. Ignoring things like wastage and theft, this can be due to one of two causes: ( a) The sale of goods.

( b) Goods previously bought by the business now being returned to the supplier. Once again, in order to distinguish the two aspects of the decrease of stocks of goods, two

accounts are opened: ( i) a Sales Account – in which sales of goods are entered; and

ii) a Returns Outwards Account – in which goods being returned out to a supplier are

entered. (This is also known as the Purchases Returns Account.) So, for decreases in stock, we need to choose which of these two accounts to use to record the

credit side of the transaction. As stock is an asset, and these four accounts are all connected with this asset, the double entry

rules are those used for assets.

Activity

3.2 What are the double entry rules for assets?

Accounts

To record

Entry in the account

Assets

an increase

a decrease

Part 1 l Introduction to double entry bookkeeping We shall now look at some entries in the following sections.

3.2 Purchase of stock on credit

On 1 August 20X8, goods costing £165 are bought on credit from D Henry. First, the twofold effect of the transaction must be considered so that the bookkeeping entries can be worked out.

1 The asset of stock is increased. An increase in an asset needs a debit entry in an account. Here the account is one designed for this type of stock movement. It is clearly a ‘purchase’ move- ment so that the account to use must be the purchases account.

2 There is an increase in a liability. This is the liability of the business to D Henry because the goods bought have not yet been paid for. An increase in a liability needs a credit entry. In this case, it would be a credit entry to D Henry’s account.

These two entries appear in the acounts as:

Purchases

20X8

Aug 1 D Henry

D Henry

20X8

Aug 1 Purchases

Note that these entries look identical to those you would make if you were using a stock account rather than a purchases account.

3.3 Purchases of stock for cash

On 2 August 20X8, goods costing £310 are bought, cash being paid for them immediately at the time of purchase.

1 As before, it is the asset of stock that is increased, so a debit entry will be needed. The move-

ment of stock is that of a ‘purchase’, so the purchases account needs to be debited.

2 The asset of cash is decreased. To reduce an asset a credit entry is called for, and the asset is cash, so we need to credit the cash account.

Purchases

20X8

Aug 2 Cash

Aug 2 Purchases

3.4 Sales of stock on credit

On 3 August 20X8, goods were sold on credit for £375 to J Lee.

Chapter 3 l The asset of stock

1 An asset account is increased. The increase in the asset of debtors requires a debit and the debtor is J Lee, so that the account concerned is that of J Lee.

2 The asset of stock is decreased. For this a credit entry to reduce an asset is needed. The movement

of stock is clearly the result of a ‘sale’ and so it is the sales account that needs to be credited.

J Lee

20X8

Aug 3 Sales

3.5 Sales of stock for cash

On 4 August 20X8, goods are sold for £55, cash being received immediately at the time of sale.

1 The asset of cash is increased, so the cash account must be debited.

2 The asset of stock is reduced. The reduction of an asset requires a credit and the movement of stock is represented by ‘sales’. Thus the entry needed is a credit in the sales account.

Aug 4 Sales

Sales

20X8

55 So far, so good. Apart from replacing the stock account with the purchases account for stock

Aug 4 Cash

increases and the sales account for stock decreases, you’ve done nothing different in your entries to the accounts compared with what you learnt in Chapters 1 and 2.

Go back to Chapters 1 and 2, and refresh your understanding of account entries.

– returns inwards (sales that are being returned) and returns outwards (purchases that are being

Now let’s look at the other stock-related transactions that cause stocks to increase and decrease

returned to the supplier).

3.6 Returns inwards

On 5 August 20X8, goods which had been previously sold to F Lowe for £29 are now returned to the business. This could be for various reasons such as:

l we sent goods of the wrong size, the wrong colour or the wrong model; l the goods may have been damaged in transit; l the goods are of poor quality.

1 The asset of stock is increased by the goods returned. Thus, a debit representing an increase of an asset is needed. This time, the movement of stock is that of ‘returns inwards’. The entry required is a debit in the Returns Inwards Account.

Part 1 l Introduction to double entry bookkeeping

2 There is a decrease in an asset. The debt of F Lowe to the business is now reduced. A credit is needed in F Lowe’s account to record this.

Returns Inwards

20X8

Aug 5 F Lowe

F Lowe

20X8

£ Aug 5 Returns inwards

(Remember, another name for the returns inwards account is the ‘sales returns account’.)

3.7 Returns outwards

On 6 August 20X8, goods previously bought for £96 are returned by the business to K Howe.

1 The liability of the business to K Howe is decreased by the value of the goods returned. The decrease in a liability needs a debit, this time in K Howe’s account.

2 The asset of stock is decreased by the goods sent out. Thus, a credit representing a reduction in an asset is needed. The movement of stock is that of ‘returns outwards’ so the entry will be

a credit in the Returns Outwards Account.

K Howe

20X8

Aug 6 Returns outwards

Returns Outwards

20X8

Aug 6 K Howe

(Remember, another name for the returns outwards account is the ‘purchases returns account’.)

You’re probably thinking this is all very straighforward. Well, let’s see how much you have learnt by looking at two review questions.

Before you read further, work through Review Questions 3.1 and 3.2.

3.8 A worked example

20X9 May

1 Bought goods on credit £220 from D Small. ==

2 Bought goods on credit £410 from A Lyon & Son. ==

5 Sold goods on credit to D Hughes for £60. ==

6 Sold goods on credit to M Spencer for £45. ==

10 Returned goods £15 to D Small. ==

11 Goods sold for cash £210. ==

12 Goods bought for cash £150. ==

19 M Spencer returned £16 goods to us.

Chapter 3 l The asset of stock ==

21 Goods sold for cash £175. ==

22 Paid cash to D Small £205. ==

30 D Hughes paid the amount owing by him £60 in cash. ==

31 Bought goods on credit £214 from A Lyon & Son.

You may find it worthwhile trying to enter all these transactions in T-accounts before reading any further. You will need the following accounts: Purchases, Sales, Returns Outwards, Returns Inwards, D Small, A Lyon & Son, D Hughes, M Spencer, and Cash.

Purchases

20X9

May 1 D Small

== 2 A Lyon & Son

== 31 A Lyon & Son

5 D Hughes

6 M Spencer 45

Returns Outwards

20X9

May 10 D Small

Returns Inwards

20X9

May 19 M Spencer

D Small

20X9

£ May 10 Returns outwards

A Lyon & Son

D Hughes

60 May 30 Cash

M Spencer

6 Sales 45 May 19 Returns inwards 16

Part 1 l Introduction to double entry bookkeeping

Cash

20X9

£ May 11 Sales

May 12 Purchases

22 D Small

30 D Hughes

If you tried to do this before looking at the answer, be sure you understand any mistakes you made before going on.

3.9 Special meaning of ‘sales’ and ‘purchases’

You need to remember that ‘sales’ and ‘purchases’ have a special meaning in accounting when compared to ordinary language usage.

Purchases in accounting means the purchase of those goods which the business buys with the prime intention of selling. Obviously, sometimes the goods are altered, added to, or used in the manufacture of something else, but it is the element of resale that is important. To a business that deals in computers, for instance, computers constitute purchases.

If something else is bought which the business does not intend to sell, such as a van, such an item cannot be called ‘purchases’, even though in ordinary language you would say that a van has been purchased. The prime intention of buying the van is for usage and not for resale.

Similarly, sales means the sale of those goods in which the business normally deals and which were bought with the prime intention of resale. The word ‘sales’ must never be given to the dis- posal of other items, such as vans or buildings that were purchased to be used and not to be sold.

If we did not keep to these meanings, we would find it very difficult to identify which of the items in the purchases and sales accounts were stock and which were assets that had been bought to be used.

Let’s now look at another of the small complications accountants need to deal with – the differ- ences between the treatment of cash and credit transactions.

3.10 Comparison of cash and credit transactions for purchases and sales

As you saw in the last example, when goods are purchased for cash, the entries are:

l Debit the purchases account l Credit the cash account.

On the other hand the complete set of entries for the purchase of goods on credit can be

broken down into two stages: first, the purchase of the goods, and second, the payment for them. The first part is:

l Debit the purchases account l Credit the supplier’s account.

The second part is:

l Debit the supplier’s account l Credit the cash account.

Activity

3.3 What is the difference between the treatment of cash and credit purchases?

Chapter 3 l The asset of stock

A study of cash sales and credit sales reveals a similar difference in treatment:

Cash Sales

Credit Sales

Complete entry:

First part:

Debit cash account Debit customer’s account Credit sales account

Credit sales account Second part: Debit cash account Credit customer’s account

Learning outcomes

You should now have learnt:

1 That it is not appropriate to use a stock account to record increases and decreases in stock because stock is normally sold at a price greater than its cost.

2 That stock increases either because some stock has been purchased or because stock that was sold has been returned by the buyer.

3 That stock decreases either because some stock has been sold or because stock previously purchased has been returned to the supplier.

4 That a purchase account is used to record purchases of stock (as debit entries in the account) and that a returns inwards account is used to record stock returned by customers (as debit entries in the account).

5 That a sales account is used to record sales of stock (as credit entries in the account) and that a returns outwards account is used to record stock returned to suppliers (as credit entries in the account).

6 How to record increases and decreases of stock in the appropriate accounts.

7 That in accounting, the term ‘purchases’ refers to purchases of stocks. Acquisitions of any other assets, such as vans, equipment and buildings, are never described as purchases.

8 That in accounting, the term ‘sales’ refers to sales of stocks. Disposals of any

other assets, such as vans, equipment and buildings, are never described as

sales.

9 That purchases for cash are never entered in the supplier’s account.

10 That purchases on credit are always entered in the supplier’s (creditor’s) account.

11 That sales for cash are never entered in the customer’s account.

12 That sales on credit are always entered in the customer’s (debtor’s) account.

Answers to activities

3.1 As we did in Chapter 1, it would be possible to have a stock account with goods purchased being DEBITED to the stock account (as purchases represent AN INCREASE in the asset, stock) and goods sold being CREDITED to it (as sales represent A DECREASE in the asset, stock).

Part 1 l Introduction to double entry bookkeeping

3.2 Accounts

To record

Entry in the account

Assets

an increase

Debit

a decrease

Credit

3.3 With cash purchases, no entry is made in the supplier’s account. This is because cash passes immedi- ately and therefore there is no need to keep a check of how much money is owing to that supplier. On the other hand, with credit purchases, the records should show to whom money is owed until payment is made and so an entry is always made in the supplier’s (creditor’s) account.

Review questions

3.1 Complete the following table:

Account to Account to be debited

be credited (a) Goods bought on credit from J Reid. (b) Goods sold on credit to B Perkins. (c) Vans bought on credit from H Thomas. (d) Goods sold, a cheque being received immediately. (e) Goods sold for cash. (f ) Goods purchased by us returned to supplier, H Hardy. (g) Machinery sold for cash. (h) Goods sold returned to us by customer, J Nelson. (i ) Goods bought on credit from D Simpson. ( j) Goods we returned to H Forbes.

3.2A Complete the following table:

Account to Account to be debited

be credited (a) Goods bought on credit from T Morgan. (b) Goods returned to us by J Thomas. (c) Machinery returned to L Jones Ltd. (d) Goods bought for cash. (e) Van bought on credit from D Davies Ltd. (f ) Goods returned by us to I Prince. (g)

D Picton paid us his account by cheque. (h) Goods bought by cheque. (i) We paid creditor, B Henry, by cheque. ( j) Goods sold on credit to J Mullings.

3.3 You are to write up the following in the books:

20X8 July

1 Started in business with £750 cash. ==

3 Bought goods for cash £110. ==

7 Bought goods on credit £320 from F Herd. ==

10 Sold goods for cash £64. ==

14 Returned goods to F Herd £46. ==

18 Bought goods on credit £414 from D Exodus. ==

21 Returned goods to D Exodus £31. ==

24 Sold goods to B Squire £82 on credit. ==

25 Paid F Herd’s account by cash £274. ==

31 B Squire paid us his account in cash £82.

Chapter 3 l The asset of stock

3.4A Enter the following transactions in the appropriate accounts: 20X6

Aug 1 Started in business with £7,400 cash. ==

2 Paid £7,000 of the opening cash into the bank. ==

4 Bought goods on credit £410 from J Watson. ==

5 Bought a van by cheque £4,920. ==

7 Bought goods for cash £362. ==

10 Sold goods on credit £218 to L Less. ==

12 Returned goods to J Watson £42. ==

19 Sold goods for cash £54. ==

22 Bought fixtures on credit from Firelighters Ltd £820. ==

24 F Holmes lent us £1,500 paying us the money by cheque. ==

29 We paid J Watson his account by cheque £368. ==

31 We paid Firelighters Ltd by cheque £820.

3.5 Enter the following transactions in the accounts of L Linda:

20X7 July

1 Started in business with £20,000 in the bank. ==

2 R Hughes lent us £5,000 in cash. ==

3 Bought goods on credit from B Brown £1,530 and I Jess £4,162. ==

4 Sold goods for cash £1,910. ==

6 Took £200 of the cash and paid it into the bank. ==

8 Sold goods on credit to H Rise £1,374. ==

10 Sold goods on credit to P Taylor £341. ==

11 Bought goods on credit from B Brown £488. ==

12 H Rise returned goods to us £65. ==

14 Sold goods on credit to G Pate £535 and R Sim £262. ==

15 We returned goods to B Brown £94. ==

17 Bought van on credit from Aberdeen Cars Ltd £4,370. ==

18 Bought office furniture on credit from J Winter Ltd £1,800. ==

19 We returned goods to I Jess £130. ==

20 Bought goods for cash £390. ==

24 Goods sold for cash £110. ==

25 Paid money owing to B Brown by cheque £1,924. ==

26 Goods returned to us by G Pate £34. ==

27 Returned some of office furniture costing £180 to J Winter Ltd. ==

28 L Linda put a further £2,500 into the business in the form of cash. ==

29 Paid Aberdeen Cars Ltd £4,370 by cheque. ==

31 Bought office furniture for cash £365. 3.6A Enter the following transactions in the accounts:

1 Started in business with £18,000 in the bank.

20X9 May

== 2 Bought goods on credit from B Hind £1,455. ==

3 Bought goods on credit from G Smart £472. ==

5 Sold goods for cash £210. ==

6 We returned goods to B Hind £82. ==

8 Bought goods on credit from G Smart £370. ==

10 Sold goods on credit to P Syme £483. ==

12 Sold goods for cash £305. ==

18 Took £250 of the cash and paid it into the bank. ==

21 Bought a printer by cheque £620. ==

22 Sold goods on credit to H Buchan £394. ==

23 P Syme returned goods to us £160. ==

25 H Buchan returned goods to us £18. ==

28 We returned goods to G Smart £47. ==

29 We paid Hind by cheque £1,373. ==

31 Bought machinery on credit from A Cobb £419.

chapter

The effect of profit or loss on

capital and the double entry system for expenses and revenues

Learning objectives

After you have studied this chapter, you should be able to: l calculate profit by comparing revenue with expenses l explain how the accounting equation is used to show the effects of changes in

assets and liabilities upon capital after goods or services have been traded l explain why separate accounts are used for each type of expense and revenue l explain why an expense is entered as a debit in the appropriate expense account l explain why an item of revenue is entered as a credit in the appropriate revenue

account l enter a series of expense and revenue transactions into the appropriate T-accounts l explain how the use of business cash and business goods for the owner’s own purposes are dealt with in the accounting records

Introduction

In this chapter, you will learn how to calculate profits and losses and how to enter expense and revenue transactions into the ledger. You will also learn about draw-

ings, and how to record them.

4.1 The nature of profit or loss

To an accountant, profit means the amount by which revenues are greater than expenses for a set of transactions. The term revenues means the sales value of goods and services that have been supplied to customers. The term expenses means the cost value of all the assets that have been used up to obtain those revenues.

If, therefore, we supplied goods and services valued for sale at £100,000 to customers, and the expenses incurred by us in order to supply those goods and services amounted to £70,000 the result would be a profit of £30,000:

Chapter 4 l The effect of profit or loss on capital & the double entry system for expenses & revenues £

Revenues:

100,000 Less Expenses:

goods and services supplied to our customers for the sum of

value of all the assets used up to enable us to supply these goods and services

(70,000) Profit is therefore:

30,000 On the other hand, it is possible for our expenses to exceed our revenues for a set of trans-

actions. In this case the result is a loss . For example, a loss would be incurred given the following: £

Revenues: what we have charged to our customers in respect of all the goods and services supplied to them

60,000 Less Expenses:

value of all the assets used up to supply these goods and services to our customers

(80,000) Loss is therefore:

Activity In each of these two examples, a different explanation was given for the terms

4.1 ‘revenues’ and ‘expenses’. What is the difference between the two explanations given for ‘revenue’? What is the difference between the two explanations given

for ‘expenses’?

4.2 The effect of profit and loss on capital

Businesses exist to make profits and so increase their capital. Let’s look at the relationship between profits and capital in an example.

On 1 January the assets and liabilities of a business are: Assets:

Fixtures £10,000; Stock £7,000; Cash at the bank £3,000. Liabilities: Creditors £2,000.

The capital is found from the accounting equation:

Capital == Assets −− Liabilities

In this case, capital is £10,000 + £7,000 + £3,000 − £2,000 = £18,000. During January, the whole of the £7,000 stock is sold for £11,000 cash. On 31 January the

assets and liabilities have become:

Assets: Fixtures £10,000, Stock nil, Cash at the bank £14,000. Liabilities: Creditors £2,000.

The capital is now £22,000:

Assets (£10,000 + £14,000) − Liabilities £2,000

So capital has increased by £4,000 from £18,000 to £22,000. It has increased by £4,000 increase because the £7,000 stock was sold at a profit of £4,000 for £11,000. Profit, therefore, increases capital:

Old capital ++ Profit == New capital

Part 1 l Introduction to double entry bookkeeping

A loss, on the other hand, would reduce the capital:

Old capital −− Loss == New capital

4.3 Profit or loss and sales

Profit will be made when goods or services are sold for more than they cost, while the opposite will result in a loss.

(You will learn later that there are different types of profit, some of which you may have heard of, such as ‘gross profit’ and ‘net profit’. For now, we’re not going to complicate things by going into that level of detail so, whatever you may already know about these different types of profit, try to focus for the time being on the simple definition of profit presented here.)

4.4 Profit or loss and expenses

Once profits or losses have been calculated, you can alter the capital account. How often this will be done will depend on the business. Some only attempt to calculate their profits and losses once a year. Others do it at much more frequent intervals. Generally speaking, the larger the business, the more frequently profits are calculated.

In order to calculate profits and losses, revenues and expenses must be entered into appropri- ate accounts. All the expenses could be charged to one Expenses Account, but you would be able to understand the calculations of profit better if full details of each type of expense were shown in those profit calculations. The same applies to each type of revenue.

For this reason, a separate account is opened for each type of expense and for each type of revenue. For example, accounts in use may include:

Commissions Account

Rent Account Bank Interest Account

Subscriptions Account

Postages Account Royalties Receivable Account

Motor Expenses Account

Stationery Account Rent Receivable Account

Telephone Account

Wages Account Overdraft Interest Account

General Expenses Account

Insurance Account It is purely a matter of choice in a business as to the title of each expense or revenue account.

Audit Fees Account

For example, an account for postage stamps could be called ‘Postage Stamps Account’, ‘Postages Account’, ‘Communication Expenses Account’, and so on. Also different businesses amalgamate expenses, some having a ‘Rent and Telephone Account’, others a ‘Rent, Telephone and Insurance Account’, etc. Infrequent or small items of expense are usually put into a ‘Sundry Expenses Account’ or a ‘General Expenses Account’.

Most organisations use names for their accounts that make it obvious which accounts are for revenue and which accounts are for expenses. However, some don’t. When in doubt as to whether an account is for revenue or expenses, you have two obvious indicators to consult. The first is on which side the entries are mainly appearing. If, for example, it is the debit side, the account is almost certainly an expense account. The other indicator is the nature of the business.

A commission account in the accounting books of a firm of stockbrokers is almost certainly a revenue account.

Activity

4.2 Identify which of the accounts listed above are expense accounts and which ones are revenue accounts.

Chapter 4 l The effect of profit or loss on capital & the double entry system for expenses & revenues

4.5 Debit or credit

You need to know whether expense accounts should be debited or credited with the amounts involved. You know that assets involve expenditure by the business and are shown as debit entries. Expenses also involve expenditure by the business and should, therefore, also be debit entries. Why? Because assets and expenses must ultimately be paid for. This payment involves a credit to the bank account (or to the cash account) so the original entry in the asset account or in the expense account must be a debit.

Even where an expense is incurred on credit, the creditor must eventually be paid. The first entry will be to credit the supplier’s (i.e. creditor’s) account and debit the expense account. When pay- ment is made to the supplier, the bank account is credited and the supplier’s account is debited.

For example, if you pay rent of £500 in cash, the asset cash is decreased by £500. The accounting equation tells you that this means that the capital is reduced by each expense – if assets decrease, so does capital; if liabilities increase, capital decreases (otherwise the accounting equation won’t balance). Expense accounts contain debit entries for expenses. The second part of the entry will either be a credit against an asset account, such as cash, or it will be a credit against a liability account, such as creditors.

Activity

4.3 Some students find this explanation involving the capital account very difficult to understand, so try this example to ensure you have followed it. Write down the

accounting equation and see if you can work out what happens to it if (a) a business spends £30 in cash hiring a van for a day and (b) if a business hires a van for a day at a cost of £30 and is given 1 month to pay the bill. Assume in each case that the business has assets of £200, liabilities of £80 and capital of £120 before the transaction. What happens to capital in each case?

Revenue is the opposite of expenses and is, therefore, treated in the opposite way – revenue entries appear on the credit side of the revenue accounts. You’ve already seen this when you’ve entered sales figures as credits into the sales account. Thus, revenue is collected together in appropriately named accounts, where it is shown as a credit until it is transferred to the profit calculations at the end of the period.

Consider too the use of funds to pay for expenses which are used up in the short term, or assets which are used up in the long term, both for the purpose of getting revenue. Both of these forms of transactions are entered on the debit side of the appropriate accounts (expense accounts or asset accounts respectively), while the revenue which has been won is shown on the credit side

of the appropriate accounts.

So, to summarise, profit belongs to the owners. Revenues increase profits, so they increase capital, and that makes them credits. Expenses decrease profits, so they reduce capital, and that makes them debits. The treatment of expenses is the same as the treatment of assets. Increases in expenses result in debit entries to the appropriate expense accounts, while decreases (such as refunds for overpayment of an electricity bill) result in credit entries to those same accounts. Revenue is treated the same as liabilities. Increases in revenue are credited to the appropriate revenue accounts, while decreases are debited to the same accounts.

In other words:

Liabilities Capital

Part 1 l Introduction to double entry bookkeeping

4.6 Double entries for expenses and revenues

Let’s look at some examples that demonstrate the double entry required:

1 Rent of £200 is paid in cash. Here the twofold effect is:

( a) The total of the expenses of rent is increased. As expense entries are shown as debits, and the expense is rent, the action required is to debit the rent account with £200. ( b) The asset of cash is decreased. This means the cash account must be credited with £200 to show the decrease of the asset.

Summary: Debit the rent account with £200.

Credit the cash account with £200.

2 Motor expenses of £355 are paid by cheque. The twofold effect is:

( a) The total of the motor expenses paid is increased. The amount in expense accounts is increased through debit entries, so the action required is to debit the motor expenses account with £355.

( b) The asset of funds in the bank is decreased. This means the bank account must be credited with £355 to show the decrease of the asset.

Summary: Debit the motor expenses account with £355.

Credit the bank account with £355.

3 £60 cash is received for commission earned by the business. ( a) The asset of cash is increased. This needs a debit entry of £60 in the cash account to

increase the asset. ( b) The revenue account, commissions received, is increased. Revenue is shown by a credit entry, so, to increase the revenue account, the commissions received account is credited with £60.

Summary: Debit the cash account with £60.

Credit the commissions received account with £60.

Now look at some more transactions and their effect upon the accounts in the following table:

Increase

Action

Decrease Action

account

June 1 Paid for postage

Asset of cash Credit cash stamps by cash

Expense of

== 2 Paid for electricity

Asset of Credit bank by cheque

Expense of

== 3 Received rent in cash

No decrease No action £138

Asset of cash

Debit cash

account

to record to take

Revenue of

Credit rent

rent

received account

== 4 Paid insurance

Asset of Credit bank by cheque

Expense of

Debit

account £142

insurance

insurance

bank

account

Chapter 4 l The effect of profit or loss on capital & the double entry system for expenses & revenues Entering these four examples into the appropriate accounts results in:

Cash

£ June 3 Rent received

June 1 Postage

Bank

June 2 Electricity

June 2 Bank

Insurance

June 4 Bank

June 1 Cash

Rent Received

June 3 Cash

4.7 Drawings

Sometimes the owners will want to take cash out of the business for their private use. This is known as drawings . Any money taken out as drawings will reduce capital. Drawings are never

expenses of a business. However, like expenses, an increase in drawings is a debit entry in the drawings account, with the credit being against an asset account, such as cash or bank.

However, to prevent the capital account becoming full of lots of small transactions, drawings

In theory, the debit entry should be made in the capital account (as drawings decrease capital).

are not entered in the capital account. Instead, a drawings account is opened, and the debits are entered there rather than in the capital account.

The following example illustrates the entries for drawings: On 25 August, the owner takes £50 cash out of the business for his own use.

Effect

Action

1 Capital is decreased by £50 Debit the drawings account £50 2 Cash is decreased by £50

Credit the cash account £50

Drawings

Aug 25 Cash

Part 1 l Introduction to double entry bookkeeping

Cash

50 Sometimes goods are taken for private use. These are also known as drawings. In Section 3.2,

Aug 25 Drawings

you learnt that when goods are purchased, the purchases account is debited. As a result, when goods are withdrawn it is the purchases account which should be credited.

The following example illustrates the entries for this form of drawings: On 28 August, the owner takes £400 of goods out of the business for his own use.

Effect

Action

1 Capital is decreased by £400

Debit the drawings account £400

2 Stock is decreased by £400

Credit the purchases account £400

Drawings

Aug 28 Purchases

Purchases

Aug 28 Drawings

Learning outcomes

You should now have learnt:

1 How to calculate profit by comparing revenue with expenses.

2 That the accounting equation is central to any explanation of the effect of trading upon capital.

Why an expense is shown as a debit entry in the appropriate expense account. 5

3 Why every different type of expense is shown in a separate expense account.

4 Why every different type of revenue is shown in a separate revenue account.

6 Why revenue is shown as a credit entry in the appropriate revenue account.

7 How to enter a series of expense and revenue transactions into the appropriate T-accounts.

8 What is meant by the term ‘drawings’.

9 That drawings are always a reduction in capital and never an expense of a business.

10 How to record drawings of cash in the accounting books.

11 How to record drawings of goods in the accounting books.

Chapter 4 l The effect of profit or loss on capital & the double entry system for expenses & revenues

Answers to activities

4.1 There is no difference between either the two meanings given for revenues or the two meanings given for expenses. In each case, you are being given a slightly different wording so as to help you understand what the two terms mean.

4.2 Expense Accounts

Revenue Accounts

Rent Account

Subscriptions Account

Postages Account

Rent Receivable Account

Commissions Account

Royalties Receivable Account

Stationery Account Wages Account Insurance Account Bank Interest Account Motor Expenses Account Telephone Account General Expenses Account Overdraft Interest Account Audit Fees Account

Note that the answer has assumed that unless words like ‘received’ or ‘receivable’ follow the name of an account, the account is an expense. For example, the Commission Account and the Bank Interest Account could easily be for revenue rather than expenses. However, accounting practice is that as most accounts are for expenses, where there may be some confusion as to whether an account is for revenue or expenses, the name of the revenue account should make it clear that it is for revenue, not expenses. You can see an example in this question if you compare the names of the two rent accounts. Accounts like Subscriptions tend to appear mainly in the accounting books of clubs and societies and so there is no need in that case to indicate in the name that it is a revenue account. You can tell whether subscriptions are revenue or expenditure items from the type of organisation whose accounting books you are looking at. The same would apply, but even more so, to Audit Fees which are only ever revenue accounts in the accounting books of a firm of accountants. In all other cases, they are expense accounts.

4.3 The accounting equation is Capital = Assets − Liabilities. In this example, it starts as £120 = £200 − £80. Each transaction is entered twice. In both cases, the debit entry is £30 to a van hire expense account. The credit in (a) is to the cash account. In (b) it is to the car hire company’s account (the creditor’s account). In order for the accounting equation to balance, in (a) an asset (i.e. cash) has been reduced by £30 so capital must be reduced by the same amount, £30. In the case of (b) liabilities (i.e. the van hire company’s account) have increased by £30 and so capital must be also be reduced by that amount, £30. In the case of (a) the accounting equation becomes £90 = £170 − £80. In (b) it becomes £90 = £200 − £110. The effect on capital in both cases is that it decreases by the amount of the expense.

Review questions

4.1 Enter the following transactions, completing the double entry in the books for the month of May 20X7.

20X7 May

1 Started in business with £10,000 in the bank. ==

2 Purchased goods £290 on credit from D James. ==

3 Bought fixtures and fittings £1,150 paying by cheque. ==

5 Sold goods for cash £140. ==

6 Bought goods on credit £325 from C Monty. ==

10 Paid rent by cash £200. ==

12 Bought stationery £45, paying in cash. ==

18 Goods returned to D James £41. ==

21 Received rent of £25 by cheque for sublet of corner space.

Part 1 l Introduction to double entry bookkeeping

== 23 Sold goods on credit to G Cross for £845. ==

24 Bought a van paying by cheque £4,100. ==

30 Paid the month’s wages by cash £360. ==

31 The proprietor took cash for his own personal use £80.

4.2 Write up the following transactions in the books of P Hewitt:

20X8 March

1 Started in business with cash £8,500. ==

2 Bought goods on credit from W Young £420. ==

3 Paid rent by cash £210. ==

4 Paid £6,000 of the cash of the business into a bank account. ==

5 Sold goods on credit to D Unbar £192. ==

7 Bought stationery £25 paying by cheque. ==

11 Cash sales £81. ==

14 Goods returned by us to W Young £54. ==

17 Sold goods on credit to J Harper £212. ==

20 Paid for repairs to the building by cash £78. ==

22 D Unbar returned goods to us £22.

== 27 Paid W Young by cheque £366. ==

28 Cash purchases £470. ==

29 Bought a van paying by cheque £3,850. ==

30 Paid motor expenses in cash £62. ==

31 Bought fixtures £840 on credit from B Coal.

4.3A Prepare the double entries (not the T-accounts) for the following transactions using the format: Date

Dr Cr Account name

£x Account name

£x July

1 Started in business with £5,000 in the bank and £1,000 cash.

== 2 Bought stationery by cheque £75. ==

3 Bought goods on credit from T Smart £2,100. ==

4 Sold goods for cash £340. ==

5 Paid insurance by cash £290. ==

7 Bought a computer on credit from J Hott £700. ==

8 Paid expenses by cheque £32. ==

10 Sold goods on credit to C Biggins £630. ==

11 Returned goods to T Smart £550. ==

14 Paid wages by cash £210. ==

21 Paid J Hott by cheque £700. ==

17 Paid rent by cheque £225. ==

20 Received cheque £400 from C Biggins.

== 23 Bought stationery on credit from News Ltd £125. ==

25 Sold goods on credit to F Tank £645. ==

31 Paid News Ltd by cheque £125.

4.4A Write up the following transactions in the T-accounts of F Fernandes: Feb

1 Started in business with £11,000 in the bank and £1,600 cash.

2 Bought goods on credit: J Biggs £830; D Martin £610; P Lot £590.

== 3 Bought goods for cash £370. ==

4 Paid rent in cash £75. ==

5 Bought stationery paying by cheque £62. ==

6 Sold goods on credit: D Twigg £370; B Hogan £290; K Fletcher £410. ==

7 Paid wages in cash £160. ==

10 We returned goods to D Martin £195.

Chapter 4 l The effect of profit or loss on capital & the double entry system for expenses & revenues

== 11 Paid rent in cash £75. ==

13 B Hogan returns goods to us £35. ==

15 Sold goods on credit to: T Lee £205; F Sharp £280; G Rae £426. ==

16 Paid business rates by cheque £970. ==

18 Paid insurance in cash £280. ==

19 Paid rent by cheque £75. ==

20 Bought van on credit from B Black £6,100. ==

21 Paid motor expenses in cash £24. ==

23 Paid wages in cash £170. ==

24 Received part of amount owing from K Fletcher by cheque £250. ==

28 Received refund of business rates £45 by cheque. ==

28 Paid by cheque: J Biggs £830; D Martin £415; B Black £6,100.

4.5 From the following statements which give the cumulative effects of individual transactions, you are required to state as fully as possible what transaction has taken place in each case. That is,

write descriptions similar to those given in questions 4.1– 4.4. There is no need to copy out the table. The first column of data gives the opening position. Each of the other columns represents a transaction. It is these transactions (A–I) that you are to describe.

Transaction: A B C D E F G H I Assets

£000 £000 Land and buildings

275 275 Motor vehicles

100 100 Office equipment

721 716 Liabilities Capital

621 616 Loan from Lee

Note: the sign £000 means that all the figures shown underneath it are in thousands of pounds, e.g. Office Equipment book value is £48,000. It saves constantly writing out 000 after each figure, and is done to save time and make comparison easier.

4.6A The following table shows the cumulative effects of a succession of separate transactions on the assets and liabilities of a business. The first column of data gives the opening position.

Transaction: A B C D E F G H I Assets

Land and buildings 500

119 119 Trade debtors

158 158 Prepaid expenses*

27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 Cash at bank

37 37 37 37 50 50 42 63 63 63 Cash on hand

Liabilities Capital

155 155 Trade creditors

195 195 Accrued expenses*

Part 1 l Introduction to double entry bookkeeping

‘ Required:

Identify clearly and as fully as you can what transaction has taken place in each case. Give two possible explanations for transaction I. Do not copy out the table but use the reference letter for each transaction.

(Association of Accounting Technicians) *Authors’ note: You have not yet been introduced to the terms ‘prepaid expenses’ and ‘accrued

expenses’. Prepaid expenses are expenses that have been paid in advance, the benefits of which will only be felt by the business in a later accounting period. Because the benefit of having incurred the expense will not be received until a future time period, the expense is not included in the calculation of profit for the period in which it was paid. As it was not treated as an expense of the period when profit was calculated, the debit in the account is treated as an asset when the balance sheet is prepared, hence the appearance of the term ‘prepaid expenses’ among the assets in the question. Accrued expenses, on the other hand, are expenses that have not yet been paid for benefits which have been received. In F, £8,000 was paid out of the bank account of which £3,000 was used to pay off some of the accrued expenses.

You can find a range of additional self-test questions, as well as material to help you with your studies, on the website that accompanies this book at www.pearsoned.co.uk/wood

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