Trading account

Trading account

Trading refers to buying and selling of goods with the intention of making profit. The trading account is a nominal account which shows the result of buying and selling of goods for an accounting period. According to J. R. Batliboi, “The trading account shows the results of buying and selling of goods. In preparing this account, the general establishment charges are ignored and only the transactions in goods are included."

Trading account is prepared to find out the difference between the revenue from sales and cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold refers to directly related cost. Direct cost includes the purchase price of goods purchased and all other expenses which are incurred to bring the goods to the business premises or godown and to make these ready for sale. All the goods purchased during the accounting period may not be sold during the same accounting period. Hence, it is necessary to calculate the cost of goods sold during the period. Matching principle is applied here. Hence, the cost of stock not sold must be deducted, i.e., value of closing stock must be deducted. But if there is any opening stock of goods that will be sold during the accounting period, it is to be added to the cost of purchases made during the period. If there is cost of goods manufactured, it must also be added to find out the cost of goods sold.

Cost of goods sold = Opening stock + Net purchases + Direct expenses – Closing stock

If the amount of sales exceeds the cost of goods sold, the difference is gross profit. On the other hand, the excess of cost of goods sold over the amount of sales results in gross loss.

Sales – Cost of goods sold = Gross profit

Sales – Gross profit = Cost of goods sold

Need for preparation of trading account

Preparation of trading account serves the following purposes:

(i)  Provides information about gross profit or gross loss

It shows the gross profit or gross loss of the business for an accounting year. This helps the business persons to find out gross profit ratio by expressing the gross profit as a percentage of sales. It helps to compare and analyse with the ratios of the previous years. Thus, it provides data for comparison, analysis and planning for a future period.

(ii)  Provides an opportunity to safeguard against possible losses

If the ratio of gross profit has decreased in comparison to the preceding years, effective measures can be taken to safeguard against future losses. For example, the sale price of goods may be increased or steps may be taken to analyse and control the direct expenses.

(iii)  Provides information about direct expenses and direct incomes

All the expenses incurred on the purchase of goods are direct expenses. They are recorded in the trading account. Trading account also shows sales revenue, which is a direct income. With the help of trading account, percentage of such expenses on sales revenue can be calculated and compared with similar ratios of the previous years. Thus, it enables the management to have control over the direct expenses.

Preparation of trading account

Trading account is a nominal account. The opening stock, net purchases and all expenses relating to purchase of goods are shown on the debit side and the net sales and closing stock are shown on the credit side of it.

A) Items shown on the debit side of the trading account

The following are the items shown on the debit side of the trading account:

(i) Opening stock

The stock of goods remaining unsold at the end of the previous year is the opening stock of the current year. This item will not be there in a newly started business. It will not appear if it is adjusted with purchases. As opening stock would have been sold during the year, the cost of opening stock is included in trading account.

(ii) Purchases and purchases returns

Goods which have been bought for resale are termed as purchases. Goods purchased which are returned to suppliers are termed as purchases returns or returns outward. Purchases include both cash purchases and credit purchases. Net purchases, i.e., purchases minus purchases returns are shown in the debit side of the trading account.

(iii) Direct expenses

All the expenses incurred on the purchase of goods and for bringing the goods to the go down or place of business and to make them to saleable condition are known as direct expenses. They are debited to trading account. Direct expenses include the following:

(a) Carriage inwards or Freight inwards

Amount paid for transporting the goods purchased to the godown or business premises is called carriage inwards or carriage on purchases or freight inwards.

(b) Wages

Amount paid to workers who are directly engaged in loading, unloading and handling of goods purchased is known as wages.

(c) Dock Charges

These are the charges levied for shipping the cargo while entering or leaving docks. When they are paid on import of goods, they are treated as direct expenses.

(d) Octroi

This is a tax levied by the local authority when the purchased goods enter the municipal limits.

(e) Import duty

Taxes paid on import of goods are known as import duties.

(f)  Royalty

This is the amount paid to the owner of a mine or a patent for using owner’s right. When the royalty is based on cost of production or output, it is treated as a direct expense.

(g) Coal, gas, fuel and power

Cost incurred towards coal, gas and fuel to make the goods saleable is also considered as direct expenses.

(iv) Cost of goods manufactured

If the sole proprietor is also engaged in manufacture of goods, a separate account, namely, manufacturing account is to be prepared in which expenses incurred for manufacture of goods will be entered. Examples of such expenses are raw materials, coal, gas, fuel, water, power, factory rent, packaging, factory lighting, royalty on manufactured goods, etc. The total cost of goods manufactured is transferred to the debit side of trading account.

B) Items shown on the credit side of the trading account

Following are the items shown on the credit side of the trading account:

(a) Sales and Sales returns

Both cash and credit sales of goods will be included in sales. The sales account will show credit balance whereas the sales returns account will show debit balance. The amount of net sales is shown on the credit side of the trading account by deducting sales returns from sales.

(b) Closing stock

The goods remaining unsold at the end of the accounting period are known as closing stock. They are valued at cost price or net realisable value (market price) whichever is lower as per Accounting Standard 2 (Revised).

3. Closing of trading account

The difference between the totals of two sides of the trading account indicates either gross profit or gross loss. If the total of the credit side is more, the difference represents gross profit. On the other hand, if the total of the debit side is higher, the difference represents gross loss. The gross profit or gross loss is transferred to profit and loss account.

4. Format of trading account

The heading of the trading account contains the words ‘for the year ended……’ as it discloses the sales and cost of goods sold of the business for the whole accounting year.

Illustration 1

From the following information, prepare trading account for the year ended 31.12.2016.

Solution

Illustration 2

From the following balances extracted from the books of M/s. Lavanya and sons, prepare trading account for the year ended 31st March, 2017:

Solution

Illustration 3

Prepare trading account for the year ended 31st December, 2017, from the following balances:

Solution

Note: Selling expenses, carriage on sales, advertisement and office rent will not appear in  trading account, as they are indirect expenses.

Illustration 4

Following is the extract of a trial balance as on 31st December, 2017. Prepare trading account.

Solution

Illustration 5

From the following information, prepare trading account for the year ending 31st December, 2017.

Solution

Illustration 6

Compute cost of goods sold from the following information:

Solution

Cost of goods sold         = Opening stock + Net purchases + Direct expenses – Closing stock

= 8,000 + 60,000 + 5,000 – 9,000

= Rs.  64,000      

Note: Indirect expenses do not form part of cost of goods sold.

Illustration 7

Find out the amount of sales from the following information.

Solution

Cost of goods sold         = Opening stock + Net purchases + Direct expenses – Closing stock

=20,000 + 70,000 + 10,000-30,000

 =Rs. =70,000