Financial Statements - IIClass 11 Accountancy 2 Notes

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Section 1 of 12

Here are your study notes for the chapter on Financial Statements - II.

Need for Adjustments

When preparing financial statements like the Trading and Profit and Loss Account and the Balance Sheet, we can't simply use the figures directly from the trial balance. Business operations have complexities that need to be accounted for to get a true and fair picture of the company's financial health. This is where adjustments come in.

The main reason for these adjustments is the accrual basis of accounting. This principle states that:

  • Revenues should be recorded when they are earned, not necessarily when cash is received.
  • Expenses should be recorded when they are incurred (when the benefit is used), not necessarily when cash is paid.

Because of this, at the end of an accounting year, there might be:

  • Expenses paid this year that actually belong to the next year.
  • Incomes received this year that are for services to be provided next year.
  • Expenses for this year that haven't been paid yet.
  • Incomes earned this year that haven't been received yet.

Without adjusting for these items, the financial statements would not accurately show the profit or loss for the period or the true financial position of the business.

Example
If a business pays an insurance premium of ₹1,200 on July 1, 2016, for a full year, but its accounting year ends on March 31, 2017, only nine months of that premium (₹900) is an expense for the 2016-17 year. The remaining three months' premium (₹300) is a prepaid expense for the next year (2017-18). It must be adjusted to show the correct profit.
Note
Every adjustment entry has a dual effect, meaning it will be recorded in two places in the final accounts (e.g., once in the Trading and Profit & Loss Account and once in the Balance Sheet) to complete the double-entry system.

Common items that require adjustments include:

  • Closing stock
  • Outstanding expenses
  • Prepaid expenses
  • Accrued income
  • Income received in advance
  • Depreciation
  • Bad debts
  • Provision for doubtful debts
  • Provision for discount on debtors
  • Manager's commission
  • Interest on capital