CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF ACCOUNTING

Samir K Mahajan

Samir K Mahajan

FRAME WORK OF ACCOUNTING

In order to maintain uniformity and consistency in accounting records, certain rules or principles havebeen developed which are generally accepted by the accounting profession. These rules are called bydifferent names such as principles, concepts, conventions, standards, postulates, assumptions andmodifying principles that accountants follow in recording and summarizing and in the preparation offinancial statements.

Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) refer to the standard framework of guidelines forfinancial accounting used in any given jurisdiction; generally known as accounting standards orstandard accounting practice.Frame Work of Accounting Includes

o Assumptionso Conceptso Modifying Principles

Samir K Mahajan

ACCOUNTING ASSUMPTIONS

The basic assumptions of accounting are like the foundation pillars on which the structure ofaccounting is based. The four basic assumptions are as follows

Accounting Entity Assumption: According to this assumption, business is treated as a unit or entityapart from its owners, creditors and others. In other words, the proprietor of a business concern isalways considered to be separate and distinct from the business which he controls. All the businesstransactions are recorded in the books of accounts from the view point of the business. Even theproprietor is treated as a creditor to the extent of his capital.

Money Measurement Assumption: In accounting, only those business transactions and eventswhich are of financial nature are recorded. For example, when Sales Manager is not on good termswith Production Manager, the business is bound to suffer. This fact will not be recorded, because itcannot be measured in terms of money.

Samir K Mahajan

ACCOUNTING ASSUMPTIONS contd.

Accounting Period Assumption: The users of financial statements need periodical reports to knowthe operational result and the financial position of the business concern. Hence it becomesnecessary to close the accounts at regular intervals. Usually a period of 365 days or 52 weeks or 1year is considered as the accounting period.

Going Concern Assumption: As per this assumption, the business will exist for a long period andtransactions are recorded from this point of view. There is neither the intention nor the necessity towind up the business in the foreseeable future.

Samir K Mahajan

BASIC CONCEPTS OF ACCOUNTING

These concepts guide how business transactions are reported. On the basis of the above fourassumptions the following concepts (principles) of accounting have been developed.

Historical Cost Concept: The cost concept requires that all assets are recorded in the book ofaccounts at their purchase price, which includes cost of acquisition, transportation, installationand making the asset ready to use. For example, if an old plant was purchased for Rs. 50 lakh. Inaddition, Rs. 25,000 was spent on repairs for bringing the plant into running position and Rs. 25,000on its installation. The total amount at which the plant will be recorded in the books of accountwould be the sum of all these, i.e. Rs. 50,50,000.

The concept of cost is historical in nature as it is something, which has been paid on the date ofacquisition and does not change year after year. If the market value of the plant Rs.80 lakhs at thetime of preparing final accounts the land value is recorded only for Rs.50,50,000. Thus, the balancesheet does not indicate the price at which the asset could be sold for.

Samir K Mahajan

Samir K Mahajan

BASIC CONCEPTS OF ACCOUNTING contd.

Revenue Realisation Concept: The concept of revenue recognition requires that the revenuefor a business transaction should be included in the accounting records only when it isrealised. The realisation concept is vital for determining income pertaining to an accountingperiod. It avoids the possibility of inflating incomes and profits.

Revenue is the gross inflow of cash arising from (i) the sale of goods and services by anenterprise; and (ii) use of the enterprises resources by others yielding interest, royalties anddividends. Revenue is assumed to be realised at the point of time when goods have been soldor service has been rendered. Credit sales are treated as revenue on the day sales are made,and not when money is received from the buyer. As for the income such as rent, commission,interest, etc. these are recognised on a time basis.

Samir K Mahajan

BASIC CONCEPTS OF ACCOUNTING contd.

For example, rent for the month of March 2005, even if received in April 2005, will be taken intothe profit and loss account of the financial year ending March 31, 2005 and not into financial yearbeginning with April 2005. Similarly, if interest for April 2005 is received in advance in March 2005,it will be taken to the profit and loss account of the financial year ending March 2006.

There are some exceptions to this general rule of revenue recognition. In case of contracts likeconstruction work, which take long time, say 2-3 years to complete, proportionate amount ofrevenue, based on the part of contract completed by the end of the period is treated as realised.Similarly, when goods are sold on hire purchase, the amount collected in instalments is treated asrealised.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF ACCOUNTING contd.

Matching Concept: The process of ascertaining the amount of profit earned or the loss incurredduring a particular period involves deduction of related expenses from the revenue earned duringthat period. The matching concept emphasises exactly on this aspect. It states that expensesincurred in an accounting period should be matched with revenues during that period. It followsfrom this that the revenue and expenses incurred to earn these revenues must belong to the sameaccounting period.

Revenue is recognised when a sale is complete or service is rendered rather when cash is received.Similarly, an expense is recognised not when cash is paid but when an asset or service has beenused to generate revenue. For example, expenses such as salaries, rent, insurance are recognisedon the basis of period to which they relate and not when these are paid. Similarly, costs likedepreciation of fixed asset is divided over the periods during which the asset is used.

The matching concept implies that all revenues earned during an accounting year, whether receivedduring that year, or not and all costs incurred, whether paid during the year, or not should be takeninto account while ascertaining profit or loss for that year.

Samir K Mahajan

BASIC CONCEPTS OF ACCOUNTING contd.

Dual Aspect Concept: Dual aspect principle is the basis for Double Entry System of book-keeping. All business transactions recorded in accounts have two aspects - receiving benefit (credit) and giving benefit(debit). For example, when a business acquires an asset (receiving of benefit) it must pay cash (giving of benefit).

Full Disclosure Concept: Accounting statements should disclose fully and completely all the significant information. Based on this, decisions can be taken by various interested parties. It involves proper classification and explanations ofaccounting information which are published in the financial statements.

Samir K Mahajan

BASIC CONCEPTS OF ACCOUNTING contd.

Consistency Concept: The accounting information provided by the financial statements would beuseful in drawing conclusions regarding the working of an enterprise only when it allowscomparisons over a period of time as well as with the working of other enterprises. Thus, bothinter-firm and inter-period comparisons are required to be made. This can be possible only whenaccounting policies and practices followed by enterprises are uniform and are consistent over theperiod Of time.

Conservatism Concept: The concept of conservatism requires that profits should not to be recordeduntil realised but all losses, even those which may have a remote possibility, are to be provided forin the books of account. To illustrate, valuing closing stock at cost or market value whichever islower; creating provision for doubtful debts, discount on debtors; writing of intangible assets likegoodwill, patents, etc. from the book of accounts are some of the examples of the application ofthe principle of conservatism. Thus, if market value of the goods purchased has fallen down, thestock will be shown at cost price in the books but if the market value has gone up, the gain is not tobe recorded until the stock is sold. This approach of providing for the losses but not recognising thegains until realised is called conservatism approach.

Samir K Mahajan

BASIC CONCEPTS OF ACCOUNTING contd.

Verifiable and Objective Evidence Concept: This principle requires that each recorded businesstransactions in the books of accounts should have an adequate evidence to support it. Thedocumentary evidence of transactions should be free from any bias. As accounting records arebased on documentary evidence which are capable of verification, it is universally acceptable.For example, the transaction for the purchase of materials may be supported by the cash receipt forthe money paid, if the same is purchased on cash, or copy of invoice and delivery challan if thesame is purchased on credit. Similarly, receipt for the amount paid for purchase of a machinebecomes the documentary evidence for the cost of machine and provides an objective basis forverifying this transaction. One of the reasons for the adoption of Historical Cost as the basis ofrecording accounting transaction is that adherence to the principle of objectivity is made possibleby it. As stated above, the cost actually paid for an asset can be verified from the documents but itis very difficult to ascertain the market value of an asset until it is actually sold.

Samir K Mahajan

BASIS OF ACCOUNTING

There are two basis from the point of view of the timing of recognition of revenue and cost. Theseapproaches are cash basis and accrual basis.

Under the cash basis, entries in the book of accounts are made when cash is received or paid andnot when the receipt or payment becomes due. For example, if office rent for the month ofDecember 2005, is paid in January 2006, it would be recorded in the book of account only inJanuary 2006. Similarly sale of goods on credit in the month of January 2006 would not be recordedin January but say in April, when the payment for the same is received. Thus this system isincompatible with the matching principle, which states that the revenue of a period is matchedwith the cost of the same period. Though simple, this method is inappropriate for mostorganisations as profit is calculated as a difference between the receipts and disbursement ofmoney for the given period rather than on happening of the transactions.

Samir K Mahajan

BASIS OF ACCOUNTING contd.

Under the accrual basis, however, revenues and costs are recognised in the period in which theyoccur rather when they are paid. A distinction is made between the receipt of cash and the right toreceive cash and payment of cash and legal obligation to pay cash. Thus, under this system, themonitory effect of a transaction is taken into account in the period in which they are earned ratherthan in the period in which cash is actually received or paid by the enterprise. This is a moreappropriate basis for the calculation of profits as expenses are matched against revenue earned inrelation thereto. For example, raw material consumed are matched against the cost of goods sold.

Samir K Mahajan

ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

To promote world-wide uniformity in published accounts, the International Accounting StandardsCommittee (IASC) has been set up in June 1973 with and to promote their world-wide acceptanceand observance.

IASC exist to reduce the differences between different countries accounting practices. This processof harmonisation will make it concerns in India.

Samir K Mahajan