Generally accepted accounting principles usually require the use of accrual accounting to “fairly present” income. If the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting will “clearly reflect” taxable income, why does this method not usually also “fairly present” income?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The cash method does not consider the credit perception linked with financial information; hence does not present income fairly.

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of Accounting Principles

Accounting principles are the milestones that facilitate the business entity to accurately record and maintain its financial information. Such principles contain a set of general rules and basic guidelines.

02

Fairly presentation of income

If a business entity adopts the cash methodfor reporting its income, it will not reflect the accurate outcomes compared to the accrual method.

The accrual method considers both cash and credit perspectives associated with business transactions. The cash method only records a transaction when cash is received or paid.

The accrual method provides income fairly because it reports the transactions irrespective of receipt and payment of cash.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Portman Corporation has retained earnings of \(675,000 at January 1, 2017. Net income during 2017 was \)1,400,000, and cash dividends declared and paid during 2017 totaled $75,000. Prepare a retained earnings statement for the year ended December 31, 2017.

The following information was taken from the records of Roland Carlson Inc. for the year 2017: income tax applicable to income from continuing operations \(187,000, income tax applicable to loss on discontinued operations \)25,500, and unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities (net of tax) \(15,000.

Gain on sale of equipment \)95,000 Cash dividends declared $150,000

Loss on discontinued operations75,000 Retained earnings January1,2017 600,000

Administrative expenses 240,000 Cost of goods sold 850,000

Rent revenue 40,000 Selling expenses 300,000

Loss on write-down of inventory 60,000 Sales revenue 1,900,000

Shares outstanding during 2017 were 100,000.

Instructions

  1. Prepare a single-step income statement.
  2. Prepare a comprehensive income statement for 2017 using the two statement format.
  3. Prepare a retained earnings statement for 2017.

When does tax allocation within a period become necessary? How should this allocation be handled?

Wade Corp. has 150,000 shares of common stock outstanding. In 2017, the company reports income from continuing operations before income tax of \(1,210,000. Additional transactions not considered in the \)1,210,000 are as follows.

1. In 2017, Wade Corp. sold equipment for \(40,000. The machine had originally cost \)80,000 and had accumulated depreciation of \(30,000. The gain or loss is considered non-recurring.

2. The company discontinued operations of one of its subsidiaries during the current year at a loss of \)190,000 before taxes. Assume that this transaction meets the criteria for discontinued operations. The loss from operations of the discontinued subsidiary was \(90,000 before taxes; the loss from disposal of the subsidiary was \)100,000 before taxes.

3. An internal audit discovered that amortization of intangible assets was understated by \(35,000 (net of tax) in a prior period. The amount was charged against retained earnings.

4. The company recorded a non-recurring gain of \)125,000 on the condemnation of some of its property (included in the $1,210,000).

Instructions

Analyze the above information and prepare an income statement for the year 2017, starting with income from continuing operations before income tax. Compute earnings per share as it should be shown on the face of the income statement. (Assume a total effective tax rate of 38% on all items, unless otherwise indicated.)

Question: Below is the Retained Earnings account for the year 2017 for Acadian Corp.

Retained earnings, January 1, 2017 \(257,600

Add:

Gain on sale of investments (net of tax) \)41,200

Net income 84,500

Refund on litigation with government, related to

the year 2014 (net of tax) 21,600

Recognition of income earned in 2016, but omitted

from income statement in that year (net of tax) 25,400 172,700

430,300

Deduct:

Loss on discontinued operations (net of tax) 35,000

Write-off of goodwill (net of tax) 60,000

Cumulative effect on income of prior years in changing

from LIFO to FIFO inventory valuation in 2017 (net of tax) 23,200

Cash dividends declared 32,000 150,200

Retained earnings, December 31, 2017 $280,100

Instructions

  1. Prepare a corrected retained earnings statement. Acadian Corp. normally sells investments of the type mentioned above. FIFO inventory was used in 2017 to compute net income.

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