Accounting Concepts and Conventions
Accounting Concepts and Conventions
Accounting Concepts and Conventions
CONVENTIONS
CONTENTS-:
ACCOUNTING CONCEPTS -:
In order to make the accounting language convey the same meaning to all people & to make it more meaningful, most of the accountants have agreed on a number of concepts which are usually followed for preparing the financial statements. These concepts provide a foundation for accounting process. No enterprise can prepare its financial statements without considering these concepts.
For
taxation purposes financial year is adopted as prescribed by the Govt. Companies having their shares listed on stock exchange publishes their quarterly results.
Every transaction recorded in books affects at least two accounts. If one is debited then the other one is credited with same amount. This system of recording is known as DOUBLE ENTRY SYSTEM. ASSETS = LIABILITIES + CAPITAL
1. 2. 3.
Revenue means the addition to the capital as a result of business operations. Revenue is realised on three basis-: Basis of cash Basis of sale Basis of production
8) MATCHING CONCEPT
All the revenue of a particular period will be matched with the cost of that period for determining the net profits of that period. Accordingly, for matching costs with revenue, first revenue should be recognised & then costs incurred for generating that revenue should be recognised.
Outstanding expenses though not paid in cash are shown in the P&L a/c. Prepaid expenses are not shown in the P&L a/c. Closing stock should be carried over to the next period as opening stock. Income receivable should be added in the revenue & income received in advance should be deducted from revenue.
9) ACCRUAL CONCEPT
In this concept revenue is recorded when sales are made or services are rendered & it is immaterial whether cash is received or not. Same with the expenses i.e. they are recorded in the accounting period in which they assist in earning the revenues whether the cash is paid for them or not.
11) TIMELINESS
This principle states that the information should be provided to the users at right time for the purpose of decision making. Delay in providing accounts serves no usefulness for the users for decision making.
This principle states that the cost incurred in applying the principles should be less than the profits derived from them.
ACCOUNTING CONVENTIONS
An accounting convention may be defined as a custom or generally accepted practice which is adopted either by general agreement or common consent among accountants.
2) CONVENTION OF CONSISTENCY
Accounting method should remain consistent year by year. This facilitates comparison in both directions i.e. intra firm & inter firm. This does not mean that a firm cannot change the accounting methods according to the changed circumstances of the business.
3) CONVENTION OF CONSERVATISM
All anticipated losses should be recorded but all anticipated gains should be ignored. It is a policy of playing safe. Provisions is made for all losses even though the amount cannot be determined with certainity
4) CONVENTION OF MATERIALITY
According to American Accounting Association, An item should be regarded as material if there is reason to believe that knowledge of it would influence decision of informed investor. It is an exception to the convention of full disclosure. Items having an insignificant effect to the user need not to be disclosed.
Biasness
Uniformity
No uniform adoption
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