Question

III

You have been asked to prepare the final accounts for
W Smith, a sole trader, for the year ended 31 December
2013. W Smith has forwarded to you all books of prime
entry and ledgers, and in addition has given you the
following information:
1) Mr Smith had taken £2,000 out of the business bank
account to take his wife on holiday.
ii) Up to last year the machinery and vehicle used in
the business had been depreciated using the reducing
balance method. W Smith thinks that they should now
be depreciated using the straight-line method.
iii) Mr Smith is confident, given his order book that
the business will continue to operate in its present
form for many years.
iv) Mr Smith had purchased ten staplers, four flip
charts and four packets of whiteboard markers which
will be used in the business for the next couple of
years.
V)
Mr Smith informs you that he has just found an
unopened electricity bill for £900 which was for the
quarter October to December 2013
Required
In each case, identify and then explain the main
accounting concepts being highlighted and indicate
how each should be treated in the final accounts.​

Answer 1

W Smith, a sole trader

Identification and Explanation of Highlighted Accounting Concepts and Treatment in the Final Accounts:

1. Economic Entity: The business (economic entity) is separate from the individual (W. Smith). Accounts are kept to ensure this separation of ownership from the business. This withdrawal is treated as Drawings, a reduction of capital (owner's equity) in the balance Sheet.

2. Consistency concept: This concept requires that an accounting estimate or principle is consistently applied. However, if there is a change in an accounting estimate, the effect of the change needs to be disclosed in the final accounts.

3. Going concern concept: A business is assumed to continue indefinitely in life. Therefore, assets and liabilities are stated at their cost or fair values. Where there is a contrary view, this must be disclosed and accounts be kept to reflect the revised view. Then, assets and liabilities will reflect market or disposal values.

4. Materiality concept: This concept requires that values in accounts be material. Though, materiality is a matter of judgement, a threshold can be established based on the value of the individual item to the value of the business. Will its disclosure or not affect decisions of a knowledgeable investor or analyst, is a consideration under the materiality concept. The office stationery can be expensed in the income statement if the amount involved is not material, even though, they will continue to be used in the business for more than a year. This somehow contradicts the concept of the matching principle.

5. Accrual Concept: The concept states that "Revenue is recognized when earned, and expenses are recognized when assets are consumed," and not when cash is received or paid. This unpaid electricity bill for £900 must be accrued in the income statement as an expense and treated as a liability in the balance sheet in line with the accrual concept.

Step-by-step explanation:

These are the basic accounting concepts:

1. Accruals concept

2. Conservatism concept

3. Consistency concept

4. Economic entity concept

5. Going concern concept

6. Matching concept

7. Materiality concept