R & D costs. These are costs incurred to develop new products or processes that may or may not result in commercially viable items. The general rule is that research and development costs are to be expensed...
R & D costs. These are costs incurred to develop new products or processes that may or may not result in commercially viable items. The general rule is that research and development costs are to be expensed...
One of the financial statements issued by a nonprofit organization which reports expenses according to both function and nature. Learn more about Nonprofit Accounting.
See Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 121. Under this standard if the undiscounted future cash flows from the asset (including sale amount) are less than its carrying amount, a loss is recognized. The amount...
A publication by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to assist employers with federal payroll taxes. The complete title of the publication is Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer’s Tax Guide. It is available...
A table of factors that shows what the future value of $1 will grow to if invested at the rate shown in the column heading and compounded for the number of periods indicated in the row.
One of the types of adjusting entries that are made at the end of the accounting period in order to report (1) revenues that have been earned but have not yet been entered into the accounting records, and/or (2) expenses...
To learn more, see our Nonmanufacturing Overhead Outline.
This is a non-operating or “other” item resulting from the sale of an asset (other than inventory) for more than the amount shown in the company’s accounting records. The gain is the difference between...
See fixed manufacturing overhead volume variance.
Preferred stock where past, omitted dividends do not have to be paid before a dividend can be paid to common stockholders. In the case of noncumulative preferred stock, only its current year dividend needs to be paid in...
Also referred to as the fixed overhead spending variance. The difference between the actual fixed overhead incurred and the amount of fixed overhead that had been budgeted.
This current liability account reports the amount a company’s employees have earned in holiday pay, vacation pay, and sick days but have not yet taken as of the date of the balance sheet.
The estimated scrap value at the end of the useful life of an asset used in the business. It is also referred to as residual value.
A term often used when referring to production workers and other workers who are paid with an hourly pay rate. These workers’ compensation is referred to as “wages” (as opposed to salaries).
A budget that continuously shows the amounts for a full year into the future. As a month or quarter actually occurs, it is removed from the budget and is replaced by the budgeted amounts for a month or quarter in the...
One component of the payroll tax referred to as FICA. (The other component of the FICA tax is the Medicare tax.) The Social Security tax is levied by the U.S. government on both the employee and the employer. In 2024 the...
A company’s income statement which reports each item as a percentage of net sales.
A term used in cost accounting to arrive at the cost per unit. The term is associated with the units that are not completed at the end of an accounting period. For example, if 500 units are completed as far as materials,...
A top ranking corporation official usually reporting to the chief executive officer and responsible for the operations of the corporation.
Financial statements (such as the income statement and balance sheet) that summarize much of the detail into a few major lines of information.
This ratio indicates the percentage of each sales dollar that is available to cover a company’s fixed expenses and profit. The ratio is calculated by dividing the contribution margin (sales minus all variable...
An income statement that subtracts all variable costs and expenses from revenues in order to show the contribution margin. From that is subtracted the fixed costs and expenses to arrive at net income. To learn more, see...
sheet account that is reported under the heading of Property, Plant and Equipment. The asset’s cost (except for the cost of land) will then be allocated to depreciation expense over the useful life of the asset. The...
A financial ratio that compares a company’s interest expense to the company’s income before interest expense and income taxes. It is an indicator of the likelihood that interest payments will be made in the...
The number of shares of stock that a corporation may issue. The amount is specified in the corporation’s articles of incorporation.
The amount that a recurring equal amount deposited at the end of each period will grow to under compounded interest. An ordinary annuity is also known as an annuity in arrears.
amount is reported as a liability. After the services are provided, an entry is needed to reduce the liability and to report the revenues. Note that a common characteristic of every adjusting entry will involve at least...
A liability account that reports an insurance company’s premiums received from its insured that have not yet been earned. For example, if the insurance company receives $600 on January 27 for an insured’s...
A cost flow assumption where the last (recent) costs are assumed to flow out of the asset account first. This means the first (oldest) costs remain on hand. To learn more, see Explanation of Inventory and Cost of Goods...
The statement of the Financial Accounting Standards Board entitled Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Organizations. This statement was originally issued in June 1993 and can be read at no cost at www.FASB.org.
A company’s balance sheet that shows each item’s amount after it has been divided by the amount of total assets. In other words, current assets will be shown as a percentage of total assets. This will allow...
The products in a manufacturer’s inventory that are completed and are awaiting to be sold. You might view this account as containing the cost of the products in the finished goods warehouse. A manufacturer must...
A variance arising in a standard costing system that indicates the difference between the actual amount of fixed manufacturing overhead incurred and the budgeted amount of fixed manufacturing overhead. To learn more, see...
A non-operating item resulting from the sale of this long-term asset for less than its carrying amount (or book value).
A contra liability account containing the amount of discount on bonds payable that has not yet been amortized to interest expense. To learn more, see Explanation of Bonds Payable.
Selling price per unit minus variable costs per unit, or revenues per unit minus expenses per unit.
This is a contra long-term asset account which is credited for the depreciation associated with Buildings. Since it is a balance sheet account, the accumulated depreciation account balance does not close at the end of...
How does the purchase of a new machine affect the profit and loss statement? Definition of New Machine’s Effect on Profit The purchase of a new machine that will be used in a business will affect the profit and loss...
See vacation pay payable.
A weighted-average of the cost of a company’s debt, common stock, and preferred stock.
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