Accrual-basis accounting
Accounting basis in which companies record, in the periods in which the events occur, transactions that change a company's financial statements, even if cash was not exchanged.
Accrued expenses
Expenses incurred but not yet paid in cash or recorded.
Accrued revenues
Revenues earned but not yet received in cash or recorded.
Adjusted trial balance
A list of accounts and their balances after all adjustments have been made.
Adjusting entries
Entries made at the end of an accounting period to ensure that the revenue recognition and matching principles are followed.
Book value
The difference between the cost of a depreciable asset and its related accumulated depreciation.
Cash-basis accounting
Accounting basis in which a company records revenue only when it receives cash, and an expense only when it pays cash.
Closing entries
Entries at the end of an accounting period to transfer the balances of temporary accounts to a permanent stockholders' equity account, Retained Earnings.
Contra asset account
An account that is offset against an asset account on the balance sheet.
Depreciation
The process of allocating the cost of an asset to expense over its useful life.
Earnings management
The planned timing of revenues, expenses, gains, and losses to smooth out bumps in net income.
Fiscal year
An accounting period that is one year long.
Income Summary
A temporary account used in closing revenue and expense accounts.
Matching principle
The principle that dictates that companies match efforts (expenses) with accomplishments (revenues).
Permanent accounts
Balance sheet accounts whose balances are carried forward to the next accounting period.
Post-closing trial balance
A list of permanent accounts and their balances after a company has journalized and posted closing entries.
Prepaid expenses (Prepayments)
Assets that result from the payment of expenses that benefit more than one accounting period.
Quality of earnings
Indicates the level of full and transparent information that a company provides to users of its financial statements.
Revenue recognition principle
The principle that companies recognize revenue in the accounting period in which it is earned.
Reversing entry
An entry made at the beginning of the next accounting period; the exact opposite of the adjusting entry made in the previous period.
Temporary accounts
Revenue, expense, and dividend accounts whose balances a company transfers to Retained Earnings at the end of an accounting period.
Time period assumption
An assumption that the economic life of a business can be divided into artificial time periods.
Unearned revenues
Cash received before a company earns revenues and recorded as a liability until earned.
Useful life
The length of service of a productive asset.
Worksheet
A multiple-column form that companies may use in the adjustment process and in preparing financial statements.
Prepaid Expense Adjusting Entry
Dr. Expenses
Cr. Assets
Depreciation expense Adjusting Entry
Dr. Depreciation Expense
Cr. Accumulated Depreciation
Unearned Revenues Adjusting Entry
Dr. Liabilities
Cr. Revenues
Accrued revenues Adjusting Entry
Dr. Assets
Cr. Revenues
Accrued expenses Adjusting Entry
Dr. Expenses
Cr. Liabilities
Closing entries posting steps
1. Close the revenue accounts to the Income Summary account.
2. Close the expense accounts to the Income Summary account.
3. Close the Income Summary account to Retained Earnings.
4. Close Dividends to Retained Earnings.
Closing Entries, step 1: Close the revenue accounts to the Income Summary account.
-DR revenue; CR Income Summary
Closing Entries, step 2: Close the expense accounts to the Income Summary account.
- DR Income Summary; CR Expense accounts
Closing Entries, step 3: Close the Income Summary account to Retained Earnings.
- If Net Loss: DR Retained Earnings; CR Income Summary
- If Net Income: DR Income Summary; CR Retained Earnings
Closing Entries, step 4: Close Dividends to Retained Earnings
- DR Retained Earnings; CR Dividends
Steps in Accounting Cycle
1. Analyze business transactions.
2. Journalize the transactions.
3. Post to ledger accounts.
4. Prepare a trial balance.
5. Journalize and post adjusting entries--deferrals and accruals.
6. Prepare an adjusted trial balance.
7. Prepare financial statemen
List of temporary accounts
all revenue
all expense
Dividends
Income Summary
Accrual-basis accounting
Accounting basis in which companies record, in the periods in which the events occur, transactions that change a company's financial statements, even if cash was not exchanged.
Accrued expenses
Expenses incurred but not yet paid in cash or recorded.
Accrued revenues
Revenues earned but not yet received in cash or recorded.
Adjusted trial balance
A list of accounts and their balances after all adjustments have been made.
Adjusting entries
Entries made at the end of an accounting period to ensure that the revenue recognition and matching principles are followed.
Book value
The difference between the cost of a depreciable asset and its related accumulated depreciation.
Cash-basis accounting
Accounting basis in which a company records revenue only when it receives cash, and an expense only when it pays cash.
Closing entries
Entries at the end of an accounting period to transfer the balances of temporary accounts to a permanent stockholders' equity account, Retained Earnings.
Contra asset account
An account that is offset against an asset account on the balance sheet.
Depreciation
The process of allocating the cost of an asset to expense over its useful life.
Earnings management
The planned timing of revenues, expenses, gains, and losses to smooth out bumps in net income.
Fiscal year
An accounting period that is one year long.
Income Summary
A temporary account used in closing revenue and expense accounts.
Matching principle
The principle that dictates that companies match efforts (expenses) with accomplishments (revenues).
Permanent accounts
Balance sheet accounts whose balances are carried forward to the next accounting period.
Post-closing trial balance
A list of permanent accounts and their balances after a company has journalized and posted closing entries.
Prepaid expenses (Prepayments)
Assets that result from the payment of expenses that benefit more than one accounting period.
Quality of earnings
Indicates the level of full and transparent information that a company provides to users of its financial statements.
Revenue recognition principle
The principle that companies recognize revenue in the accounting period in which it is earned.
Reversing entry
An entry made at the beginning of the next accounting period; the exact opposite of the adjusting entry made in the previous period.
Temporary accounts
Revenue, expense, and dividend accounts whose balances a company transfers to Retained Earnings at the end of an accounting period.
Time period assumption
An assumption that the economic life of a business can be divided into artificial time periods.
Unearned revenues
Cash received before a company earns revenues and recorded as a liability until earned.
Useful life
The length of service of a productive asset.
Worksheet
A multiple-column form that companies may use in the adjustment process and in preparing financial statements.
Prepaid Expense Adjusting Entry
Dr. Expenses
Cr. Assets
Depreciation expense Adjusting Entry
Dr. Depreciation Expense
Cr. Accumulated Depreciation
Unearned Revenues Adjusting Entry
Dr. Liabilities
Cr. Revenues
Accrued revenues Adjusting Entry
Dr. Assets
Cr. Revenues
Accrued expenses Adjusting Entry
Dr. Expenses
Cr. Liabilities
Closing entries posting steps
1. Close the revenue accounts to the Income Summary account.
2. Close the expense accounts to the Income Summary account.
3. Close the Income Summary account to Retained Earnings.
4. Close Dividends to Retained Earnings.
Closing Entries, step 1: Close the revenue accounts to the Income Summary account.
-DR revenue; CR Income Summary
Closing Entries, step 2: Close the expense accounts to the Income Summary account.
- DR Income Summary; CR Expense accounts
Closing Entries, step 3: Close the Income Summary account to Retained Earnings.
- If Net Loss: DR Retained Earnings; CR Income Summary
- If Net Income: DR Income Summary; CR Retained Earnings
Closing Entries, step 4: Close Dividends to Retained Earnings
- DR Retained Earnings; CR Dividends
Steps in Accounting Cycle
1. Analyze business transactions.
2. Journalize the transactions.
3. Post to ledger accounts.
4. Prepare a trial balance.
5. Journalize and post adjusting entries--deferrals and accruals.
6. Prepare an adjusted trial balance.
7. Prepare financial statemen
List of temporary accounts
all revenue
all expense
Dividends
Income Summary