An allocation based on some proportions. For example, a corporation’s taxable income that was earned in many of the U.S. states might be allocated or apportioned to the states in which the corporation has conducted...
An allocation based on some proportions. For example, a corporation’s taxable income that was earned in many of the U.S. states might be allocated or apportioned to the states in which the corporation has conducted...
Classifying expenses according to the type of work such as selling, administration, general, and financing.
The cost associated with setting up a piece of production equipment. This would include the cost of the setup mechanic, the cost of scheduling, record keeping, moving the starting material, and testing the first few...
This is the bottom line of the income statement. It is the mathematical result of revenues and gains minus the cost of goods sold and all expenses and losses (including income tax expense if the company is a regular...
See International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
See entity as a whole.
The first-in, first-out cost flow assumumption under the perpetual inventory system. The first (oldest) costs are the first costs removed from inventory at the time that goods are sold. The most recent costs will remain...
The change in total costs in response to the change in some activity. For example, some of the costs of owning and operating a vehicle will increase in total with an increase in miles driven. These are referred to as...
Taking out a loan or issuing bonds in order to acquire an asset or another business.
An official pronouncement by the Financial Accounting Standards Board that involves a previously issued FASB Standard. FASB Interpretations are part of the generally accepted accounting principles.
The bottom line of the income statement when revenues and gains are less than the aggregate amount of cost of goods sold, operating expenses, losses, and income taxes (if the company is a regular corporation).
See cash surrender value.
What is an impairment? Definition of Impairment The term impairment is associated with an asset currently having a market value that is less than the asset’s book value . A test is done to determine whether the...
The amount that a bank commits to lend a borrower during a specified purpose.
See accelerated depreciation.
See purchase order.
A corporation’s reported net income and earnings per share for a three-month period.
A reduction of a markup. In the retail method of estimating inventory, it could mean the elimination of part or all of the additional markup. For example, if an item with a cost of $10 would normally be priced at $15,...
An interest rate that is not explicit. For example, if a business lends its majority owner $100,000 at 0% interest, the IRS might determine that a fair interest rate would be 6% and not 0%. The IRS will impute interest...
A potential loss that is dependent upon some future event occurring or not occurring. If the loss is probable and the amount can be estimated, then the loss and a liability are recorded with a journal entry. If the loss...
What is a lien? Definition of Lien A lien is a legal document filed by a creditor (lender) in order to record its claim on certain assets of the debtor (borrower). The lien is likely filed at the county government office...
Point of purchase.
The proportion of products sold. For example, if a car company sells 100,000 low-profit cars and 400,000 medium-profit cars and 500,000 high-profit trucks, it has a sales mix of 10% + 40% + 50%. If the total number of...
An allowance granted to a customer who had purchased merchandise with a pricing error or other problem not involving the return of goods. If the customer purchased on credit, a sales allowance will involve a debit to...
See carrying amount.
A bond that is callable by the issuer at a certain price. The price and other conditions are disclosed in the bond’s indenture.
How do you record the sales tax on the purchase of an asset? Accountants define the cost of an asset as all of the costs that are necessary to obtain the asset and to get it ready for use. If your state does not allow an...
See premium on bonds payable.
Usually a permanently restricted asset for which the principal portion must be retained indefinitely. The earnings from an endowment fund could be unrestricted or temporarily restricted.
A series of equal amounts occurring at the end of each equal time interval. Also known as an ordinary annuity. An example would be the monthly payments on a loan. Another example is the semiannual interest on a bond.
What is accrued interest? Definition of Accrued Interest Accrued interest is the amount of loan interest that has already occurred, but has not yet been paid by the borrower and not yet received by the lender. Under the...
See U.S. Treasury bills.
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...
A document that discloses various conditions and terms of the company’s bonds. It would include the call price, collateral, ramifications if interest is not paid, etc.
A past, historical cost. They are called sunk because a past cost cannot be changed and decisions involve only the present and the future.
Support that has been either temporarily or permanently restricted by the donor.
Financial Executives Institute.
Individuals elected by the common stockholders of a corporation to represent the stockholders and to establish the policies of the corporation. The board of directors appoints the officers of the corporation and declares...
A dividend paid in assets other than cash.
The inability to pay liabilities as they become due. Some consider a company to be insolvent when its current liabilities exceed its current assets.
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