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How are the balance sheet and income statement connected?

Author:
Harold Averkamp, CPA, MBA

Connection between Balance Sheet and Income Statement

The connection between the balance sheet and the income statement results from:

Basically, the income statement components have the following effects on owner’s equity:

  • Revenues and gains cause owner’s (or stockholders’) equity to increase
  • Expenses and losses cause owner’s (or stockholders’) equity to decrease

Example of How the Balance Sheet and Income Statement Are Connected

To illustrate the connection between the balance sheet and income statement, let’s assume that a company’s owner’s equity was $40,000 at the beginning of the year, and it was $65,000 at the end of the year. Let’s also assume that the owner did not invest or withdraw business assets during the year. Therefore, the $25,000 increase in owner’s equity is likely the company’s net income earned for the year. The details for the $25,000 (revenues, expenses, gains, losses) will be reported on the company’s income statement for the year.

Accountants refer to the income statement accounts (revenues, expenses, gains, losses) as temporary accounts because their balances will be closed and transferred to the owner’s capital account at the end of the year.

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About the Author

Harold Averkamp

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.

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