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Q.Mita, Gopal and Farhan were partners sharing profits and losses in the ratio 3 : 2 : 1. On 31st March, 2018 they decided to change the profit sharing ratio to 5 : 3 : 2. On this date, the Balance Sheet showed deferred advertisement expenditure ₹ 30,000 and contingency reserve ₹ 9,000. Goodwill was valued at ₹ 4,80,000. Pass the necessary journal entries for the above transactions in the books of the firm on its reconstitution.

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2019Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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The firm's reconstitution requires journal entries to distribute accumulated profits (Contingency Reserve) and losses (Deferred Advertisement Expenditure) in the old profit-sharing ratio, and to adjust goodwill by debiting the gaining partner's capital account and crediting the sacrificing partner's capital account.

When partners decide to change their profit-sharing ratio, it's a form of reconstitution of the partnership firm. At this point, certain adjustments are necessary to ensure that accumulated profits, reserves, and losses, as well as the value of goodwill, are appropriately accounted for among the partners based on their old profit-sharing ratio before the change takes effect. This prevents any partner from gaining or losing unfairly due to the change in ratio.

Here's how each item is treated:

  1. Deferred Advertisement Expenditure: This is a fictitious asset or an accumulated loss that has not yet been written off. Such items represent expenses incurred in the past that were expected to benefit future periods, but for accounting purposes during reconstitution, they are treated as losses to be borne by the partners. These losses must be written off against the partners' capital accounts in their old profit-sharing ratio, as these expenditures were incurred when that ratio was in effect. Writing off a loss reduces the partners' capital, so their capital accounts are debited, and the Deferred Advertisement Expenditure account is credited to close it.

  2. Contingency Reserve: This is an accumulated profit or reserve created out of past profits. When the profit-sharing ratio changes, any such accumulated profits or reserves belong to the partners in their old profit-sharing ratio. These reserves are distributed among the partners, increasing their capital. Therefore, the Contingency Reserve account is debited to close it, and the partners' capital accounts are credited.

  3. Goodwill: When there is a change in the profit-sharing ratio, and goodwill is valued, it signifies the firm's earning capacity. Instead of raising and writing off goodwill (unless specifically instructed), the common practice is to adjust goodwill through the partners' capital accounts. The partner(s) who gain a share in future profits (gaining partner) must compensate the partner(s) who sacrifice a share in future profits (sacrificing partner). This compensation is made by debiting the gaining partner's capital account and crediting the sacrificing partner's capital account with their respective shares of goodwill based on the net effect of the change in profit-sharing ratio.

SOLUTION

Journal Entries

DateParticularsL.F.Debit (₹)Credit (₹)
2018
Mar 31Mita's Capital A/c15,000
Gopal's Capital A/c10,000
Farhan's Capital A/c5,000
To Deferred Advertisement Expenditure A/c30,000
(Being deferred advertisement expenditure written off in old profit-sharing ratio)
Mar 31Contingency Reserve A/c9,000
To Mita's Capital A/c4,500
To Gopal's Capital A/c3,000
To Farhan's Capital A/c1,500
(Being contingency reserve distributed among partners in old profit-sharing ratio)
Mar 31Farhan's Capital A/c16,000
To Gopal's Capital A/c16,000
(Being adjustment for goodwill due to change in profit-sharing ratio)
TOTALS85,00085,000

Working Notes

1. Distribution of Deferred Advertisement Expenditure

  • Total Deferred Advertisement Expenditure = ₹30,000
  • Old Profit Sharing Ratio (Mita : Gopal : Farhan) = 3 : 2 : 1 (Total 6)
  • Mita's share = ₹30,000 ×\times (3/6) = ₹15,000
  • Gopal's share = ₹30,000 ×\times (2/6) = ₹10,000
  • Farhan's share = ₹30,000 ×\times (1/6) = ₹5,000 …

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