Incomplete Records
Overview
Not every business keeps a full set of double entry records. A small trader may simply bank the takings, pay the bills and hold a few invoices, with no ledger at all. Yet at the year end that trader still needs to know the profit, and the tax authority still wants a figure. Incomplete records is the detective work of accounting: starting from whatever scraps of information exist, you reconstruct the missing figures and build a full set of financial statements.
In this lesson you will learn two powerful techniques. First, finding profit from the change in capital over the year, using statements of affairs. Second, using control accounts and the relationships of mark-up, margin and inventory turnover to recover missing sales, purchases and inventory figures. These methods turn a shoebox of receipts into a proper income statement and statement of financial position.
Objectives
- why businesses keep different types of accounting records rather than using the full double entry system.
- the advantages and disadvantages of not maintaining a full set of accounting records.
- how to prepare opening and closing statements of affairs.
- how to calculate profit or loss for the year from changes in capital over time.
- how to calculate sales, purchases, gross profit, trade receivables and trade payables and other figures from incomplete information.
- how to prepare statements of profit or loss and statements of financial position from incomplete records.
- how to make adjustments to financial statements as detailed in 5.1 (sole traders).
- how to apply the techniques of mark-up, margin and inventory turnover to arrive at missing figures.
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Incomplete Records. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Capital is best described as: A. Assets plus liabilities B. Assets less liabilities C. Cash in the bank D. Total sales for the year Answer: B
- Opening capital $40 000, closing capital $52 000, drawings $9 000, capital introduced $5 000. What is the profit for the year? A. $12 000 B. $16 000 C. $21 000 D. $26 000 Answer: B
- Gross profit is $5 000, cost of sales is $15 000 and sales are $20 000. What is the margin? A. 20% B. 25% C. 33.33% D. 40% Answer: B
- A trader has a mark-up of 25%. What is the equivalent margin? A. 15% B. 20% C. 25% D. 33.33% Answer: B
- Cash received from credit customers $331 600, opening receivables $23 800, closing receivables $26 800. What are the credit sales for the year? A. $328 600 B. $331 600 C. $334 600 D. $382 200 Answer: C
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
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