What is NIFO? NIFO is the acronym for next-in, first-out. NIFO is a cost flow assumption, just as FIFO and LIFO are cost flow assumptions. However, NIFO is not acceptable for financial reporting since it calls for a...
What is NIFO? NIFO is the acronym for next-in, first-out. NIFO is a cost flow assumption, just as FIFO and LIFO are cost flow assumptions. However, NIFO is not acceptable for financial reporting since it calls for a...
What is the gross margin ratio? Definition of Gross Margin Ratio The gross margin ratio is a percentage resulting from dividing the amount of a company’s gross profit by the amount of its net sales. (The gross margin...
What is the difference between the cash basis and the accrual basis of accounting? Definition of the Cash Basis of Accounting Revenues are reported on the income statement in the period in which the cash is received from...
What are the reasons for high inventory days? Definition of Inventory Days I assume that inventory days is referring to the days’ sales in inventory. If so, then inventory days is also related to the inventory turnover...
What is treasury stock? Definition of Treasury Stock Treasury stock is usually a corporation’s previously issued shares of common stock that have been purchased from the stockholders, but the corporation has not...
What are the elements of financial statements? Definition of Elements of Financial Statements The elements of financial statements are the classes of items contained in the financial statements. Examples of Elements of...
What is leverage? Definition of Leverage In accounting and finance, leverage is the use of a significant amount of debt to purchase an asset, operate a company, acquire another company, etc. Since the cost of debt is...
What is included in cash and cash equivalents? Examples of Cash In accounting, a company’s cash includes the following: currency and coins checks received from customers but not yet deposited checking accounts petty...
How do you record a payment for insurance? Definition of Payment for Insurance A company’s property insurance, liability insurance, business interruption insurance, etc. often covers a one-year period with the cost...
What is a petty cash voucher? Definition of Petty Cash Voucher A petty cash voucher is usually a small form that is used to document a disbursement (payment) from a petty cash fund. Petty cash vouchers are also referred...
Which financial statement tells the value of a business? None of the financial statements will report the value of a business. The main financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows,...
What is the difference between income and profit? Definition of Income The term income is used differently by many people. For some, income means the money coming in, such as What is your family income? What is your...
What is an adjusted trial balance? Definition of an Adjusted Trial Balance The adjusted trial balance is an internal document that lists the general ledger account titles and their balances after any adjustments have...
What is the meaning of debtor? Definition of Debtor A debtor is a person, company, or other entity that owes money. In other words, the debtor has a debt or legal obligation to pay the amount owed. Example of Debtor If...
What are the typical items reported as current liabilities? Definition of Current Liabilities Current liabilities (also known as short-term liabilities) for most companies are the obligations that must be paid within one...
Are repairs to office equipment an expense? Repairing and maintaining office equipment is an immediate expense. This is true even if the repair cost is a very large amount. If a large expenditure is made to improve...
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 is carriage inwards? Definition of Carriage Inwards Carriage inwards refers to the transportation costs required to be paid by the purchaser when it receives merchandise it ordered with terms FOB shipping point....
What is the difference between liquidity and liquidation? Definition of Liquidity Liquidity usually refers to a company’s ability to pay its bills when they become due. Liquidity is often evaluated by comparing a...
What is liquidity? Definition of Liquidity Liquidity is a company’s ability to convert its assets to cash in order to pay its liabilities when they are due. Current Assets Generally, the assets that are expected to...
Do corporations issue both common stock and preferred stock? Some corporations issue both common stock and preferred stock. However, most corporations issue only common stock. In other words, it is necessary that a...
What is accounting for price level changes? In 1979 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued its Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 33 entitled Financial Reporting and Changing Prices. (You...
How do you record a dividend payment to stockholders? Definition of Dividend Payment to Stockholders A dividend payment to stockholders is usually a cash payment which reduces the corporation’s asset cash and the...
What is financial reporting? Definition of Financial Reporting Financial reporting includes all of a company’s communication of financial information to people outside of the company. Examples of Financial Reporting...
How are fully depreciated assets reported on the balance sheet? Definition of Fully Depreciated Asset A fully depreciated asset is a depreciable asset for which no additional depreciation expense will be recorded. In...
What does overstated mean? Definition of Overstated When an accountant uses the term overstated, it means two things: The reported amount is incorrect, and The reported amount is more than the true or correct amount. In...
Our Explanation of Financial Ratios includes calculations and descriptions of 15 financial ratios. As you calculate the financial ratios you will also gain a deeper understanding of a company's operations and financial...
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...
debts expense sooner, and 2) through the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts the net realizable value of the receivables will be reduced sooner. 20. Which of the following methods of reporting bad debts expense is preferred...
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