The Advantages Of The Accrual Concept In Accounting

The two approaches have many aspects in common but there are two key differences that distinguish one from the other. The difference in cash accounting and accrual accounting is the way debits and credits are applied in bookkeeping. Cash based accounting recognizes income at the time it is actually received. This means that invoiced income is not counted as an asset until payment for the invoice is received. This approach is also used for debits and any expenses incurred are not posted until they are paid. Small businesses often time use the cash accounting because it is simple and easy. It is important to recognize that this type of accounting can complicate matters when the business is up for sale or a merger is offered. The type of accounting method used in any business should not be assumed.

The accrual basis of accounting uses the adjusting process to recognize revenues when earned and expenses when incurred. The cash basis of accounting recognizes revenues when cash is received and records expenses when cash is paid. An example of accrual basis of accounting is if a company is insuring a building. The insurance company bills the company $600 every six months. If each bill is for six months of coverage, then under the accrual method, the company would not record a $600 expense in January and a $600 expense in July. It would instead record a $100 expense each month for the whole year.

In this paper I have defined accrual and cash basis accounting. Also, I have answered the following questions: Explain the difference between the accrual basis of accounting and the cash basis of accounting. What are the major reasons for using accrual accounting? What are the purpose of a journal and a ledger? Give an example of a contra-asset, and explain how it is recorded on the ledger as a transaction. Explain what a “prepaid expense” is and how it is recorded on the ledger as a transaction. What are the major differences in recording transactions for a for-profit organization versus a not-for-profit, or are there any? List and record each transaction

The difference between accrual and cash basis accounting is the timing of when revenue and expenses are recognized. The cash method is most used by small businesses and for personal finances. The cash method for revenue is only used when the money is received and expenses are only used when the money is paid out. The accrual method is used for revenue when it is earned and

According to Gapenski 2008, the cash method is the process by which an economic event is recognized when a cash transaction actually takes place. It is considered simple and easy to use. Some might want to use this method when just starting a small business. Cash accounting does a good job of tracking cash flow, but does a poor job of matching revenues earned with monies laid out for expenses (Epstein, 2011). The accrual method is recognized when an obligation is created. This method is considered more complicated, yet it provides a better picture of true economic status of a business. Most would say that this is the preferred method according to generally applied accounting principles (Gapenski, 2008). It has two key components such as the revenue recognition that requires that revenues be recognized in the period in which it was earned while the matching principle requires that an organization’s expenses be matched with revenues in which it is connected to. One might want to use this principle once a small business has gotten on its feet. The accrual method does a good job of matching revenues and expenses, but it does a poor job of tracking cash (Epstein, 2011). Because you record revenue when the transaction occurs and not when you collect the cash, your income statement can look profitable even if you don 't have cash in the bank (Epstein, 2011).

Information based on accrual accounting has historically and empirically provided a better indication of a company’s ability to generate cash flows than information gathered under the cash method. If there is not inter-period allocation, then the information is not as meaningful and will result in a mismatching of economic benefits

Accruals. This occurs when sales and expenses are recorded when they incur, not when they are paid out or the payment is received. In other words, the record should be made immediately no matter if the payment was received or not, paid out or not yet. Accruals can be called unpaid bills, sales on credit and other expenses over due.

When talking about accounting, the first thing we should know is the history of its development. Traditionally, the development is from inductive to deductive. Inductive theory assume what is done by the majority is the most appropriate practice. However, It did not seek to evaluate the logic or merit of

The process of recording and posting the effects of business transaction is done in a double entry t-form. The total dollar amount of debits must equal the total dollar amount of credits, with debits to the left and account credit to the right. Broken down, Assets = Liabilities + Stakeholder Equity. “Since debits increase assets, expense, and dividend accounts, they normally have debit balances. Conversely, because credits increase liability, capital stock, retained earnings, and revenue accounts, they normally have credit balances.”( Edwards, J. D., Hermanson, R.H., & Maher, M. W. (2011). p.84)

Matching or accrual concept requires the income and expenses of a business company to be recorded in the period of when they have been earned or spent. Accountants have to make sure that prepayments of expenses are recorded separately from accrued expenses, when financial statements have been prepared.

Accrual accounting is a system of accounting that is based on the accrual principal accounting. This principal requires revenue to be recognized and recorded when earned. Expenses are to be recorded when they occur. The accrual basis of accounting is used by most companies. Very small businesses and individuals use cash basis accounting.

Accrual accounting shows outcome of transactions and other events such as assets and liabilities of entity 's in such a periods in which effects occur even if cash is paid or received in a different time.

In this assignment paper, I would like to describe the meaning of accounting, how accounting

Accrual accounting is an accounting method that is utilized to size the performance and of a company by recognizing circumstances regardless of when cash transactions occur. They are documented by matching revenues to expenses at the time in which the transaction occurs rather than when a payment is processed. This method allows the current cash credits and debits to be combined with future expected cash flows to give a more accurate picture of a company 's current financial state. It is ideal to use this method of accounting if an organization has a revenue of more than five million per year. While the accrual method shows the flow of business income and debts more accurately, the downside to this method of accounting is that financial advisers may be blindsided as to what cash reserves are available, which could ultimately result in some serious cash flow obstacles. A common example that I have seen used which helps me understand is when your income ledger may show thousands of dollars in sales, while in reality your bank account is empty because your customers haven 't paid you yet. Cash Basis accounting is when revenues are documented when cash is received and expenses are recognized when paid. The cash basis of accounting is usually utilized by small companies with a revenue of less than one million annually. The cash method provides a more accurate picture of how much actual cash your business has. Cash basis accounting is allowed for tax purposes only for smaller

The principles are the result from the accounting practice that has been used and improved over the time. The deeper explanation about the statement is that, accounting standard such as IFRS is created based on the previous accounting practice itself rather the theories. The theories are useful in guiding the other field like finance and economics. There is also evidence that the accounting theory exists after standard has been practiced (Cluskey, Ehlen and Rivers 2007). The father of accounting, Luca Pacioli explained about double-entry booking in one of his studies. The study described the practice and explained to the readers the logic behind it. The research had given birth to dozens of studies made by theorist to further discuss about the accounting practice. By this evidence, the readers can also conclude that not only the standard that exist from accounting practice but in fact, accounting theory also exist to explain the nature of the practice. Back to the purpose of this paper, accounting theory plays no role in the setting of accounting standard is approved by two points: the process of setting accounting standard itself is a political activity and the development of accounting standard is influence by the existing accounting practice not accounting