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Trading account
Trading means buying and selling. The trading account shows the result of buying and selling of goods.
Need
At the end of each year, it is necessary to ascertain the net profit or net loss. For this purpose, it is first necessary to know the gross profit or gross loss. The trading account is prepared to ascertain this. The difference between the selling price and the cost price of the goods is the gross earning of the business concern. Such gross earning is called as gross profit. However, when the selling price is less than the cost of goods purchased, the result is gross loss.
Items appearing in the debit side
The following items will appear in the debit side of the Trading Account:
(i) Opening Stock: In case of trading concern, the opening stock means the finished goods only. The amount of opening stock should be taken from Trial Balance.
(ii) Purchases: The amount of purchases made during the year. Purchases include cash as well as credit purchase. The deductions can be made from purchases, such as, purchase return, goods withdrawn by the proprietor, goods distributed as free sample etc.
(iii) Direct expenses: it means all those expenses which are incurred from the time of purchases to making the goods in suitable condition. This expenses includes freight inward, octroi, wages etc.
(iv) Gross profit: If the credit side of trading A/c is greater than debit side of trading A/c gross profit will arise.
Items appearing in the credit side
The following items will appear in the credit side of Trading Account:
(i) Sales Revenue: The sales revenue denotes income earned from the main business activity or activities.
The income is earned when goods or services are sold to customers. If there is any return, it should be deducted from the sales value. As per the accrual concept, income should be recognized as soon as it is accrued and not necessarily only when the cash is paid for. The Accounting standard 7 (in case of contracting business) and Accounting standard 9 (in other cases) define the guidelines for revenue recognition. The essence of the provisions of both standards is that revenue should be recognized only when significant risks and rewards (vaguely referred to as ownership in goods) are transferred to the customer. For example, if an invoice is made for sale of goods and the term of sale is door delivery; then sale can be recognized only on getting the proof of delivery of goods at the door of customer. If such proof is pending at the end of accounting period, then this transaction cannot be taken as sales, but will be treated as unearned income.
(ii) Closing Stocks: In case of trading business, there will be closing stocks of finished goods only. According to convention of conservatism, stock is valued at cost or net realizable value whichever is lower.
(iii) Gross Loss: When debit side of trading account is greater than credit side of trading account, gross loss will appear.
Balancing
The difference between the two sides of the Trading Account indicates either Gross Profit or Gross Loss. If the credit side total is more, the difference represents Gross Profit. On the other hand, if the total of the debit side is more, the difference represents Gross Loss. The Gross Profit or Gross Loss is transferred to Profit & Loss Account.
Closing Entries
Like ledger accounts, trading account will be closed by transferring the gross profit or gross loss to the profit and loss account.
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