Financial Statement : Financial Statements

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 cash basis of accounting records revenues when cash is received and expenses when cash is paid out. The accrual basis of accounting records revenues when they are earned and expenses when resources are used.

The main purpose of the financial statements is to provide creditors and investors with a summary of a business financial activity. All statements are prepared at certain times throughout the year. The balance sheet reports liabilities, assets, and owner equity of the company. The income statement matches incurred expenses during a period of generated revenue. The statement of retained earnings reports retained earnings from net loss and net incomes from

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.

Question: (TCO 2) Explain the difference between the accrual basis of accounting and the cash basis of accounting.?

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

1. Add up your sales for the period for which you want to create the income statement. Sales or revenue is the first line of the income statement. If you run a cash-based business, your sales records come from a cash register. The preferred method to record sales for a cash-based business is the cash method. This means that as soon as the customer pays, you record a sale. If you use the accrual method, you record a sale even though you may not necessarily receive money from your customer. In conjunction with recording a sale, you make an entry in accounts receivable.

The four primary financial statements found in annual reports include the income statement, balance sheet, statement of retained earnings and statement of cash flows. The data in each statement includes results from the most recent fiscal year-end, as well as historic data that stakeholders use in identifying trends from year to year. The financial statements include data required for stakeholders to calculate a variety of ratios and analysis which are critical in determining corporate levels of efficiency, profitability, liquidity, debt and sustainability. Since financial statements of public corporations are audited by independent firms, the financial data is typically accurate and generally reflects a standardized format following Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

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.

Under GAAP, it is possible to use cash-basis or accrual basis accounting for revenue recognition. Under cash basis, revenue is recognized with payment is received. Under accrual basis, revenue is recognized when it becomes economically significant. GAAP has specific requirements for various industries on when an event qualifies to be recognized as revenue.

The major distinction between the accrual and the cash basis of accounting is when revenue and expenses are recognized. When the cash method is used, revenue is recorded when money is received. Expenses are recorded only when money is paid. The Accrual method accounts for revenue when it is earned. Expenses for goods and services are recorded when they are incurred. The

The “financial statements are formal reports providing information on a company's financial position, cash inflows and outflows, and the results of operations” (Hermanson, p.22). There are four main components that make up a financial statement. The four parts are, balance sheet, income statements, cash flow and, statement of owner’s equity. The balance sheets role is to define the company’s assets liabilities and revenue of the business. The income statement shows the income within the company. Cash flow reviews the position of the company by cash payments and receipts. Lastly, the statement of owner’s equity shows the amount of earnings, stock and other capitals of people in the company. (Hermanson, p.34-35).

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.

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

A financial statement (or financial report) is a formal record of the financial activities of a business, person, or other entity. In British English including United Kingdom company law a financial statement is often referred to as an account, although the term financial statement is also used, particularly by accountants.