Basic Concepts of Accounting

Submitted To: Miss Tahira TariqSubmitted On: 16/1/2017Prepared By: Fariha Ijaz

Entity concept:The business entity concept, also known as the economic entity assumption, states that all

business entities should be accounted for separately. In other words, businesses, related businesses, and the owners should be accounted for separately. Even though the tax law looks at a sole proprietorship and the owner as one entity, GAAP disagrees. The owner and the business are two separate entities and should be accounted for separately. The same goes for partnership and corporations. The partners and shareholders' activities should be kept separate from the partnership and corporate transactions because they are separate economic entities.

Example: Mike, a partner in Big House Realty, LLC, often uses his company credit card for

personal expenses like dry cleaning and new clothes. He insists that these are business expenses because he must wear new clothes in order to show houses. Unfortunately, these are not business expenses. Clothing is a personal expense and can't be recorded in the company financial statements. This would violate the business entity concept. Instead, these transactions should be accounted for as an owner withdrawal.

Reference: http://www.myaccountingcourse.com/accounting-principles/business-entity-concept

Objectivity principle:The objectivity principle states that accounting information and financial reporting should

be independent and supported with unbiased evidence. This means that accounting information must be based on research and facts, not merely a preparer's opinion. The objectivity principle is aimed at making financial statements more relevant and reliable.

Example:A company is trying to get financing for an extra plant expansion, but the company's

bank wants to see a copy of its financial statements before it will loan the company any money. The company's bookkeeper prints out an income statement from its accounting system and mails it to the bank. Most likely the bank will reject this financial statement because an independent party did not prepare it.

Reference:

http://www.myaccountingcourse.com/accounting-principles/objectivity-principle

Cost principle: In accounting, the cost principle is part of the generally accepted accounting principles.

Assets should always be recorded at their cost, when the asset is new and also for the life of the asset.

Example:1.land purchased for $30,000 is appraised at the much higher value because the housing

market has risen, but the reported value of the land will remain $30,000.

2. if equipment is acquired for the cash amount of $50,000, the equipment will be recorded at $50,000. If the equipment will be useful for 10 years with no salvage value, the straight-line depreciation expense will be $5,000 per year (cost of $50,000 divided by 10 years). The equipment's market value, replacement cost or inflation-adjusted cost will not affect the annual depreciation expense of $5,000. The company's balance sheets will report the equipment's historical cost minus the accumulated depreciation. other words, this income statement violates the objectivity principle.

Reference:http://www.accountingcoach.com/blog/what-is-the-cost-principle

Going concern assumption:An accounting guideline which allows the readers of financial statements to assume that

the company will continue on long enough to carry out its objectives and commitments. In other words, the accountants believe that the company will not liquidate in the near future. This assumption also provides some justification for accountants to follow the cost principle.

Example:In 2011, Gibson Guitar Factory was raided by the Federal government for illegally

smuggling endangered wood into the country. The Federal government took more than $250,000 worth or Gibson's inventory and slapped them with large fines for violating international laws. Gibson is still considered a going concern, because it is not likely the fines and punishment will stop its operations.

Reference:http://www.myaccountingcourse.com/accounting-principles/going-concern-concept

Stable dollar assumption:A basic premise used by business accountants when putting together financial statements dominated in US. Dollars that the currency’s value does not fluctuate significantly. Of course the stable dollar assumption breaks down when the US dollar rises or fall substantially relative to other currencies on the foreign exchange market. Also called stable monitory unit.

Example:Assume that in 1970, you purchased land for $20,000. In 1990, you sell this land for $30,000.Under generally accepted accounting principles, which include the stable dollar assumption, youHave made a $10,000 gain on the sale. Economists would have point out, however, that$30,000 in 1990 represents less buying power than did $20,000 in 1970. When the relative buying power of the dollar in 1970 and 1990 is taken into consideration, you come out behind on the purchase and the sale of this land. Reference:http://www.slideshare.net/faiziraja/stable-dollar

Accounting Ethics - Fundamental Principles

1. Introduction:A professional accountant’s responsibility is not exclusively to satisfy the needs

of an individual client or employer, but to act in the public interest.  Thus, the responsibility of the professional accountant is to ensure that the financial statements present information that is relevant, reliable and useful to a wide range of users who are not in a position to demand reports tailored to meet their particular information needs.

2. Fundamental principles:The fundamental principles of the Code include the following:

(a)  Integrity: A professional accountant shall be honest and base decisions in all professional and business relationships on the facts available.  The integrity of the professional accountant is underpinned by his/her responsibility to serve the public interest, dealing with fairness and truthfulness. 

To maintain his/her integrity, a professional accountant should not be associated with reports or any other information where he/she believes that the information:(i)        contains a materially false or misleading statement;(ii)      contains statements or information furnished recklessly; or(iii)     omits or obscures information required to be included, where such omission or obscurity would be misleading.

(b)  Objectivity: A professional accountant shall be unbiased and not allow any conflict of interest or undue influence of others to override his/her professional or business judgement.  The objectivity of the professional accountant reflects his/her level of integrity in that the decisions made are based on facts, irrespective of the effect on his/her personal interest or business relationship.

(c)  Professional competence and due care: A professional accountant has a responsibility to maintain professional knowledge and skills at the level required to ensure that clients receive the best professional service based on current developments in the profession, legislation and techniques.  A professional accountant should take steps to ensure that those working in a professional capacity under the professional accountant’s authority have appropriate training and supervision.

(d)  Confidentiality: A professional accountant shall respect the confidentiality of information obtained while rendering professional or business services and shall not disclose any such information to third parties without proper and specific authorization to do so.  However, in certain cases (e.g. fraud), a professional accountant may be required to disclose such information if there is a legal or professional right or duty to do so.  Furthermore, confidentiality of information is closely associated with the integrity of the professional accountant, in that the professional accountant shall not use confidential information acquired while rendering the professional services for his/her personal advantage or that of third parties.

(e)  Professional behavior: A professional accountant shall comply with the relevant laws and regulations and should avoid any actions that may discredit the profession.  This includes actions which a reasonable and informed third party, having knowledge of all relevant information, would conclude that they negatively affect the good reputation of the profession.In marketing and promoting themselves and their work, professional accountants should not bring the profession into disrepute by:

making exaggerated claims for the services they are able to offer, the qualifications they possess or experience they have gained; or

Making disparaging references or unsubstantiated comparisons to the work of others.

3. Professional accountant’s responsibility with respect to the CodeThe professional accountant does not have to follow the Code rigidly, blindly or merely because the rules are there.  However, the professional accountant has a responsibility to identify, evaluate and address the threats to compliance with the fundamental principles of the Code.  If the threats identified are considered to be significant, a professional accountant shall, where appropriate, apply measures and safeguards to eliminate or reduce them to an acceptable level that will not compromise the compliance with the fundamental principles of the Code.  

4. ConclusionThe Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants places greater emphasis on the manner in which the professional accountants conduct themselves in their professional and business relationships with clients and employers while fulfilling their ultimate responsibility of serving the interest of the public.

Reference: http://www.saipa.co.za/page/416469/accounting-ethics-fundamental-principles