Q.Abhishek, Rajat and Vivek are partners sharing profits in the ratio of 5 : 3 : 2. If Vivek retires, the new profit sharing ratio between Abhishek and Rajat will be:
Concept understanding — Partner Retirement Methods
Partner Retirement Methods – A First Look
Think of a partnership like a three-legged race. Three friends tie their legs together and run. Now imagine one friend wants to stop running mid-race. The other two can't just untie and keep going — they have to settle accounts with the leaving friend first. How much does the leaving friend get? Who pays? That's what retirement of a partner is about.
What Does "Retirement of a Partner" Mean?
When a partner leaves the firm (by choice, age, or agreement), the remaining partners continue the business. The retiring partner is entitled to their share of the firm's net worth — not just their original capital, but also their share of accumulated profits, reserves, revaluation gains, and goodwill.
The key idea: the retiring partner's claim = what they brought in + what the firm earned on their behalf – what they've already taken out.
Why Does This Matter?
If you just give the retiring partner their capital back, you're shortchanging them. The firm may have grown, built up reserves, or owned assets that appreciated. Conversely, if the firm has losses, the retiring partner must bear their share. Proper accounting ensures fairness — no one gets cheated, and the remaining partners don't overpay.
The Accounting Treatment – Step by Step
The NCERT Class-12 textbook follows a clear sequence. Let's walk through it.
Step 1: Revalue Assets and Reassess Liabilities
The firm's balance sheet may not reflect current values. So we create a Revaluation Account.
Revaluation Account is a nominal account. It captures gains (credit) and losses (debit) from revaluing assets and liabilities.
Journal entry:
- If asset value increases: Debit Asset A/c, Credit Revaluation A/c
- If liability increases: Debit Revaluation A/c, Credit Liability A/c
The profit or loss on revaluation is then transferred to all partners' capital accounts in their old profit-sharing ratio.
Step 2: Adjust for Goodwill
The retiring partner is entitled to their share of the firm's goodwill. The remaining partners compensate them because they'll continue to benefit from the firm's reputation.
Treatment (as per NCERT):
- Calculate the firm's total goodwill (agreed value).
- Retiring partner's share = Total goodwill × Retiring partner's profit share.
- The remaining partners debit their capital accounts in their gaining ratio (new ratio – old ratio) and credit the retiring partner's capital account.
Journal entry:
Remaining Partners' Capital A/c (individually) Dr.
To Retiring Partner's Capital A/c
Step 3: Transfer Reserves and Accumulated Profits
Any General Reserve, Profit & Loss A/c (credit balance), or accumulated profits belong to all partners. The retiring partner's share is transferred to their capital account.
Journal entry:
General Reserve A/c Dr.
Profit & Loss A/c Dr.
To All Partners' Capital A/c (in old ratio)
Step 4: Settle the Retiring Partner's Account
After all adjustments, the retiring partner's capital account shows the final amount due. This is paid either in cash or transferred to a loan account if the firm can't pay immediately.
Journal entry:
Retiring Partner's Capital A/c Dr.
To Bank A/c (or Retiring Partner's Loan A/c)
The Capital Account Format (as per NCERT)
Here's how a retiring partner's capital account looks in the ledger:
| Dr. | Retiring Partner's Capital Account | Cr. |
|---|---|---|
| Particulars | Amount (₹) | Particulars |
| To Revaluation A/c (loss) | xxx | By Balance b/d |
| To Goodwill A/c (if written off) | xxx | By Revaluation A/c (gain) |
| To Retiring Partner's Loan A/c | xxx | By General Reserve A/c |
| To Bank A/c (final payment) | xxx | By Profit & Loss A/c |
| By Goodwill A/c (remaining partners) | ||
| By Interest on Capital (if any) | ||
| Total | xxx | Total |
The balance b/d is the opening capital. All adjustments (revaluation profit, reserves, goodwill) are credited. Payments and losses are debited. The final balance is either paid or turned into a loan.
The Formula for Interest on Capital (if applicable)
If the partnership deed allows interest on capital, and the retiring partner's capital remains in the firm for part of the year:
Interest on capital = Capital amount × Rate of interest per annum × (Period in months / 12)
This is credited to the retiring partner's capital account before final settlement.
A Common Mistake to Avoid
Students often confuse gaining ratio with new ratio. The gaining ratio is used only for goodwill adjustment. It is calculated as: Gaining ratio = New ratio – Old ratio. The remaining partners compensate the retiring partner in this ratio, not in their old ratio.
Putting It All Together – A Simple Illustration (No Invented Data)
Suppose a firm has three partners: A, B, and C sharing profits 5:3:2. C retires. The firm's goodwill is valued at ₹1,00,000. C's share of goodwill = ₹1,00,000 × 2/10 = ₹20,000. A and B will gain in the ratio of their new shares (say 5:3, if they continue in the same proportion). So A pays ₹12,500 and B pays ₹7,500 to C's capital account.
After all revaluation and reserve transfers, C's capital account shows a final amount. That amount is paid or treated as a loan.
The Core Idea to Remember
Retirement accounting is about settling the departing partner's claim fairly. Every adjustment — revaluation, goodwill, reserves — ensures that the retiring partner gets exactly what they've earned, and the continuing partners don't bear an unfair burden. The capital account is the central ledger where all these adjustments converge, and the final balance is the amount due.
When nothing is said about how the retiring partner's share is taken over, the continuing partners simply keep their old mutual ratio, which for Abhishek and Rajat is 5 : 3.
(b) 5 : 3.
With no acquisition information given, Abhishek and Rajat continue in their old mutual ratio 5 : 3 — option (b).
Solution
In the absence of any information about the ratio in which Vivek's share is acquired, the continuing partners are assumed to take it in their old profit sharing ratio. Abhishek : Rajat were 5 : 3 among themselves, so the new ratio is 5 : 3.
(b) 5 : 3.
- JKBOSE Class 12 Annual Regular Examination (Commerce) 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.On retirement of a partner the firm is (reconstituted/ dissolved).
›Reveal solutionSolution
On retirement of a partner, the firm is reconstituted, not dissolved — the business continues with the remaining partners.
Retirement of a partner only changes the partnership agreement between the existing partners — the old partnership comes to an end and a new one, among the continuing partners (on the old or revised terms), takes its place. The firm's business, assets, and operations continue uninterrupted. This change in the make-up of the firm, without closing the business, is called reconstitution of the partnership firm.
Dissolution of the firm, by contrast, means the complete closure of the business — all assets are realised (sold), all liabilities are settled, and the firm ceases to exist. This only happens in situations such as all partners agreeing to close the business, the business becoming unlawful, insolvency of all but one partner, or a court order — not on the retirement of a single partner (unless retirement leaves only one partner, forcing dissolution for want of a minimum of two partners).
✓Final answerreconstituted
- JKBOSE Class 12 Annual Regular Examination (Commerce) 2020Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.In case of retirement of a partner, profit on revaluation is credited to the capital accounts of the partners : (A) In proportion of their capitals (B) In their profit sharing ratio (C) Equally (D) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
Correct option: (B) In their profit sharing ratio.
On a partner's retirement, assets and liabilities of the firm are revalued through a Revaluation Account so that the retiring partner gets their fair share of any unrecorded gain or loss in asset/liability values up to the date of retirement. Since this revaluation relates to the position of the firm as it stood with all partners (including the one retiring) still part of it, any profit or loss arising on revaluation is shared by all partners in their old (existing) profit sharing ratio — not the capital ratio, and not equally unless the old ratio itself happens to be equal.
Journal entry (for profit on revaluation): Revaluation A/c Dr. To All Partners' Capital A/cs (in old ratio)
Option (A) is incorrect — capital balances are not the basis for sharing revaluation profit/loss unless partners specifically agree to share profits in capital ratio (not the general rule). Option (C) is incorrect as 'equally' only applies if the old ratio itself is 1:1:1 etc. Option (D) is wrong since (B) is correct.
✓Final answer(B) In their profit sharing ratio (i.e., the old/existing ratio, since revaluation pertains to the period before retirement).
- JKBOSE Class 12 Annual Regular Examination (Commerce) 2020Set ANNUAL1 markQ.What is an Executor's Account?
›Reveal solutionSolution
Executor's Account records the amount payable to a deceased partner's legal representative.
On the death of a partner, their share of the business — capital balance, share of accumulated profits/reserves, share of goodwill, share of profit or loss on revaluation of assets and liabilities, and proportionate share of profit for the period up to the date of death — is calculated and credited to their Capital Account, after deducting their drawings (with interest, if any) up to the date of death.
The resulting balance of the deceased partner's Capital Account is then transferred to an Executor's Account, opened in the name of the deceased partner's legal representative (executor/legal heir). This account is shown as a liability (akin to a loan) in the firm's Balance Sheet until it is finally settled — either paid in full immediately, paid in instalments (often with interest as per the Partnership Act or the partnership deed), or converted into an Executor's Loan Account if payment is deferred.
Journal entry: Deceased Partner's Capital A/c Dr. To Deceased Partner's Executor's A/c
✓Final answerExecutor's Account is the account of the deceased partner's legal representative to whom the final amount due to the deceased partner is transferred and shown as a liability until settled.
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