IV. ACCOUNTING OF RESERVES, ACCUMULATED PROFITS/LOSSES
On admission of a new partner, the existing partners scans Firm’s Financial position (Balance Sheet) i.e. Reserves, Accumulated Losses, Assets & Liabilities
The logic behind this exercise is the new partner should not get undue benefit due to previously earned/unearned profits or suffer loss due to previous earned/unearned losses.
During this scanning process Partners may find Free Reserves like General Reserve, P&L (Cr), these are distributed among existing partners in their current profit-sharing ratio.
Specific purpose reserves like (a) Workmen Compensation Reserve are compared with any workmen claim (b) Investment Fluctuation Reserve is compared with market value of Investments and any excess reserve is distributed to existing partners in their current Profit-sharing ratio and any short reserve is taken to Revaluation A/c.
Partners may also find Undistributed Losses or Fictitious Assets, these are written off and charged to the existing Partners in their current Profit-sharing Ratio.
Partners reevaluate market value of Fixed Assets and remeasure Current Assets and Current Liabilities. Any change in the value of Assets/Liabilities is dealt via Revaluation Account and the resultant gain/loss is shared amongst the existing partners in their current profit-sharing ratio.
A. Accounting treatment of Accumulated Losses
Accumulated Losses include
Debit balance in Profit & Loss A/C
Deferred revenue Expenses
Preliminary Expenses
Advertisement Suspense A/C
Journal Entry for writing off Accumulated Losses
B. Accounting treatment of Free Reserves
Free Reserves include
Credit balance in Profit & Loss A/C
General Reserve
Accumulated Profits
Contingency Reserve
Journal Entry for distributed Reserves amongst partners
C. Workmen Compensation Reserve
All good firms take necessary safety precautions and train their workmen to avoid any accidents
At the factories/workplace despite all safety precautions and training there may be a situation wherein a worker might meet an accident resulting into medical treatment or disability.
Since the accident taken place at the Firm’s premises, there is a claim from the workmen/employee
To meet such contingencies, good firms generally set aside funds and create specific reserve Workmen Compensation Reserve
Any claim from workmen is paid out of the Workmen Compensation Reserve
Accounting Treatment under various scenarios
D. Investments Fluctuation Reserve
In case a firm has surplus funds, which are not be used in business immediately, invests these funds.
The Market value of the investments is not static and keeps on varying (higher/lower) due to various economic conditions
To protect from the risk of any loss due to fall in the value of investments, Good firms set aside reserve out of profits and create Investment Fluctuations Reserve
In case of a permanent fall in the value of Investments, Firm utilize Investment Fluctuation Reserve
Any excess Investment Fluctuation Reserve at the time of change in PSR is distributed amongst Partners’ in their old PSR
Accounting Treatment under various scenarios
E. Revaluation of Assets/ Liabilities
Partners reevaluate market value of Fixed Assets and remeasure Current Assets and Current Liabilities. Any change in the value of Assets/Liabilities is dealt via Revaluation Account and the resultant gain/loss is shared amongst the existing partners in their current profit-sharing ratio.
Accounting Treatment under various scenarios
Important to Note:
Language in the question: AT/To means new value of the Asset/Liability.
Language in the question: By means difference between existing value and new value of the Asset/Liability.
F. Preparation of Revaluation Account
On the Revaluation of Assets and Reassessment of Liabilities, a new account is opened Revaluation Account
Revaluation Account is a nominal account. As per nominal rule all the expenses & losses are debited and all the incomes/gains/profits are credited