The most common example is the correction of an error from a prior year. When such a correction is made, it is reported in the current period’s statement of retained earnings rather than in the current...
The most common example is the correction of an error from a prior year. When such a correction is made, it is reported in the current period’s statement of retained earnings rather than in the current...
A liability account containing the amount of premium on bonds payable that has not yet been amortized to interest expense. To learn more, see Explanation of Bonds Payable.
A table showing the present value factors to be applied to the constant amount occurring at the beginning of each equal time interval. Also known as the present value table for an annuity in advance.
An accounting principle/guideline that allows the accountant to keep the sole proprietor’s business transactions separate from the owner’s personal transactions even though a sole proprietorship is not...
Financial Statements Video Training Part 11 Connection between the income statement and balance sheet Must-Watch Video Learn How to Advance Your Accounting and Bookkeeping Career Perform better at your current job...
A term used in evaluating business investments. It represents the targeted rate that a company needs to earn. It is also referred to as the discount rate, because this rate is used to discount the future cash flows to...
A gain from holding an asset and the gain has not yet been reported in the financial statements. As an example, assume that a company purchased land many years ago and continues to hold the land. The land was purchased...
The amount by which the proceeds from the sale of investments exceeded the carrying amount of the investments that were sold. It is reported as a non-operating or “other” item on a multiple-step income...
The net amount of gross sales on credit minus the sales returns, sales allowances, and sales discounts which pertain to the sales on credit.
The part of a balance sheet with the heading stockholders’ equity or owner’s equity. The total amount of this section is the amount of reported assets minus the amount of reported liabilities.
See current portion of long-term debt.
Insurance often required by states and paid for by the employer to compensate workers who were injured on the job. The amount of the insurance premiums vary by type of work performed. For example, rates are higher for...
The amount of principal owed on a loan. On the typical mortgage loan, a portion of the monthly payment is applied to interest and principal. The amount of principal that remains after the principal payment is the unpaid...
What is the net book value of a noncurrent asset? The net book value of a noncurrent asset is the net amount reported on the balance sheet for a long-term asset. To illustrate net book value, let’s assume that several...
See hurdle rate.
Under the accrual method of accounting, this account reports the amount of wages that the delivery employees have earned during the accounting period indicated in the heading of the income statement. Because wages are...
The stockholders’ equity account that reports the amount paid to a corporation that is in excess of the common stock’s stated value. The stated value of each share issued is recorded in the Common Stock...
See current liabilities.
A method used in allocating the costs of manufacturing service departments (factory administration, maintenance, etc.) directly to the producing departments in the factory. Under this method, no service department cost...
A non-operating item resulting from the sale of this long-term asset for less than its carrying amount (or book value).
This account is a contra long-term asset account which is credited for the depreciation associated with land improvements. As an asset account, the accumulated depreciation account balance does not close at the end of...
A selling expense account shown on the income statement in order to match this expense to the related sales.
See paid-in capital in excess of par value – common stock, or paid-in capital in excess of par value – preferred stock.
A highly summarized income statement
What is the profit and loss statement? Definition of Profit and Loss Statement The profit and loss statement, or P&L, is a name sometimes used to describe a company’s income statement, statement of income, statement of...
An income statement account used to record the amount that the asset Inventory is reduced during the accounting period because the net realizable value of the inventory is less than its cost.
A retirement plan that specifies the amount that a retiree will receive, such as 1% of the person’s recent salary times the years of service. The employer’s obligation is to contribute enough money to meet...
An assumption that determines the order in which costs should flow out of a balance sheet account (e.g. Inventory, Investments, Treasury Stock) when the item is sold. For an illustration of the cost flow assumption, see...
The financial statements of nonprofits include the statement of financial position, the statement of activities, the statement of cash flows, notes to the financial statements, and the statement of functional expenses....
A decision whether to make some products or equipment in-house versus purchasing the products or equipment from another company. As in any decision, one must compare the relevant costs and other opportunities. It is...
The accounting and reporting standards developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). IFRS are used by business entities in most countries. The most notable exception is the U.S. where business...
A term used to describe the net present value method and the internal rate of return. The model discounts future cash flows back to the present time.
Stock without a par value.
A measurement of financial performance of a company’s operating division that is not responsible for its financing and income taxes. The calculation is likely to be 1) the division’s operating income before...
Activities involving a batch of products—as opposed to individual items. An example of a batch activity is the setting up of a machine to produce a batch of 1,000 identical items.
A journal entry that adjusts an amount already recorded on the books of a company because part of the amount pertains to a future accounting period. To learn more, see Explanation of Adjusting Entries.
See death spiral.
See indirect manufacturing costs.
This is a long term asset account that accumulates the cost of a project that has not yet been placed into service. When the project is finished and placed into the service, the cost is removed from this account and is...
Featured Review
"I am very appreciative of AccountingCoach.com. I believe that Harold Averkamp, CPA, MBA, deserves to receive a special award for his philanthropic dedication to educating people about accounting. I try to spread the word as much as possible because this website is truly a wonderful opportunity to learn bookkeeping and accounting. And it is FREE. Plus you get the opportunity for lots of material for a very small amount of money. And there are great videos & quizzes, too. I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to study at AccountingCoach.com. Whenever I am talking with just about anyone I refer them to AccountingCoach.com. Honestly, this is the best website to learn a valuable skill with the added plus of no debt in the process, using the least amount of money, zero gasoline, zero transportation time/energy, no frustration and having the finest teacher one could hope to be learning from, i.e., Mr. Harold Averkamp, CPA, MBA." - Carol 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: