Why is there a large difference between share value and stockholders' equity? There can be many reasons why the market value of a corporation’s stock is much greater than the amount of stockholders’ equity reported...
Why is there a large difference between share value and stockholders' equity? There can be many reasons why the market value of a corporation’s stock is much greater than the amount of stockholders’ equity reported...
How do you determine whether a person is an independent contractor or an employee? To assist you in determining whether someone is an independent contractor or an employee, you should refer to the Internal Revenue...
What is petty cash? Definition of Petty Cash Petty cash or a petty cash fund is a small amount of money available for paying small expenses without writing a check. Petty Cash is also the title of the general ledger...
What is inventory shrinkage? Definition of Inventory Shrinkage Inventory shrinkage is a term to describe the loss of inventory. The shrinkage could be the result of theft, breakage, poor recordkeeping, etc. The term...
Why are revenues credited? Why Revenues are Credited Revenues cause owner’s equity to increase. Since the normal balance for owner’s equity is a credit balance, revenues must be recorded as a credit. At the end of...
What is a limitation of the inventory turnover ratio? Definition of Inventory Turnover Ratio The inventory turnover ratio is often calculated by dividing a company’s cost of goods sold for a recent year by the average...
Why does a company's profit appear as a credit on its balance sheet? The accounting equation and the double entry system provide an explanation why a company’s profit appears as a credit on its balance sheet. Asset...
If an accrual adjusting entry increases an expense and a liability, how does the balance sheet remain in balance? An expense is a temporary account which reduces owner’s equity or stockholders’ equity. The decrease...
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...
What is the income summary account? Definition of Income Summary Account The Income Summary account is a temporary account used with closing entries in a manual accounting system. (Computerized accounting systems may...
What is the entry to remove equipment that is sold before it is fully depreciated? Entries To Record a Sale of Equipment When equipment that is used in a business is disposed of (sold) for cash before it is fully...
What is preferred stock? Definition of Preferred Stock Preferred stock is a type of capital stock issued by some corporations in addition to its common stock. Preferred stock is also known as preference stock. The word...
What is apportionment? An apportionment is an allocation based on some proportions. I associate the term apportionment with a corporation’s taxable income that was earned in many states within the U.S. In that...
Does a dividend reduce profit? Definition of Dividend A dividend declared by a corporation is a distribution to its stockholders of the profits the corporation had earned. Since the dividends are not an expense, the...
In accounting, are debit balances good? It is best if you accept the meaning that the word debit has had for 500 years: a debit is an amount entered on the left-side of an account. Don’t add “good” or “bad” or...
When calculating inventory turnover, do you use sales or the cost of goods sold? I calculate the inventory turnover by using the cost of goods sold. I use the cost of goods sold because inventory is in the general ledger...
Why is a product that sells for $50 reported in inventory at its cost of $40? Generally, items in inventory are valued at their cost—not their selling prices—because of the cost principle. Another reason for not...
What is Big 4 Accounting? In accounting, the Big 4 refers to the four largest public accounting and auditing firms: Deloitte PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC Ernst & Young (EY) KPMG These certified public accounting (CPA)...
Why is it necessary to allocate a lump sum payment to individual items? It is necessary to allocate a lump sum payment to individual items in order to record a fair portion of the lump sum in each of the proper general...
What is cost incurred? Definition of Cost Incurred A cost incurred is a cost that a company (or other organization) becomes liable for. Example of Cost Incurred Assume that a retailer begins operations on December 1 and...
Which date is used to record a credit card transaction? When a business uses its credit card, the transaction date is the date the credit card is used, not the date that the credit card statement is paid. For example, if...
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...
What is a credit? Definition of a Credit In bookkeeping and accounting, a credit likely refers to the amount entered on the right side of a general ledger account or to the right side of a T-account. A credit could also...
What are prepaid expenses? Definition of Prepaid Expenses Prepaid expenses are future expenses that have been paid in advance. In other words, prepaid expenses are costs that have been paid but are not yet used up or...
What is an unpresented check? An unpresented check is a check written by a company and entered in its records, but the check has not yet cleared the company’s checking account. In other words, the check has not yet...
What is obsolete inventory? Definition of Obsolete Inventory Obsolete inventory refers to products that a company had purchased or produced which cannot be sold. The obsolete items may be the result of one or more of the...
What does it mean to reclassify an amount? Definition of Reclassify an Amount To reclassify an amount likely means to move an amount from one general ledger account to another general ledger account. Example of...
Where do dividends appear on the financial statements? Definition of Dividends Cash dividends are a distribution of a company’s profits. Financial Statements of a Corporation The main financial statements of a...
What is a sale on credit? Definition of Sale on Credit A sale on credit is revenue earned by a company when it sells goods and allows the buyer to pay at a later date. This is also referred to as a sale on account....
What is premium on common stock? Definition of Premium on Common Stock If a corporation’s common stock has a par value and the corporation receives more than the par value when issuing a new share of the stock, the...
Is AccountingCoach.com based on GAAP or IFRS? The materials presented on AccountingCoach.com are based on U.S. GAAP. Since the accounting materials on AccountingCoach.com are generally introductory concepts, the...
One of the amounts used in determining the amount of interest to be capitalized when a company self-constructs certain long-term assets.
Should trademarks be included on the balance sheet? Definition of Trademark In the U.S. a trademark could be a word, phrase, logo, etc. registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. If a company purchases a...
What is contained on a 10-column worksheet? The 10-column worksheet that I am familiar with will have the general ledger account titles in the first column followed by ten columns of amounts. There will be one debit and...
disclosure is associated with adequately reporting information that is relevant to the readers of the financial statements. This is often carried out in the notes (footnotes) to the financial statements. Materiality...
Our Explanation of Bank Reconciliation will show you the needed adjustments to the balance on the bank statement and also the adjustments needed to the balance in the related general ledger account. A comprehensive...
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...
Where do worker compensation insurance costs get reported on the financial statements? Worker compensation insurance costs (also referred to as worker comp) should appear on the income statement and also on the balance...
Where are short-term bank loans reported on the statement of cash flows? Definition of Short-Term Bank Loans Short-term bank loans are generally loans that must be repaid within one year of the date of the balance sheet....
Are dividend payments shown as an expense on the income statement? Definition of Dividend Payments The cash dividends paid to stockholders are a distribution of the corporation’s earnings. Dividends are not an expense...
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