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Accounting Methods

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Aisha Khan

What is the definition of an Accounting Method?

 

The procedures that a corporation follows while reporting revenues and expenses are referred to as accounting methods.

The two main accounting approaches are

  • accrual accounting (commonly used by businesses) and
  • cash accounting (generally used by individuals).

 

Cash accounting records revenues and expenses as they are received and paid through cash inflows and outflows; accrual accounting records revenues and expenses as they are earned and incurred through credit sales and purchases and the use of accounts receivable and payable.

Accrual accounting is required by generally accepted accounting standards (GAAP).

 

TAKEAWAYS IMPORTANT

  • The rules and procedures to report its revenues and expenses are referred to as accounting methods.
  • Cash accounting and accrual accounting are the two most used accounting procedures.
  • When revenues and expenses are received and paid, they are recorded in cash accounting by accountants Granada Hills.
  • Accrual accounting keeps track of revenues and expenses as they happen.
  • Accrual accounting is required by generally accepted accounting standards (GAAP).
  • For organizations with sales of $25 million or more over the previous three years, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires accrual accounting.
  • Once a firm chooses an accounting method, it must adhere to IRS laws and obtain approval to change its accounting system.

 

Understanding a Method of Accounting

Accounting records are required for all firms. It is a legal requirement for public firms to do so.

Accounting enables a company to keep track of all aspects of its finances, including sales, costs, taxes, and more.  Without precise accounting, a company would have no idea where it stood financially, undoubtedly leading to its death.

Accounting is also required to pay the Internal Revenue Service proper taxes (IRS). The IRS examines a company's accounting records and processes if it ever conducts an audit. Furthermore, the IRS requires taxpayers to select an accounting system that accurately reflects their income and to use that method consistently from year to year. This is because switching between ways could allow a corporation to manipulate income to reduce its tax liability.

As a result, changing procedures necessitates IRS clearance.

Companies may combine the two ways, which are permissible under IRS laws if certain conditions are met.

Accounting Methods

There are Several Types of Accounting Methods

Accounting for Cash

Cash accounting is a straightforward accounting system that small firms widely utilize.

Cash accounting only records transactions when money is spent or received.

A sale is documented when payment is received in cash accounting, whereas an expense is recorded only when paid.

The cash accounting method is the way most people use to manage their money, and it is suitable for small firms.

However, according to IRS guidelines, if a company's average annual gross receipts are more than $25 million over the previous three years, it must adopt the accrual approach.

Accrual Accounting

It is a type of accounting that is used to track

The matching principle underpins accrual accounting, which aims to match the timing of revenue and expense recognition.

The accrual method provides a more realistic picture of a company's underlying financial status by matching revenues with expenses.

Transactions are recorded when they are incurred rather than waiting for payment under the accrual technique.

This means that even if money is not received immediately, a purchase order is reported as revenue.

Expenses are treated the same way in that they are recorded even if no payment has been made.

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