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Fixed Asset Accounting

Accounting involves keeping and maintaining the record of a corporation’s financial transactions in a…

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Accounting involves keeping and maintaining the record of a corporation’s financial transactions in a given year. The annals are further used for analysis by the stakeholders, agencies, and tax collection bodies making accountants a crucial wedge in the company’s innards.

Of the concepts an accountant should be well-versed with, the ones of assets and liabilities are the most basal yet indispensable. Here we introduce you to the fundamentals of fixed assets and their accounting.

What Are Fixed Assets?

Fixed assets are the non-liquid physical possessions an organization holds to generate income over the long haul. They are also referred to as capital assets or property, plant, and equipment (PP&Es). 

Fixed assets are not to be done away with in the same accounting year. The list comprehensively includes land, vehicles, office spaces, computers and software licensing, buildings, etc.

The principal criterion for anything to identify as a fixed asset is that it should be held by the company for more than one accounting year. Also, they are tangible and intangible. Long-term bonds and securities don’t make it to the list.

An esoteric aspect of fixed assets is that their book values usually exceed the capitalization limit as set by the organization. However, a company must be careful while setting a cap limit. A too higher or lower value can have far-reaching impacts on its balance sheet.

How? That requires us to delve deeper into the topic. Here is a verified Accounting Certificate Course in Ahmedabad you can take.

Initial Asset Inclusion

It is done at the time of purchase of an asset. 

Now, before adding to its capital stock, a corporation makes the requisite assessments. It compares the total cost incurred on the asset with the gross amount of cash flow it leads to. If the deal seems profitable, it is sealed. 

The initial recordation incorporates the cost of the assets, their transportation and installation amount, testing and preparation fees, taxes, and other such expenditures. Meanwhile, administrative charges, general overhead costs, and expenses not directly enhancing its utility are not recorded here.

When an asset is purchased at its market value, we note its fair value. On the other hand, the interest amount has to be mentioned while documenting for an asset bought on credit. 

The case of an asset being exchanged for another one calls for recording the fair value of the new body. While if it is not possible to assess its cost, the price of the one given up is considered.

Depreciation of Assets

Assets start losing their productivity or we say, they get used up with time. We need to make allowances for this downturn. In accounting, depreciation is apportioning the cost of an asset over its useful life.

Of all the techniques to account for the depreciation of assets, the written down value method is extensively used. As it shows the fair value of the asset at every end of the year. In this method, depreciation is more in the initial year compares to subsequent years. Another method of depreciation is the straight-line method. Here, the accountants are required to subtract the salvage value of the asset from its cost. The resulting difference is then divided by the number of years the company intends to hold the asset for. The figure they arrive at is the yearly monthly depreciation of the asset. In this method, the Depreciation of asset is uniform during the life of the asset.

Companies can choose their modus operandi. However, as per the caveats of the IAS (International Accounting Standards), they are allowed to change it only once. To know more about the IAS and their impact in the field, you can go for this Accounting Course in Ahmedabad as recommended by our experts.

Disposal Of Assets

After a certain point, when assets cease to be profitable, they are to be exscinded. It is usually done when their useful lives come to an end. Sometimes, an unforeseen circumstance (for instance, unexpected obsolescence) forces the company to discard an asset. 

It is however not necessary to throw a valuable possession away when it can be liquidated. The company can exchange the asset for newer ones. Also, they may sell it off. A price higher than the then book value of the asset marks a profit and a lower one points towards a loss.

Whatever the case may be, the loss of a company’s asset shows on its balance sheet. Fresh investments need to be undertaken.

Asset Impairment

Impairment of an asset is where its current carrying value exceeds the gross profits it is estimated to bring in. It is usually the result of unexpected predicaments. 

In simpler words, asset impairment has to do with the chance that fixed capital may not be as economically viable as it is computed to be. Impairment leads to a radical slump in a business’ profits. Asset impairment on the balance sheet is associated with a corresponding loss in the income statement. 

Intangible holdings such as copyrights and trademarks stand higher chances to get impaired. However, under circumstances like unexpected obsolescence, natural calamities, adverse market fluctuations, judgment failures or may be due to some unaccountable reason, fixed assets may undergo the same fate. 

Accountants are supposed to be on the lookout for such incidents. They must warn the stakeholders and the decision-makers of the company’s state of affairs.

Disclosure Of Assets

A corporation does not want every confidential detail to be presented on its annual financial statements. However, certain norms formulated by the national and international bodies need to be followed. An organization has to make the following disclosures about its fixed assets.

  • The carrying value of the assets at the beginning and the end of each accounting year
  • The useful life of the assets
  • Rate of depreciation and the method used to calculate it
  • The effects of acquisitions, disposals, and net foreign exchange on the value of the assets
  • Impacts of revaluation 

To learn about other disclosures, go to the link for this certified Accounting Training in Ahmedabad and stake in your growing accounting expertise.

The Strict Don’ts

While accounting for fixed assets, you need to eliminate the three commonly made mistakes. 

  • Not considering expense costs transportation charges, taxes, and installation amount while recording the purchase of a new asset
  • Disregarding the alteration in the assets’ use while maintaining them
  • Ignoring record-keeping demands relating to insurance

 

Importance Of Tax Compliance for Business

Individuals, entrepreneurs, and business enterprises need to abide by all the legislation surrounding the…

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Individuals, entrepreneurs, and business enterprises need to abide by all the legislation surrounding the amount of taxes to be paid by them. All of them must maintain a record of their income and revenues. For the sake of transparency, this data must be produced before the respective authorities within a stipulated period and taxes must be paid accordingly.

But, legislative measures surrounding rates of taxation, at the local, national and international levels, are ever-changing. Keeping a track of such measures is nothing less than Herculean labour because such changes occur quite swiftly. Things tend to become complicated especially for businesses that operate at the international level. Also, the need to maintain clarity and transparency about filing records of tax returns only complicates the matter.

Tax compliance, despite being a gruelling task, is of tremendous importance. Non-compliance to tax laws can result in dire consequences.

What Is Tax Compliance?

Several legislative and regulatory measures surrounding taxation and the rates of taxation are issued by the government and/or its officials and other authoritative bodies. From time to time, amendments and changes are made to these regulations. Such changes are made at the national and international levels.

All business ventures and even individuals must be aware of these rules and laws and even the amendments that are implemented from time to time. If they succeed in doing so, they can be regarded as “tax compliant”. In plain terms, tax compliance entails awareness and a thorough understanding of the legislation and amendments about the payment of taxes by individuals and/or by business enterprises.

The Implications Of Non-Compliant Behaviour About Taxation In The Context Of A Business

It has already been mentioned that non-compliance with taxation can have negative implications. This is true in the case of payment of taxes by individuals and even in the case of business enterprise(s).

The rules surrounding taxation in the case of a business differ from those that are applicable in the case of individuals. In other words, any business venture and its activities such as, accounting, tax filing and so on, are strictly governed by a set of laws that are not similar to those that are applicable in case of individual human beings.

In this connection, it must be noted that any business enterprise has to pay the following set of taxes apart from income tax:

  • Sales tax on the goods and/or services sold by them
  • Property taxes
  • Professional tax of employees and company
  • Other administrative taxes

If under any circumstance the owner of a business fails to abide by the regulations associated with all the taxes and their payments, their behaviour will be considered non-compliant. No excuses are entertained in case of unintentional non-compliant behaviour.

Non- compliance with tax laws can be unintentional sometimes. It may result from the business owner’s ignorance about the regulations and amendments surrounding the filing of tax returns or payment of taxes. It may even happen in case of erroneous filing of tax returns or miscalculations.

Even under such circumstances, the business owner will be penalized by the respective authorities. They might have to pay fines in case of their non-adherence to rules. Also, their reputation and image would be tarnished. Needless to say, such an occurrence might spell doom for a business venture, especially if the venture is a new one. Thus, tax compliance is very important in the case of somebody who owns and runs a business.

How To Ensure Tax Compliance And Prevent Unintentional Non-Compliant Behaviour?

It is not easy to comply with legislative measures surrounding taxation. These measures are subject to frequent changes. Besides, as we have already discussed, non-compliance can be unintentional. After all, to err is human. Therefore, all business owners must resort to professional tax accounting services. Professionals in this field would help business owners immensely. More and more business owners in India and all over the world are likely to reach out to such professionals shortly. Keeping that in mind people can consider getting themselves enrolled in tax courses. In India, one can easily avail of taxation training in Ahmedabad.

This is mainly because their services can prove to be beneficial in the following ways:

  • They can provide business owners with a clear picture of the rapidly changing tax laws.
  • They can ensure the minimization of errors in the filing of tax returns. This, in turn, would prevent unintentional non-compliant behaviour resulting from miscalculations.
  • They would ensure that their client can complete the payment of taxes within the specified period.

However, these professionals must be aware of the latest tax laws and should know about the prevailing rates of taxation as well. They must also know about the tax laws and tax rates at all levels— national or international. Usually, accountants and auditors who are proficient in this field, possess a clear-cut understanding and knowledge of such regulations.

They are also well-versed in other specialized areas such as inbound and outbound transactions and income taxation of trusts and estates, to name a few. It is by such knowledge and insight that they can ensure that their clients are tax-compliant.

Considering the prospects of this field, especially in a country like India, taking a taxation course in Ahmedabad might prove to be beneficial for potential job seekers with requisite qualifications.

Key Takeaways

A business must be tax-compliant. Tax-compliance will allow a business venture to thrive and prosper in the long run. If it exhibits non-compliance about the filing of tax returns and timely payment of taxes, it is bound to suffer. 

This is because non-compliance will only ruin its reputation. But the process entails a lot of difficulties and sometimes unintentional non-compliance may happen. Since there is no mercy even under such circumstances, it is always better for a business owner to avail of the services provided by accountants who are specialists in this field. The demand for the services of such professionals is steadily rising because tax-compliance is only becoming complicated with time, not only on a global scale but also in India. So, without further delay, all eligible individuals should seize the day and avail of the best tax course in Ahmedabad.