How much do you depreciate an asset and when? Definition of How and When to Depreciate an Asset Depreciation begins when you place an asset in service and it ends when you take an asset out of service or when you have...
How much do you depreciate an asset and when? Definition of How and When to Depreciate an Asset Depreciation begins when you place an asset in service and it ends when you take an asset out of service or when you have...
What is a fixed cost? Definition of Fixed Cost A fixed cost is one that does not change in total within a reasonable range of activity. Since the fixed cost remains constant in total, the fixed cost per unit of activity...
What is meant by events after the balance sheet date? Definition of Events After Balance Sheet Date Events after the balance sheet date are significant financial events that occur after the date of the balance sheet but...
What is income smoothing? Definition of Income Smoothing Income smoothing involves reducing the fluctuations in a corporation’s earnings. The reductions in fluctuations can result from some legitimate business methods...
What is the difference between an implicit cost and an explicit cost? Definition of Implicit Cost An implicit cost is present but it is not initially shown or reported as a separate cost. Definition of Explicit Cost An...
Why does an increase in accounts payable appear as an addition on the statement of cash flows? Adjustments from Accrual to Cash on Statement of Cash Flows When the statement of cash flows (SCF, cash flow statement) is...
Manufacturing Costs(Quick Test) Download PDF After you have answered all 40 questions, click "Grade This Quick Test" at the bottom of the page to view your grade and receive feedback on your answers. Note: Some of the...
Bookkeeping Video Training Part 1 Accounts: record each transaction in two accounts, debits = credits, T-accounts, amounts reported on financial statements Must-Watch Video Learn How to Advance Your Accounting and...
Our Explanation of Debits and Credits describes the reasons why various accounts are debited and/or credited. For the examples we provide the logic, use T-accounts for a clearer understanding, and the appropriate general...
The general guidelines and principles, standards and detailed rules, plus industry practices that exist for financial reporting. Often referred to by its acronymn GAAP. To learn more, see Explanation of Accounting...
Is there a difference between the accounts Purchases and Inventory? Purchases Account Under the Periodic Inventory System The general ledger account Purchases is used to record the purchases of inventory items under the...
What is meant by the term relevance in accounting? Definition of Relevance In accounting, the term relevance could mean one of the following: An amount, disclosure, etc. that will make a difference to the decision maker...
What is the accounting entry when an order is received? There is no accounting entry recorded in a company’s general ledger accounts when an order is received. The reason is that a sale or sales revenues has not yet...
In what order are liabilities listed in the chart of accounts? Order for Listing Liabilities It is logical for a company’s liabilities to be organized in the chart of accounts in the same way as they are presented on...
How do you account for the rebate on an automobile? The rebate on the purchase of an automobile should be recorded as a reduction of the automobile’s cost. The lower automobile cost will result in lower depreciation...
Are commissions a cost of goods sold account or an expense? Definition of Commissions Commissions are compensation for obtaining sales. Hence, sales commissions are a selling expense and will be recorded in general...
What is the accounts receivable turnover ratio? Definition of Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio The accounts receivable turnover ratio (or receivables turnover ratio) is an important financial ratio that indicates a...
How is the account Cash Short and Over used? Definition of Cash Short and Over Account The account Cash Short and Over is an income statement account (within a company’s general ledger) in which shortages or overages...
What is the purpose of assigning accounts receivable? The purpose of assigning accounts receivable is to provide collateral in order to obtain a loan. To illustrate, let’s assume that a corporation receives a special...
What are the accounting entries for a fully depreciated car? Definition of a Fully Depreciated Car A fully depreciated car is one where the car’s historical cost has already been allocated to expense (except for the...
Accounts Receivable and Bad Debts Expense (Flashcards) Download Single-Sided PDF Download Double-Sided PDF All Cards (27) Marked Wrong (0) Marked Right (0) accounts receivable This current asset represents a right to...
A nongovernment group of seven members assisted by a large research staff which is responsible for the setting of accounting standards, rules, and principles for financial reporting by U.S. entities. Go to www.fasb.org...
Which accounts normally have debit balances? Definition of Debit Balance In accounting, a debit balance refers to a general ledger account balance that is on the left side of the account. This is often illustrated by...
What is the accounting journal entry for depreciation? Definition of Journal Entry for Depreciation The journal entry for depreciation is: Debit to the income statement account Depreciation Expense Credit to the balance...
The technique of recording accounts payable at the amount that will be paid after deducting any discount that is available for paying within the discount period. This has a theoretical advantage over the gross method...
What is accounting for price level changes? In 1979 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued its Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 33 entitled Financial Reporting and Changing Prices. (You...
The balance of the owner’s capital account excluding the current year’s net income and current year’s draws by the owner.
What is the difference between a bookkeeper and an accounting clerk? I envision a bookkeeper as a person employed by a smaller company and being responsible for recording nearly all of its transactions. Hence, the...
What does 2/10 mean in accounting? Definition of 2/10 2/10 is part of an early payment discount that allows a customer or client to pay after the sale or service has been provided. This sales discount allows the...
What is the traditional method used in cost accounting? Definition of Traditional Method in Cost Accounting The traditional method of cost accounting refers to the allocation of manufacturing overhead costs to the...
Is Accounts Payable a debit or a credit or both? Definition of an Accounts Payable Credit Since Accounts Payable is a liability account, it should have a credit balance. The credit balance indicates the amount that a...
A credit is not a normal balance for what accounts? Definition of Credit Balance A credit balance refers to the balance on the right side of a general ledger account or T-account. Normally, the liability and owner’s...
This series of output by the Financial Accounting Standards Board is part of the board’s conceptual framework project. The original goal in the 1970’s was to articulate the definitions, practices, and rules...
What is the difference between receivables and accounts receivable? Definition of Accounts Receivables Accounts receivable are usually current assets that result from selling goods or providing services to customers on...
Which accounts are debited in the closing entries? Definition of Closing Entries Closing entries occur at the end of an accounting year to transfer the balances in the temporary accounts to a permanent or real account....
These are the official rules that have been released by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. These are part of the generally accepted accounting principles. Before a standard is released, the public had been able to...
Should I delay graduation for an accounting internship? If an accounting internship is optional, there are many factors to consider. The students who have been leaders in their college accounting organizations and have...
Featured Review
"I was a career teacher and coach before I took on the accounting/bookkeeping side of our business. My only accounting experience had been in college, with the one class my parents required of me—Accounting 101. A helpful class, yes, but not a strong base for dealing with daily business entries. Over the years, I read various books that helped me gain general knowledge and keep us in the black and out of trouble with my accountant. When I found AccountingCoach, I was blown away by the ‘fount of all accounting knowledge’ at my fingertips, complete with courses, study guides, and straightforward explanations that even a DIY accounting hack could understand! I now serve as our company's CFO and oversee the books and financial direction of multiple subsidiaries. AccountingCoach has helped me gain confidence and knowledge as I continue to learn best practices to run our businesses." - Angie S.
Join PRO or PRO Plus and Get Lifetime Access to Our Premium Materials
Read all 2,645 reviewsWe now offer 10 Certificates of Achievement for Introductory Accounting and Bookkeeping: