Accounting

Accounting Procedure: Method for Handling Routine Accounting Matters
Detailed examination of accounting procedures, which are standardized methods a company utilizes to manage its routine accounting tasks. These procedures are often documented in a manual for training purposes.
Accounting Records: Essential Financial Documentation
Accounting records are essential documents that provide information on financial transactions and the economic status of an organization.
Accounts Payable Ledger: Detailed Supplier Accounts
A comprehensive overview of the Accounts Payable Ledger, detailing its significance, structure, and the role it plays in financial management.
Accounts Receivable: Understanding Money Owed to Creditors
Accounts Receivable (AR) is a financial term referring to the amount of money owed to a creditor by customers for goods or services provided on credit. This entry explores the concept, its importance, examples, related terms, and more.
Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV): A Prestigious Credential for Valuation Professionals
Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) is a designation awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) who have met specific education, examination, and experience requirements. The resulting designation is CPA/ABV.
Accrual Basis (Accrual Method): Comprehensive Overview and Explanation
A detailed understanding of the accrual basis (accrual method) accounting, including its principles, applications, advantages, disadvantages, and a comparison with the cash basis accounting method.
Accrue: Transacting Beyond Cash
Accrue refers to accounting to recognize income, expenses, or liabilities when they occur rather than when cash changes hands.
Accrued Interest: Earned but Not Paid Income
Accrued interest or accrued income represents interest or other income that has been earned but not yet paid, playing a significant role in finance and accounting.
Accumulated Benefit Obligation (ABO): Measurement Using Current Compensation Levels
A comprehensive definition and explanation of Accumulated Benefit Obligation (ABO) in pension accounting, with illustrations, historical context, comparisons to projected benefit obligation (PBO), and FAQs.
Accumulated Depreciation: Understanding Its Role in Accounting
Accumulated Depreciation is a critical concept in accounting, representing the total amount of depreciation expense that has been claimed to date on an asset.
Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation (APBO): Actuarial Present Value of Non-Pension Benefits
The actuarial present value of an employer's postretirement benefits other than pensions, such as retiree medical or retiree life insurance benefits, attributed to employee service rendered to a specific date.
Accelerated Cost Recovery System (ACRS): Overview and Details
A comprehensive look at the Accelerated Cost Recovery System (ACRS), including its principles, applications, historical development, and its modification into the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS).
Additional First-Year Depreciation: Enhanced Initial Deduction for Businesses
Detailed explanation of Additional First-Year Depreciation, an increased depreciation deduction that allows businesses to rapidly deduct the cost of capital expenditures during the first year.
Additional Paid-In Capital: Excess Contributions Over Par Value
An in-depth analysis of Additional Paid-In Capital, also referred to as Capital Contributed in Excess of Par Value, its types, implications, and examples.
Adjusted Basis: Definition, Calculation, and Application
Adjusted Basis refers to the original cost or other basis of property, reduced by depreciation deductions and increased by capital expenditures, used to measure gains and losses for tax purposes.
Administrative Expense: Definition and Overview
Comprehensive coverage of administrative expenses, detailing their nature, examples, historical context, and their role in accounting.
Allocate: Meaning and Applications
Understanding the various contexts and applications of the term 'allocate' in different fields such as general usage, accounting, finance, and resource management.
Allowance for Bad Debts: Understanding Financial Provisions
A comprehensive look into allowance for bad debts, its significance, calculation methods, examples, and impact on financial statements.
Allowance for Depreciation: Understanding Accumulated Depreciation
Comprehensive article detailing the concept of Allowance for Depreciation, also known as Accumulated Depreciation, its calculation methods, implications, and examples.
Amended (Tax) Return: A Correction or Supplement to Original Tax Returns
An amended tax return is filed to correct or supplement an original tax return. For corporations, Form 1120X is commonly used, while Form 1040X is typically employed by individuals.
Audit: Inspection of Accounting Records and Procedures
A comprehensive overview of auditing practices, types of audits, historical context, and their essential role in financial accuracy and organizational integrity.
Audit Limited: A Narrow Scope Examination
An Audit Limited is an examination with a restricted focus, such as being confined to specific accounts, a shorter time span, or restricted access to records.
Audit Program: Essential Steps for Financial Statement Analysis
An Audit Program is a detailed listing of the steps to be taken by an auditor, such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), when analyzing transactions to determine the acceptability of financial statements. Major accounting firms may prepare an audit program for each client and require the person who does the work to sign or initial each step performed.
Auditor: Definitions, Roles, and Functions
An auditor is a professional entrusted with examining, verifying, and ensuring the accuracy of financial records for public and private entities. Delve into different types, functions, historical significance, and applicability in the modern context.
Automatic Extension: Granting More Time for a Taxpayer to File a Tax Return
An automatic extension allows a taxpayer more time to file a tax return by filing the appropriate form with the IRS by the original due date, although tax payments based on the taxpayer's best estimate remain due on the original date.
Average Fixed Cost: Definition and Analysis
An in-depth exploration of Average Fixed Cost, including its characteristics, calculations, and importance in economics and business.
Backdating: Manipulating Dates for Financial Gain
A comprehensive exploration of backdating involves the manipulation of dates on financial instruments and its implications in various fields, including finance, accounting, and legal contexts.
Bad-Debt Recovery: Receipt of a Previously Uncollectible Amount
Comprehensive explanation of bad-debt recovery, its processes, examples, historical context, and implications in various financial and business contexts.
Bad-Debt Reserve: Definition and Overview
A comprehensive guide on Bad-Debt Reserve, its application, historical context, and impact of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 on its usage.
Balance Sheet Reserves: Definition and Importance
Balance Sheet Reserves refer to the amounts in pension plans expressed as a liability on the insurance company's balance sheet for benefits owed to policyowners. These reserves must be maintained according to strict actuarial formulas.
Basis: Tax Calculation of Cost in Acquiring an Asset
Basis refers to the amount representing the taxpayer's cost in acquiring an asset, used for computing gain or loss on sale, exchange, and depreciation purposes.
Below-the-Line Deduction: Itemized Deductions Explained
A comprehensive guide to below-the-line deductions, also known as itemized deductions, which can reduce your taxable income when filing taxes.
Billing Cycle: Definition and Importance in Financial Management
A comprehensive guide to understanding Billing Cycle, including its definition, types, historical context, and practical applications.
Black-Box Accounting: Obscure Financial Reporting
Black-Box Accounting refers to accounting methodologies so complex that they obscure the clarity of financial statements, despite being accurate and legal.
Book: Comprehensive Definition and Applications
A detailed explanation of 'Book' in various financial and accounting contexts, including its significance in underwriting, securities, and record-keeping.
Book Profit or Loss: Financial Metrics
Understanding the concept of book profit or loss, its implications in accounting and finance, and its distinction from realized profit and loss.
Book Value: Understanding Asset Worth
Book value refers to the value of individual assets calculated by subtracting depreciation from the actual cost. This value often differs from the market value.
Bookkeeper: The Cornerstone of Financial Record-Keeping
A bookkeeper meticulously records financial transactions, ensuring the accuracy and organization of accounting systems. While not often holding the advanced education of an accountant, a bookkeeper's role is fundamental to the accounting process.
BOY: Beginning of Year
Definition and applications of BOY in various contexts like finance, accounting, and business.
Break-Even Analysis: Understanding Financial Equilibrium
Break-Even Analysis is a financial analysis method that identifies the point where total revenue equals total expenses, resulting in neither profit nor loss. This is crucial for businesses to determine the minimum sales needed to avoid financial loss and understand the impact of cost and revenue changes on profitability.
Budget Deficit: Excess of Spending Over Income
A comprehensive guide to understanding budget deficits, including their implications, causes, examples, and methods of management across governments, corporations, and individuals.
Business Bad Debt: Understanding and Managing Worthless Debts
A comprehensive guide to understanding Business Bad Debt, how it arises in the course of trade or business, and the implications for taxpayers.
Business or Professional Activity Code: Classification for IRS Administrative Purposes
Six-digit code numbers for principal business activities, utilized to classify enterprises by type of activity for IRS administrative purposes. Similar in format to the North American Industry Classification System codes.
Business Property: A Comprehensive Definition and Tax Considerations
An in-depth explanation of Business Property, its tax implications, and various types. Understand how Business Property is categorized and managed under tax law.
Business Purpose: Validity in Tax Transactions
A detailed exploration of the business purpose doctrine, its relevance, criteria, and applications in validating transactions for tax purposes.
Capital Contributed in Excess of Par Value: Understanding Additional Paid-in Capital
Capital Contributed in Excess of Par Value refers to the amount paid for stock above its stated par value, as shown in the Owner's Equity section of a balance sheet.
Capital Contribution: Definition and Implications
A comprehensive guide to understanding capital contributions, their types, examples, historical context, and impact on corporation and shareholder basis.
Capital Expenditure (CapEx): Key Financial Investment
Capital Expenditure (CapEx) refers to funds used by an organization to acquire, upgrade, and maintain physical assets such as property, industrial buildings, or equipment.
Capital Expenditure (CAPEX): Long-term Business Investment
Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) refers to funds used by a company to acquire, upgrade, and maintain physical assets such as property, industrial buildings, or equipment. These expenditures are capitalized and depreciated over time.
Capital Expense: Capital Expenditure
A detailed overview and explanation of Capital Expense, also known as Capital Expenditure, its financial implications, examples, and related concepts.
Capital Improvement: Enhancement to Building or Equipment
Capital improvement refers to a betterment to a building or equipment that extends its life or increases its usefulness or productivity. The cost of a capital improvement is added to the basis of the asset improved and then depreciated.
Capital Lease: Lease Reflected on Balance Sheet
A capital lease is a lease that must be reflected on a company's balance sheet as an asset and corresponding liability. This generally applies to leases where the lessee acquires essentially all of the economic benefits and risks of the leased property.
Capital Outlay: An Overview
An in-depth look into Capital Outlay, its definitions, categories, and relevance in finance and accounting.
Capital Paid in Excess of Par Value: Definition and Explanation
An in-depth look at the concept of capital paid in excess of par value, also referred to as additional paid-in capital, including its definition, importance, and implications for financial reporting.
Carryover: Understanding Deferred Accounting
Carryover refers to the practice of carrying forward certain financial statements or taxable amounts to future periods, allowing businesses and individuals to more effectively manage their finances and tax liabilities.
Cash Basis: Simplified Accounting for Individual Taxpayers
The cash basis, or cash method, is an accounting approach used by most individual taxpayers that recognizes income and deductions when money is received or paid.
Cash Disbursement: Amount Paid Out
Comprehensive analysis and detailed explanation of Cash Disbursement, including types, examples, historical context, related terms, and applicability in various fields.
Cash Earnings: Definition and Importance
Cash Earnings refer to the net income derived from cash revenues minus cash expenses, explicitly excluding any non-cash expenses like depreciation. Learn more about its significance in financial analysis.
Cash Flow: Comprehensive Analysis of Financial Changes
An in-depth examination of cash flow, covering its definitions, importance, types, examples, and differences from taxable income.
Cash Throw-Off: Understanding Cash Flow
An in-depth look into cash throw-off, often referred to as cash flow, covering its significance in finance and business.
Cashbook: Essential Accounting Book for Cash Transactions
A comprehensive guide to understanding the Cashbook, an accounting book that combines cash receipts and disbursements, and ties its balance to the cash account in the general ledger.
Certified Management Accountant (CMA): Professional Credential in Management Accounting
The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential is awarded by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) to individuals who have successfully passed a rigorous examination and met specified educational and professional experience requirements.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA): Professional Qualifications and Roles
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a professional who has met specific educational and experiential criteria, passed rigorous exams, and fulfilled all licensing requirements of the state. CPAs conduct accounting, auditing, and tax preparation for individuals and corporations.
Change in Accounting Method: Definition and Explanation
A detailed overview of what comprises a change in accounting method, including regulatory requirements, examples, and FAQs.
Check Stub: A Detailed Overview
A check stub is a part of a check that is retained for record-keeping purposes, typically containing information concerning the transaction. This entry provides a comprehensive explanation, historical context, and usage of check stubs.
Claim for Refund: Taxpayer's Request to IRS
A comprehensive guide to the Claim for Refund process, criteria, and special considerations for taxpayers seeking refunds from the Internal Revenue Service.
Clean: Unqualified Audit Report & Other Financial Definitions
The term 'clean' encompasses various meanings in accounting, finance, international trade, and securities. This includes the unqualified audit report, debt-free balance sheets, undocumentary drafts, and block trades without inventory risk.
Clean Opinion: Unqualified Auditor's Report
A clean opinion is an auditor's unqualified report indicating that the financial statements of an entity are fairly presented without any reservations, exceptions, or errors noted.
Close: Definitions Across Various Contexts
Comprehensive explanation of 'Close' ranging from finance and trading to accounting and computing environments.
Closing: Comprehensive Overview on Real Estate and Accounting
A detailed exploration of 'Closing' in the context of real estate transactions and accounting procedures, including definitions, processes, historical context, and related terms.
Closing Entry: Final Year-End Accounting Entry
A comprehensive definition of closing entry in accounting, its importance, examples, historical context, and implications for financial statements.
Closing Statement: Accounting of Funds from a Real Estate Sale
A comprehensive definition of a closing statement, which accounts for funds from a real estate sale, provided separately to both the seller and the buyer.
Coding of Accounts: Assigning Identification Numbers in Financial Statements
Detailed exploration of the process of assigning identification numbers to accounts in financial statements, including examples, historical context, and applicability in business environments.
Collection Ratio: Understanding Accounts Receivable Efficiency
The Collection Ratio, also known as the average collection period, measures how efficient a company is at converting its accounts receivable into cash. This metric is essential for managing cash flow and assessing the effectiveness of credit policies.
Columnar Journal: Structured Numerical Entry
A Columnar Journal is a specialized bookkeeping tool with structured columns to facilitate the accurate and organized entry of numerical data in accounting.
Common Size Standard: Standardized Comparison of Financial Statements
A method to compare financial statements of different companies by converting account groupings to a percentage of sales revenues, facilitating easier comparisons of financial performance.
Comparative Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide
Financial statements covering different dates but prepared consistently, facilitating comparative analysis as per accounting conventions.

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