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Question

Q.Mona and Tina were partners in a firm sharing profits in the ratio of 3 : 2. Naina was admitted with 1/6th share in the profits of the firm. At the time of admission, Workmen's Compensation Reserve appeared in the Balance Sheet of the firm at ₹ 32,000. The claim on account of workmen's compensation was determined at ₹ 40,000. Excess of claim over the reserve will be : (A) Credited to Revaluation Account. (B) Debited to Revaluation Account. (C) Credited to old partner's Capital Account. (D) Debited to old partner's Capital Account.

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2020MCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★
✓ Free question

The excess of the workmen's compensation claim over the existing reserve (₹8,000) is debited to the Revaluation Account because it is a loss arising from a liability that existed before Naina's admission.

Concept and Accounting Treatment

When a new partner is admitted, the firm revalues its assets and reassesses its liabilities to reflect their true worth. Any change in the value of an asset or liability that existed before admission is a gain or loss belonging to the old partners. This gain or loss is recorded through a Revaluation Account (also called Profit & Loss Adjustment Account).

The Workmen's Compensation Reserve is a reserve created out of past profits to meet a future liability for employee injuries. At the time of admission, if the actual claim is higher than the reserve, it means the firm had underestimated its liability. This shortfall is a loss that reduces the net worth of the firm as it stood before the new partner joined. Therefore, it is debited to the Revaluation Account.

If the claim were lower than the reserve, the excess reserve would be a gain, credited to the Revaluation Account (or distributed directly to old partners' capital accounts, depending on the partnership deed).

Here, the claim is ₹40,000 against a reserve of ₹32,000. The excess of ₹8,000 is a loss.

Watch out

Common Mistake

Students often wrongly credit the excess to the Revaluation Account, thinking "reserve is being used, so it's a gain." Remember: the reserve was already a liability set aside. When the actual liability exceeds it, the firm suffers an additional loss. The Revaluation Account captures this change in liability value.

Solution

The excess of claim over the reserve is ₹8,000 (₹40,000 – ₹32,000). This amount will be debited to the Revaluation Account.

Journal Entry

DateParticularsL.F.Debit (₹)Credit (₹)
Revaluation A/cDr.8,000
To Workmen's Compensation Claim A/c8,000
(Being the excess of claim over the reserve recorded as a revaluation loss)

Working Note

Calculation of excess claim over reserve:

ParticularsAmount (₹)
Workmen's Compensation Claim (actual liability)40,000
Less: Workmen's Compensation Reserve (existing)(32,000)
Excess (Loss) to be debited to Revaluation A/c8,000
Tip

Shortcut

If Claim > Reserve → Debit Revaluation A/c (loss). If Claim < Reserve → Credit Revaluation A/c (gain). The difference is always transferred to the Revaluation Account, not directly to partners' capital accounts.

✓Final answer

The excess of claim over the reserve (₹8,000) is debited to the Revaluation Account. Hence, the correct option is (B) Debited to Revaluation Account.

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