Reference no: EM132822937
Question - "Your Neighbourhood Store" is a small convenient store located in New Westminster, BC established and operated by a proprietor owner, Henry. Since Henry doesn't know much accounting, he keeps the accounting records on cash basis at the beginning. This means he records sales when his customers pay for the items and records purchases of inventory, supplies, utilities etc. when the store makes payments. While his customers usually pay everything by cash when they purchase from his store and the revenues seem stable each month at around $10,000, he notices that the net income (loss) fluctuates dramatically every month. For example, he purchased inventory of $5,000 in January, however, because he didn't have to pay his supplier until February, he didn't record inventory purchase until February when he makes the payment. In February, he also paid the property tax of $6,000 for the whole year from January to December, and recorded a property tax expense of $6,000 in February. These resulted a net loss of $1,000 in February, while in January he didn't incur any major payments so the store showed a net income of $10,000. He senses that something's not right about the cash basis, but doesn't know what he should do. Henry asks you for advice. Explain to him:
1) What is the difference between cash basis and accrual basis? Which one is proper in Accounting?
2) Based on accrual accounting, which month should Henry record the inventory purchase (January or February)? How would he record the entry?
3) Assume Henry sold half of the inventory he purchased in January and another half in February. When does inventory become the cost of goods sold and what are the amounts? Provide the journal entry for January and February.
4) Explain "accrual" and "deferral" adjustments. For the property tax related transactions, which month should Henry make "accrual" adjustment, and which months should Henry make "deferral" adjustments? How would Henry record the property tax related entries in January, February, and March to December, respectively?
5) Show henry a brief income statement of his store for January and February, assuming other than cost of goods sold and property tax, the store has all other expenses of $4,000 each month in cash.