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Q.Excess value of net assets over purchase consideration at the time of purchase of business is : (A) Credited to the Capital Reserve. (B) Debited to the Goodwill Account. (C) Credited to the General Reserve Account. (D) Credited to the Vendor's Account.

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2020MCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★
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When net assets acquired exceed the purchase consideration paid, the difference is credited to Capital Reserve — answer (A).


When a company purchases a running business, it must determine the Purchase Consideration (the total price paid to the vendor) and compare it with the Net Assets Taken Over (assets acquired minus liabilities assumed). The difference between these two figures represents either goodwill or capital reserve.

The Accounting Treatment

Purchase Consideration is the amount the purchasing company agrees to pay. It may be discharged in cash, by issue of shares, debentures, or a combination.

Net Assets are calculated as:

Net Assets=Assets Taken Over−Liabilities Taken Over\text{Net Assets} = \text{Assets Taken Over} - \text{Liabilities Taken Over}

Two scenarios arise:

  1. Purchase Consideration > Net Assets: The excess represents Goodwill (an intangible asset). The company is paying more than the book value of net assets because the business has earning capacity, reputation, or other intangible advantages. Goodwill is debited.

  2. Net Assets > Purchase Consideration: The excess is a Capital Profit or Capital Reserve. The company has acquired assets worth more than what it paid — a bargain purchase. This gain is not from normal operations, so it cannot be distributed as dividend; it must be credited to Capital Reserve.

The journal entry at the time of purchase is:

ParticularsDebit (₹)Credit (₹)
Business Purchase Account Dr.xxx
To Vendor's Accountxxx
(Being purchase consideration due to vendor)

Then, to record assets and liabilities:

ParticularsDebit (₹)Credit (₹)
Sundry Assets Accounts Dr.xxx
Goodwill Account Dr. (if any)xxx
To Sundry Liabilities Accountsxxx
To Capital Reservexxx
To Business Purchase Accountxxx
(Being assets and liabilities taken over)

When net assets exceed purchase consideration, the balancing figure on the credit side is Capital Reserve — it represents a capital gain that must be preserved and cannot be used for revenue purposes.

Watch out

Do NOT credit this excess to General Reserve. General Reserve is built from revenue profits and can be distributed as dividend. Capital Reserve arises from capital transactions (like profit on reissue of forfeited shares, profit prior to incorporation, or bargain purchase) and is not available for distribution. …

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