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Q.Anu, Manu, Tanu and Kanu were partners in a firm sharing profits and losses in the ratio of 2 : 1 : 2 : 1. They decided to share profits and losses in the ratio of 4 : 2 : 3 : 1 with effect from 1st April, 2022. On this date, goodwill of the firm was valued at ₹ 1,20,000 and General Reserve appeared in the books at ₹ 36,000. Pass necessary journal entries for the above transactions. Show your workings clearly.

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2023Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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Journal entries are required to distribute the General Reserve among partners in their old profit-sharing ratio and to adjust goodwill by debiting gaining partners and crediting sacrificing partners.

When partners decide to change their profit-sharing ratio, it signifies a reconstitution of the partnership firm. At this point, certain adjustments are necessary to ensure fairness among partners regarding accumulated profits, reserves, and the firm's goodwill.

Treatment of General Reserve:

General Reserve represents accumulated profits that have not yet been distributed to partners. These reserves were created out of profits earned when the old profit-sharing ratio was in effect. Therefore, upon a change in the profit-sharing ratio, it is standard practice to distribute these accumulated profits (reserves) among the partners in their old profit-sharing ratio. This ensures that each partner receives their rightful share based on their contribution to the profits that generated these reserves.

  • Accounting Rule: Reserves have a credit balance. To distribute them and close the reserve account, the General Reserve account is debited. The partners' capital accounts (or current accounts, if capital is fixed) are credited, as their share of profits increases their capital.

Treatment of Goodwill:

Goodwill is the value of the firm's reputation and its ability to earn supernormal profits. When the profit-sharing ratio changes, some partners gain a larger share of future profits, while others sacrifice a portion of their future profit share. The partner(s) who gain a share of future profits should compensate the partner(s) who sacrifice a share. This compensation is typically done by adjusting goodwill through the partners' capital accounts without opening a Goodwill Account in the books (unless specifically instructed to do so, which is not the case here).

  • Accounting Rule: The gaining partner's capital account is debited because they are effectively "buying" a larger share of future profits and must compensate the sacrificing partners. The sacrificing partner's capital account is credited because they are "selling" a portion of their future profit share and are entitled to compensation. The amount of adjustment is calculated based on the firm's total goodwill and each partner's individual sacrificing or gaining share.

Working Notes

Working Note 1: Calculation of Sacrificing/Gaining Ratio

Old Profit Sharing Ratio (Anu : Manu : Tanu : Kanu) = 2:1:2:12 : 1 : 2 : 1

Total old shares = 2+1+2+1=62+1+2+1 = 6

  • Anu's Old Share = 2/62/6
  • Manu's Old Share = 1/61/6
  • Tanu's Old Share = 2/62/6
  • Kanu's Old Share = 1/61/6

New Profit Sharing Ratio (Anu : Manu : Tanu : Kanu) = 4:2:3:14 : 2 : 3 : 1

Total new shares = 4+2+3+1=104+2+3+1 = 10

  • Anu's New Share = 4/104/10
  • Manu's New Share = 2/102/10
  • Tanu's New Share = 3/103/10
  • Kanu's New Share = 1/101/10

Sacrifice / Gain = Old Share - New Share

  • Anu: 2/6−4/10=(10−12)/30=−2/302/6 - 4/10 = (10 - 12)/30 = -2/30 (Gain)
  • Manu: 1/6−2/10=(5−6)/30=−1/301/6 - 2/10 = (5 - 6)/30 = -1/30 (Gain)
  • Tanu: 2/6−3/10=(10−9)/30=1/302/6 - 3/10 = (10 - 9)/30 = 1/30 (Sacrifice)
  • Kanu: 1/6−1/10=(5−3)/30=2/301/6 - 1/10 = (5 - 3)/30 = 2/30 (Sacrifice)

Working Note 2: Adjustment for Goodwill

Firm's Goodwill = ₹ 1,20,000

  • Anu's Gain: ₹ 1,20,000 ×\times (2/30)(2/30) = ₹ 8,000 (Debit Anu's Capital A/c)
  • Manu's Gain: ₹ 1,20,000 ×\times (1/30)(1/30) = ₹ 4,000 (Debit Manu's Capital A/c)
  • Tanu's Sacrifice: ₹ 1,20,000 ×\times (1/30)(1/30) = ₹ 4,000 (Credit Tanu's Capital A/c)
  • Kanu's Sacrifice: ₹ 1,20,000 ×\times (2/30)(2/30) = ₹ 8,000 (Credit Kanu's Capital A/c)

Working Note 3: Distribution of General Reserve

General Reserve = ₹ 36,000

Old Profit Sharing Ratio = 2:1:2:12 : 1 : 2 : 1

  • Anu's Share: ₹ 36,000 ×\times (2/6)(2/6) = ₹ 12,000
  • Manu's Share: ₹ 36,000 ×\times (1/6)(1/6) = ₹ 6,000
  • Tanu's Share: ₹ 36,000 ×\times (2/6)(2/6) = ₹ 12,000
  • Kanu's Share: ₹ 36,000 ×\times (1/6)(1/6) = ₹ 6,000

Journal Entries …

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