The following are the qualitative characteristics of accounting information:
1. Reliability− It means that the user can rely on the accounting information. All accounting information is verifiable and can be verified from the source document (voucher), viz. cash memos, bills, etc. Hence, the available information should be free from any errors and unbiased.
2. Relevance− It means that essential and appropriate information should be easily and timely available and any irrelevant information should be avoided. The users of accounting information need relevant information for decision making, planning and predicting the future conditions.
3. Understandability− Accounting information should be presented in such a way that every user is able to interpret the information without any difficulty in a meaningful and appropriate manner.
4. Comparability− It is the most important quality of accounting information. Comparability means accounting information of a current year can be comparable with that of the previous years. Comparability enables intra-firm and inter-firm comparison. This assists in assessing the outcomes of various policies and programmes adopted in different time horizons by the same or different businesses. Further, it helps to ascertain the growth and progress of the business over time and in comparison to other businesses.
Mr. Sunrise started a business for buying and selling of stationery with ₹ 5,00,000 as an initial investment. Of which he paid ₹ 1,00,000 for furniture, ₹ 2,00,000 for buying stationery items. He employed a sales person and clerk. At the end of the month he paid ₹ 5,000 as their salaries. Out of the stationery bought he sold some stationery for ₹ 1,50,000 for cash and some other stationery for ₹ 1,00,000 on credit basis to Mr. Ravi. Subsequently, he bought stationery items of ₹ 1,50,000 from Mr. Peace. In the first week of next month there was a fire accident and he lost ₹ 30,000 worth of stationery. A part of the machinery, which cost ₹ 40,000, was sold for ₹ 45,000.
From the above, answer the following :
1. What is the amount of capital with which Mr. Sunrise started business?
2. What are the fixed assets he bought?
3. What is the value of the goods purchased?
4. Who is the creditor and state the amount payable to him?
5. What are the expenses?
6. What is the gain he earned?
7. What is the loss he incurred?
8. Who is the debtor? What is the amount receivable from him?
9. What is the total amount of expenses and losses incurred?
10. Determine if the following are assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses or none of the these: sales, debtors, creditors, salary to manager, discount to debtors, drawings by the owner.
Complete the following sentences with appropriate words:
(a) Information in financial reports is based on .....................
(b) Internal users are the ..................... of the business entity.
(c) A ..................... would most likely use an entities financial report to determine whether or not the business entity is eligible for a loan.
(d) The Internet has assisted in decreasing the ..................... in issuing financial reports to users.
(e) ..................... users are groups outside the business entity, who uses the information to make decisions about the business entity.
(f) Information is said to be relevent if it is ......................
(g) The process of accounting starts with ............ and ends with ............
(h) Accounting measures the business transactions in terms of ............ units.
(i) Identified and measured economic events should be recording in ............ order.
Define accounting and state its objectives.
Enumerate informational needs of management.
'Accounting information should be comparable'. Do you agree with this statement? Give two reasons.
Giving examples, explain each of the following accounting terms:
* Fixed assets * Revenue * Expenses
* Gain * Profit * Capital
* Short-term liabilities
Distinguish between debtors and creditors.
The role of accounting has changed over the period of time- Do you agree? Explain.
Name any two types of commonly used negotiable instruments.
Why is it necessary to record the adjusting entries in the preparation of final accounts?
State the meaning of incomplete records?
What is ‘Depreciation’?
Briefly state how the cash book is both journal and a ledger.
State the meaning of a trial balance?
State the four basic requirements of a database applications.
State the different elements of a computer system.
Why is it necessary for accountants to assume that business entity will remain a going concern?
State the need for the preparation of bank reconciliation statement?
What is the purpose of contra entry?
When information about two different enterprises have been prepared presented in a similar manner the information exhibits the characteristic of :
(a) Verifiability
(b) Relevance
(c) Reliability
(d) None of the above
Differentiate between source documents and vouchers.
Give four examples each of ‘provision’ and ‘reserves’.
The journal entry to record the sale of services on credit should include:
(a) Debit to debtors and credit to capital.
(b) Debit to cash and Credit to debtors.
(c) Debit to fees income and Credit to debtors.
(d) Debit to debtors and Credit to fees income.
Name and explain different types of reserves in detail.
Accounting equation remains intact under all circumstances. Justify the statement with the help of an example.
Explain the process of preparing bank reconciliation statement with amended cash balance.
Which of the following is correct :
(i) Operating Profit = Operating profit – Non-operating expenses – Non-operating incomes
(ii) Operating profit = Net profit + Non-operating Expenses + Non-operating incomes
(iii) Operating profit = Net profit + Non-operating Expenses – Non-operating incomes
(iv) Operating profit = Net profit – Non-operating Expenses + Non-operating incomes
Discuss in detail the straight line method and written down value method of depreciation. Distinguish between the two and also give situations where they are useful.