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Failure to record which item is a counter-balancing (self-correcting) error?

a. Common Stock Issuance
b. Equipment Purchase
c. Prepaid Expense
d. Purchase of Treasury Stock

User Mukti
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1 Answer

3 votes

Answer:

c. Prepaid Expense

Step-by-step explanation:

A counterbalancing error happens when one accounting mistake cancels out another accounting mistake. For example, a prepaid expense is not recorded properly:

January 1, 2020, prepaid rent for the year:

Dr Rent expense 12,000

Cr Cash 12,000

The correct journal entry should have been:

Dr Rent expense 1,000

Dr Prepaid rent 11,000

Cr Cash 12,000

But at the end of the year, the prepaid rent account should be adjusted:

December 31, 2020, adjustment to prepaid rent account

Dr Rent expense 11,000

Cr Prepaid rent 11,000

Even though an accounting mistake existed, it was eventually a self correcting error.

User Gerlinde
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