What are the Elements of Financial Statements?
The main purpose of financial statements is to provide financial information to the users to assist them in their economic decisions. The financial statements basically present the financial information in such form that it is not only understandable but also useable. That is why financial statements present the financial effects of different business events that […]
What is the difference between Rule and Policy?
Rules and Policies are sometimes so packed together that it becomes impossible to segregate one from the other. And it varies from one perspective to the other that whether rules are based on policies or policies are based on rules. Therefore, it will be good if we first confine our discussion to an understandable perspective […]
What is the recognition criteria of equity?
Framework for Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements (Framework) issued by International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is one of the important documents. Many of the basic concepts that also form the very foundation of International Accounting Standards (IASs) have been discussed in it and provides a framework for development of accounting standards as well. Although […]
What are the Fundamental accounting Assumptions underlying Financial Statements?
Fundamental assumptions, basic assumptions or fundamental accounting assumptions mean the accounting concepts that have been considered and followed while recording financial information. As information needs are different from person to person, entity to entity and situation to situation thus such assumptions vary. But remember one thing fundamental accounting assumptions DOES NOT mean the rules that […]
What is the purpose of Statement of changes in equity?
Many students find it confusing that if we already have two financial statements, one covering the financial position of the business and the other telling about the financial performance then why do we need yet another statement with the name of Statement of Changes in Equity? And more interestingly, many think that its just a […]
What is the difference between ‘separate entity’ and ‘separate legal entity’?
Separate entity is basically an accounting concept where as separate legal entity is a legal concept which overrules the accounting concept of separate entity. According to separate entity concept (also termed as business entity concept) the business and the owner(s) of the business are two distinct and separate entities which implies that assets and liabilities […]
What is business entity concept?
Business entity concept or Separate entity concept or Separate economic entity concept are different names for the same concept. According to business entity concept, the business is distinct and separate from its owners i.e. business and its owners should not be treated as one and the same thing. Accepting this concept means that the activities […]
Is there any case in which Liability increases and decreases as well?
In one single transaction there are absolutely NO chances that liability increases and also decreases at the same time. And even for the sake of argument we consider that yes it will increase and decrease then the increase and decrease will be equal thus making no difference at all. However, if the question was asked […]
What is the difference between Exceptional item and Extraordinary item?
So far International Accounting Standards (IASs) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) have not defined such terminologies. However, apparently these terms seem to have different treatments according to accounting standards especially IAS 1 in which extraordinary items and material items (also referred as exceptional items) have been discussed separately under different paragraphs. These terms are […]
What is meant by ‘line item’ in accounting standards?
Term line item basically refers to such piece of information which has its own weight and should be presented on a separate line on any document. In context of International Accounting Standards (IASs) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) line items simply means a category on the face of financial statements and in the notes […]