Distribution of Profits among Partners
Transactiions of the partnerhsip firm are recorded according to the principles of Double-entry book keeping system, and as in the case of a sole proprietorship concern a partnership firm will also prepare Trading account, Profit & Loss account and Balance Sheet at the end of every year. The only difference between accounting of a sole trader and partnership firm is that the profits of the partnership firm ar divided amongst the partners.
A Profit and Loss Appropriation Account is prepared to show the distribution of profits among partners as per the provision of Partnership Deed (or as per the provision of Indian Partnership Act, 1932 in the absence of Partnership Deed). It is an extension of profit and Loss Account. It is nominal account. It records entries for interest on capital, Interest on Drawings, Salary to the partner, and division of profits among the partners.
The Journal Entries regarding Profit and Loss Appropriation Account are as follows:
1.For transfer of balance of Profit and Loss Account
Profit and Loss A/cDr.
To Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c
2.For Interest on Capital
For allowing Interest on capital
1. Interest on Capital A/c
To Partner’s Capital/Current A/cs
(Being interest on capital allowed @ % p.a.)
2. For transferring Interest on Capital to p&L appropriation A/c.
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/cDr.
To Interest on Capital A/c.
(Being interest on capital transferred to p&L Appropriation A/c)
3. For Salary or Commission payable to a partner
i. For allowing Salary or Commission to a partner:
Partners Salary/Commission A/cDr.
To Partner’s Capital/Current A/cs
(Being salary/commission payable to a partner)
ii. For transferring Partner’s Salary/Commission A/c to Profit and Loss
Appropriation A/s:
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/cDr.
To Partner’s Salary/Commission A/c
4. For transfer of Reserves:
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/cDr.
To Reserve A/c
(Being reserve created)
5. For Interest on Drawings:
1.For charging interest on a partner’s drawings:
Partner’s Capital/Current A/c.Dr.
To Interest on Drawings A/c
(Being interest on drawings charged @ % p.a.)
2. For transferring interest on drawings to Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c
Interest on Drawings A/cDr.
To Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c
(Being interest on drawings transferred to P&L appropriation A/c)
6. For transfer to Profit (i.e. Credit Balance of Profit and Loss Appropriation Account
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/cDr.
To Partners Capital/Current A/cs
(Being profits distributed among partners)
In case of partnership business, a separate capital account is mainted for each partner. The capital accounts of partners may be maintained by any of the following two methods.
1. Fixed Capital Accounts
2. Fluctuating Capital Accounts
1. Fixed Capital Accounts
Under this method the original capitals invested by the partners remain constant, unless additional capital is introduced by an agreement. All entries relating to drawings, interest on capitals, interest on drawings, salary to partner, share of profits/losses are made in separate account whihc is called as Current Account. Thus the following two accounts are maintained when capitals are fixed.
(i) Capital Account
This account will always show a credit balance: Balance of Capital account remains fixed, it does not change every year that is why it is called fixed capital method and only the following two transactions are recorded in the Fixed Capital Accounts:
Permanent·Additional Capital Introduced
·Permanent Capital Withdrawn or Drawings out of Capital only
1. Debit balance of Current Account is shown in Assets side of Balance Sheet.
2. Credits balance of Current Account A/c is shown in Liabilities side of balance Sheet.
3. Balance of Fixed Capital Accounts are always shown in Liabilities side of Balance Sheet as it will be always be credit balance.