Accounting equation Definition & Meaning

the accounting equation definition

The accounting equation varies slightly based on the type of capital structure and legal entity. It can be shown as a Basic Accounting Equation or Expanded to show the interrelated income statement components of revenue and expenses as part of retained earnings and the other equity accounts. Apart from this, the accounting equation offers an easy approach to checking the accuracy of a company’s bookkeeping. Not only that, but it also helps determine the firm’s profitability level. For instance, if the assets outweigh the owner’s equity and the liabilities, it can be a good indicator of the company’s financial health.

the accounting equation definition

Recording accounting transactions with the accounting equation means that you use debits and credits to record every transaction, which is known as double-entry bookkeeping. We know that every business holds some properties known as assets. The claims to the assets owned by a business entity are primarily divided into two types – the claims of creditors and the claims of owner of the business. In accounting, the claims of creditors are referred to as liabilities and the claims of owner are referred to as owner’s equity. Due within the year, current liabilities on a balance sheet include accounts payable, wages or payroll payable and taxes payable.

Limitations of the Accounting Equation

An asset’s book value is equal to its carrying value on the balance sheet, and companies calculate it by netting the asset against its accumulated depreciation. The accounting equation is considered to be the foundation of the double-entry accounting system. We will receive $25000 (25{3701e4e01477974df85d03acecbd225490ddfe9cb0616ec594651c979a691120} of 20000) as cash, So the cash will increase. And we made a profit of $5000 so that will be added to the owner’s equity.

You can find a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity on a few key financial statements, including the balance sheet and the income statement. These financial statements give a quick overview of the company’s financial position. The accounting equation makes sure the balance sheet is balanced, showing that transactions are recorded accurately. The basic accounting equation depicts the relationship between the three items on a balance sheet—assets, liabilities and equity.

The Drake Equation

ABC collects cash from the customer to which it sold the inventory. This increases the cash account by $6,000 and decreases the receivables account by $6,000. A general ledger is a record-keeping system for a company’s financial data, with debit and credit account records validated by a trial balance.

What is the definition of the accounting equation?

The accounting equation is a formula that shows the sum of a company's liabilities and shareholders' equity are equal to its total assets (Assets = Liabilities + Equity). The clear-cut relationship between a company's liabilities, assets and equity are the backbone to double-entry bookkeeping.

Our popular accounting course is designed for those with no accounting background or those seeking a refresher. Balance SheetAssets SectionThe resources with economic value which can be sold for money post-liquidation or are anticipated to bring positive monetary benefits in the future. Our the accounting equation definition writing and editorial staff are a team of experts holding advanced financial designations and have written for most major financial media publications. Our work has been directly cited by organizations including Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Investopedia, Forbes, CNBC, and many others.

What is Accounting Equation – Meaning, Formula and Calculation with Example

Equipment is considered a long-term asset, meaning you can use it for more than one accounting period . Buildings, machinery, and land are all considered long-term assets. Machinery is usually specific to a manufacturing company that has a factory producing goods. Unlike other long-term assets such as machinery, buildings, and equipment, land is not depreciated. The process to calculate the loss on land value could be very cumbersome, speculative, and unreliable; therefore, the treatment in accounting is for land tonotbe depreciated over time.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top