Why do purchases appear as expenses on an income statement? Definition of Purchases In the context of companies that sell merchandise, the term purchases refers to the purchases of goods that are intended to be sold to...
Why do purchases appear as expenses on an income statement? Definition of Purchases In the context of companies that sell merchandise, the term purchases refers to the purchases of goods that are intended to be sold to...
Is the installation labor for a new asset expensed or included in the cost of the asset? Accounting for Labor to Install Asset The definition of an asset’s cost is all costs that are necessary to get an asset in place...
When do you adjust the amount of prepaid expenses? Definition of Adjusting Prepaid Expenses The balance in the current asset account Prepaid Expenses should be adjusted prior to a company issuing its financial...
Should capital budgeting decisions be based on cash flows or revenues and expenses? Definition of Capital Budgeting Decisions Capital budgeting assists in the investment decisions regarding assets that will have an...
The systematic allocation of the discount on bonds payable (reported as a debit in a contra-liability account) to Bond Interest Expense over the life of the bonds. The journal entry to amortize contains a debit to the...
A liability account with a credit balance associated with bonds payable that were issued at more than the face value or maturity value of the bonds. The premium on bonds payable is amortized to interest expense over the...
The systematic allocation of the discount, premium, or issue costs of a bond to expense over the life of the bond. The systematic allocation of an intangible asset to expense over a certain period of time. The systematic...
The systematic allocation of the premium on bonds payable (reported as a credit in a liability account) to Bond Interest Expense over the life of the bonds. The journal entry to amortize the premium contains a debit to...
A current asset representing the cost of supplies on hand at a point in time. The account is usually listed on the balance sheet after the Inventory account. A related account is Supplies Expense, which appears on the...
A contra liability account that reports the amount of unamortized discount associated with bonds that are outstanding. The discount on bonds payable originates when bonds are issued for less than the bond’s face or...
What is the effect on the income statement when the allowance for uncollectible accounts is not established? Definition of Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts The Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts or Allowance for...
How do you record the interest that is unpaid on a note payable? Definition of Interest Unpaid on Note Payable Interest that has occurred, but has not been paid as of a balance sheet date, is referred to as accrued...
What are some tips to make learning debits and credits easy? Here are five tips to make learning debits and credits easier: The accounts for expenses are nearly always debited. For example, when a company pays its...
Where in the chart of accounts is a suspense account located? Suspense Account in the Chart of Accounts A suspense account could be located in any one of these sections of an organization’s chart of accounts: Asset...
How are period costs reported in the financial statements? Under the accrual method of accounting, period costs such as selling, general and administrative expenses are reported on the income statement in the accounting...
What is the provision for bad debts? Definition of Provision for Bad Debts The provision for bad debts could refer to the balance sheet account also known as the Allowance for Bad Debts, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts,...
What is a favorable variance? Definition of a Variance In accounting the term variance usually refers to the difference between an actual amount and a planned or budgeted amount. For example, if a company’s budget for...
How do you account for payroll withholdings for health insurance? Definition of Payroll Withholdings for Health Insurance Payroll withholdings for health insurance are the amounts deducted from employees’ pay for their...
How should the cost of a yearly subscription for a newspaper be recorded? Definition of Recording a Yearly Subscription Typically, yearly subscriptions are paid in advance or at the start of the subscription period. If...
What is the amortization of premium on bonds payable? Definition of Amortization of Premium on Bonds Payable The amortization of the premium on bonds payable is the systematic movement of the amount of premium received...
What is an unfavorable variance? Definition of a Variance In accounting the term variance usually refers to the difference between an actual amount and a planned or budgeted amount. For example, if a company’s budget...
What is the proper accounting for supplies? Definition of Supplies Office supplies are items used to carry out tasks in a company’s departments outside of manufacturing or shipping. Office supplies are likely to...
Our Explanation of Break-even Point illustrates how to determine the number of units or sales dollars that will result in zero net income. The techniques rely on a product's contribution margin or contribution margin...
Our Explanation of Payroll Accounting discusses the taxes and benefits which are withheld from employees' pay as well as the taxes and benefits that are expenses for the employers. Also provided are examples of the...
How do I record a loan payment which includes paying both interest and principal? Definition of a Loan Payment A loan payment is likely to consist of three amounts: Total payment amount Interest payment Principal payment...
What is a bill payable? Definition of Bill Payable A bill payable is a document which shows the amount owed for goods or services received on credit (meaning not paid at the time that the goods or services were...
When do you put parentheses ( ) around a number? Definition of Amounts in Parentheses Parentheses around a number could have a variety of meanings. For example, parentheses could indicate any of the following: A negative...
What is interest payable? Definition of Interest Payable Interest payable is the interest expense that has been incurred (has already occurred) but has not been paid as of the date of the balance sheet. [Interest payable...
What is meant by accounts written off? Definition of Accounts Written Off Accounts written off is likely referring to accounts receivable that a company deemed to be uncollectible and were removed from the general ledger...
What is the difference between an unadjusted trial balance and an adjusted trial balance? Difference between Unadjusted Trial Balance and Adjusted Trial Balance The differences between an unadjusted trial balance and an...
How do you estimate the amount of uncollectible accounts receivable? Definition of Estimating Uncollectible Accounts Receivable When a company sells goods and/or provides services on account (on credit) using the accrual...
Our Explanation of Accounting Equation (or bookkeeping equation) illustrates how the double-entry system keeps the accounting equation in balance. You will see how the revenues and expenses on the income statement are...
Our Explanation of Payroll Accounting discusses the taxes and benefits which are withheld from employees' pay as well as the taxes and benefits that are expenses for the employers. Also provided are examples of the...
Our Explanation of Bookkeeping provides you with a rich understanding of the recording of transactions. It then discusses the additional steps necessary for preparing accurate financial statements. This is great for...
Our Explanation of Chart of Accounts shows how a typical chart of accounts is organized and examples of possible account numbering. It concludes with a quick review of debits and credits.
A common fringe benefit given to employees during a period in which they do not have to work. If an employee earns one week of paid vacation to be taken after working one full year, the employer should recognize this...
The accounting guideline that permits the violation of another accounting guideline if the amount is insignificant. For example, a profitable company with several million dollars of sales is likely to expense immediately...
Can you help me to understand credit memo and debit memo in the bank reconciliation? Definition of Bank Credit Memo A bank credit memo is an item on a company’s bank account statement that increases a company’s...
Featured Review
"I am Vice President/CFO of a small wholesaling business. I was thrust into this position unexpectedly due to the untimely death of my predecessor, and had almost no prior instruction other than a few accounting courses in college. Thanks to AccountingCoach, I don't have to email my accountant for every little thing. I can find most things easily on AccountingCoach. The materials are well organized and easy to understand. AccountingCoach has helped me to understand why things entered the way they are." - Tony M.
Join PRO or PRO Plus and Get Lifetime Access to Our Premium Materials
Read all 2,645 reviews
For the past 52 years, Harold Averkamp (CPA, MBA) has
worked as an accounting supervisor, manager, consultant, university instructor, and innovator in teaching accounting online. He is the sole author of all the materials on AccountingCoach.com.
We now offer 10 Certificates of Achievement for Introductory Accounting and Bookkeeping: