Accounting equation
Barron's Accounting Dictionary:
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Accounting equation
Double entry bookkeeping where there is an identity of debit and credit elements of a transaction. For each transaction, the total debits equal the total credits. For example, the payment of $100 to a creditor requires a debit to accounts payable and a credit to cash for $100. The accounting equation can also be expressed as: Assets = Liabilities + Capital An increase (or decrease) in total assets is accompanied by an equal increase (or decrease) in liabilities and capital.
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Investopedia Financial Dictionary:
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Accounting Equation
The equation that is the foundation of double entry accounting. The accounting equation displays that all assets are either financed by borrowing money or paying with the money of the company’s shareholders. Thus, the accounting equation is: Assets = Liabilities + Shareholder Equity. The balance sheet is a complex display of this equation, showing that the total assets of a company are equal to the total of liabilities and shareholder equity. Any purchase or sale by an accounting equity has an equal effect on both sides of the equation, or offsetting effects on the same side of the equation. The accounting equation is also written as Liabilities = Assets – Shareholder Equity and Shareholder Equity = Assets – Liabilities.
Investopedia Says:
The basic equation shows that a company can fund the purchase of an asset with assets (a $50 purchase of equipment using $50 of cash) or fund it with liabilities or shareholder equity (a $50 purchase of equipment by borrowing $50 or using $50 of retained earnings). In the same vein, liabilities can be paid down with assets, like cash, or by taking on more liabilities, like debt.
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Accounting equation
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The 'basic accounting equation' is the foundation for the double-entry bookkeeping system. For each transaction, the total debits equal the total credits.
In a corporation, capital represents the stockholders' equity.
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Contents
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In practice
For example: A student buys a computer for $945. This student borrowed $500 from his best friend and spent another $445 earned from his part-time job. Now his assets are worth $945, liabilities are $500, and equity $445.
The formula can be rewritten:
- Assets - Liabilities = (Shareholders' or Owners' Equity or Capital)[1]
Now it shows owners' interest is equal to property (assets) minus debts (liabilities). Since in a corporation owners are shareholders, owner's interest is called shareholders' equity. Every accounting transaction affects at least one element of the equation, but always balances. Simplest transactions also include:[2]
| Transaction Number |
Assets | Liabilities | Shareholder's Equity |
Explanation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | + | 6,000 | + | 6,000 | Issuing stocks for cash or other assets | ||
| 2 | + | 10,000 | + | 10,000 | Buying assets by borrowing money (taking a loan from a bank or simply buying on credit) | ||
| 3 | − | 900 | − | 900 | Selling assets for cash to pay off liabilities: both assets and liabilities are reduced | ||
| 4 | + | 1,000 | + | 400 | + | 600 | Buying assets by paying cash by shareholder's money (600) and by borrowing money (400) |
| 5 | + | 700 | + | 700 | Earning revenues | ||
| 6 | − | 200 | − | 200 | Paying expenses (e.g. rent or professional fees) or dividends | ||
| 7 | + | 100 | − | 100 | Recording expenses, but not paying them at the moment | ||
| 8 | − | 500 | − | 500 | Paying a debt that you owe | ||
| 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Receiving cash for sale of an asset: one asset is exchanged for another; no change in assets or liabilities | |||
These are some simple examples, but even the most complicated transactions can be recorded in a similar way. This equation is behind debits, credits, and journal entries.
This equation is part of the transaction analysis model,[3] for which we also write
- Owners equity = Contributed Capital + Retained Earnings
- Retained Earnings = Net Income − Dividends
and
- Net Income = Income − Expenses
The equation resulting from making these substitutions in the accounting equation may be referred to as the expanded accounting equation, because it yields the breakdown of the equity component of the equation.[4]
Expanded Accounting Equation
Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders' Equity
Assets = Liabilities + Common Stock + Retained Earnings
Assets = Liabilities + Common Stock + Net Income - Dividends
Assets = Liabilities + Common Stock + Income - Expenses - Dividends
Balance sheet
An elaborate form of this equation is presented in a balance sheet which lists all assets, liabilities, and equity, as well as totals to ensure that it balances.
References
- ^ a b Meigs and Meigs. Financial Accounting, Fourth Edition. McGraw-Hill, 1983. pp.19-20.
- ^ Accounting equation explanation with examples, accountingcoach.com.
- ^ Libby, Libby, and Short. Financial Accounting, Third Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2001. p.120
- ^ Wild.Financial Accounting, Third Edition.McGraw-Hill, 2005. p.13
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Barron's Accounting Dictionary
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Mentioned in
Balance Sheet
(in accounting)
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Residual Equity Theory
(in accounting)
Proprietary Theory
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