Azad and Babli are partners in a firm sharing profits and losses in the ratio of 2:1. Chintan is admitted into the firm with 1/4 share in profits. Chintan will bring in ₹30,000 as his capital and the capitals of Azad and Babli are to be adjusted in the profit sharing ratio. The Balance Sheet of Azad and Babli as on March 31, 2016 (before Chintan's admission) was as follows:
| Liabilities | Amount (₹) | Assets | Amount (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creditors | 8,000 | Cash in Hand | 2,000 |
| Bills Payable | 4,000 | Cash at Bank | 10,000 |
| General Reserve | 6,000 | Sundry Debtors | 8,000 |
| Capital Accounts: | Stock | 10,000 | |
| Azad | 50,000 | Furniture | 5,000 |
| Babli | 32,000 | Machinery | 25,000 |
| Buildings | 40,000 | ||
| Total | 1,00,000 | Total | 1,00,000 |
It was agreed that:
- Chintan will bring in ₹12,000 as his share of goodwill premium.
- Buildings were valued at ₹45,000 and Machinery at ₹23,000.
- A provision for doubtful debts is to be created @ 6% on debtors.
- The capital accounts of Azad and Babli are to be adjusted by opening current accounts. Record necessary journal entries, show necessary ledger accounts and prepare the Balance Sheet after admission.
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Chintan is admitted for 1/4 share; goodwill premium of ₹12,000 is brought in cash; assets are revalued (building up, machinery down, provision created) giving a net gain of ₹2,520; the existing General Reserve of ₹6,000 is transferred to the old partners; capitals of Azad and Babli are adjusted in the new ratio (2:1:1) by transferring excess to current accounts; final Balance Sheet totals ₹1,44,520.
Concept and Accounting Treatment
When a new partner is admitted, the existing partnership undergoes several adjustments. The core idea is to revalue the firm's assets and liabilities to their current fair values so that the incoming partner does not gain or lose from past hidden reserves or deficiencies. Any gain or loss on revaluation is shared by the old partners in their old profit-sharing ratio (2:1 here) because it relates to the period before admission.
Accumulated reserves: Any reserve already standing in the old Balance Sheet (here, the General Reserve of ₹6,000) belongs entirely to the old partners — it was built up before Chintan joined, so it must be transferred out to their capital accounts, in the old profit-sharing ratio, before the new partner is admitted. It is never left sitting in the new firm's Balance Sheet, and Chintan has no claim to it.
Goodwill treatment: Chintan brings ₹12,000 as his share of goodwill premium. Since the old partners are sacrificing a portion of their future profits, they are entitled to this amount. The premium is credited to the old partners in their sacrificing ratio. Here, since the new ratio is not explicitly given but Chintan takes 1/4 share, the old partners continue in the same ratio (2:1) for the remaining 3/4 share. Their sacrificing ratio is the same as their old ratio (2:1) because they share the sacrifice proportionally.
Capital adjustment: After revaluation, the reserve transfer, and goodwill, the capitals of Azad and Babli are to be adjusted in the new profit-sharing ratio (which becomes 2:1:1 for Azad, Babli, and Chintan respectively). The total capital of the new firm is determined based on Chintan's capital of ₹30,000 for his 1/4 share. So total capital = ₹30,000 × 4 = ₹1,20,000. Azad's new capital should be 2/4 of ₹1,20,000 = ₹60,000; Babli's should be 1/4 = ₹30,000. Any excess or deficiency in their existing capital accounts (after all adjustments) is transferred to their current accounts (since the question specifies adjustment by opening current accounts, not by cash withdrawal or contribution).
Key rule: Revaluation account is a nominal account — debit all decreases in asset values and increases in liabilities; credit all increases in asset values and decreases in liabilities. The balance (profit or loss) is transferred to old partners' capital accounts. A reserve, by contrast, is transferred directly to the old partners' capital accounts — it never passes through the Revaluation Account.
Solution
Journal Entries
| Date | Particulars | L.F. | Debit (Rs.) | Credit (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 April 1 | Revaluation A/c Dr. | 2,000 | ||
| To Machinery A/c | 2,000 | |||
| (Machinery decreased from ₹25,000 to ₹23,000) | ||||
| April 1 | Building A/c Dr. | 5,000 | ||
| To Revaluation A/c | 5,000 | |||
| (Building increased from ₹40,000 to ₹45,000) | ||||
| April 1 | Revaluation A/c Dr. | 480 | ||
| To Provision for Doubtful Debts A/c | 480 | |||
| (Provision created @ 6% on debtors of ₹8,000 = ₹480) | ||||
| April 1 | Revaluation A/c Dr. | 2,520 | ||
| To Azad's Capital A/c | 1,680 | |||
| To Babli's Capital A/c | 840 | |||
| (Revaluation profit of ₹2,520 transferred to old partners in 2:1 ratio) | ||||
| April 1 | General Reserve A/c Dr. | 6,000 | ||
| To Azad's Capital A/c | 4,000 | |||
| To Babli's Capital A/c | 2,000 | |||
| (Existing General Reserve transferred to old partners in their old ratio 2:1) | ||||
| April 1 | Bank A/c Dr. | 12,000 | ||
| To Premium for Goodwill A/c | 12,000 | |||
| (Chintan brings his share of goodwill premium) | ||||
| April 1 | Premium for Goodwill A/c Dr. | 12,000 | ||
| To Azad's Capital A/c | 8,000 | |||
| To Babli's Capital A/c | 4,000 | |||
| (Goodwill premium credited to old partners in sacrificing ratio 2:1) | ||||
| April 1 | Bank A/c Dr. | 30,000 | ||
| To Chintan's Capital A/c | 30,000 | |||
| (Chintan brings his capital) | ||||
| April 1 | Azad's Capital A/c Dr. | 3,680 | ||
| To Azad's Current A/c | 3,680 | |||
| (Excess capital transferred to current account — see Working Note 4) | ||||
| April 1 | Babli's Capital A/c Dr. | 8,840 | ||
| To Babli's Current A/c | 8,840 | |||
| (Excess capital transferred to current account — see Working Note 4) |
A common mistake is to forget the General Reserve entirely, or to leave it sitting in the new firm's Balance Sheet. It must be transferred to the OLD partners' capital accounts, in their OLD ratio, exactly like a revaluation profit — never carried forward once a new partner is admitted. Another common mistake is to treat the revaluation profit as a gain to be shared by all partners including the new one; only old partners share it. Also, the goodwill premium is credited to old partners in the sacrificing ratio, not the old profit-sharing ratio — though here they are the same.
Ledger Accounts
Revaluation Account
| Particulars | Amount (Rs.) | Particulars | Amount (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| To Machinery A/c | 2,000 | By Building A/c | 5,000 |
| To Provision for Doubtful Debts A/c | 480 | ||
| To Azad's Capital A/c (profit) | 1,680 | ||
| To Babli's Capital A/c (profit) | 840 | ||
| Total | 5,000 | Total | 5,000 |
Capital Accounts
| Particulars | Azad (Rs.) | Babli (Rs.) | Chintan (Rs.) | Particulars | Azad (Rs.) | Babli (Rs.) | Chintan (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Azad's Current A/c | 3,680 | — | — | By Balance b/d | 50,000 | 32,000 | — |
| To Babli's Current A/c | — | 8,840 | — | By Revaluation A/c | 1,680 | 840 | — |
| To Balance c/d | 60,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 | By General Reserve A/c | 4,000 | 2,000 | — |
| By Premium for Goodwill A/c | 8,000 | 4,000 | — | ||||
| By Bank A/c | — | — | 30,000 | ||||
| Total | 63,680 | 38,840 | 30,000 | Total | 63,680 | 38,840 | 30,000 |
Current Accounts
| Particulars | Azad (Rs.) | Babli (Rs.) | Particulars | Azad (Rs.) | Babli (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Balance c/d | 3,680 | 8,840 | By Capital A/c | 3,680 | 8,840 |
| Total | 3,680 | 8,840 | Total | 3,680 | 8,840 |
Bank Account
| Particulars | Amount (Rs.) | Particulars | Amount (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| To Balance b/d | 10,000 | By Balance c/d | 52,000 |
| To Premium for Goodwill A/c | 12,000 | ||
| To Chintan's Capital A/c | 30,000 | ||
| Total | 52,000 | Total | 52,000 |
The cash in hand (₹2,000) remains unchanged and is added separately in the Balance Sheet. The bank balance increases by ₹42,000 (goodwill ₹12,000 + capital ₹30,000) from ₹10,000 to ₹52,000. The General Reserve is a book entry only — it does not affect cash or bank at all.
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