Q.On the death of a partner, the accumulated profit are shared in their
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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 |
Accumulated profits were earned before the death, so they belong to all partners in the old (existing) profit-sharing ratio. …
Old profit-sharing ratio.
Accumulated profits/reserves standing in the books were earned before the partner's death, so they are distributed to ALL partners (including the deceased) in the old profit-sharing ratio, to …
Showing the 12 most recent of 95 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set MARCH1 markMCQQ.When only old profit-loss sharing ratio is given, gaining ratio of remaining partners will be _____.(a) 1 : 1(b) Old ratio(c) Capital ratio(d) Can not be calculated
›Reveal solutionSolution
With only the old ratio available, the gaining ratio of the remaining partners is the old ratio, so the answer is (b).
Gaining ratio = new ratio minus old ratio. If the new ratio is not specified, the assumption is that the continuing partners take over the retiring/deceased partner's share in the s …
- CBSE 2026Set MARCH1 markQ.What is gain ratio?
›Reveal solutionSolution
Gain ratio = New ratio minus Old ratio; it is the proportion in which continuing partners take over the outgoing partner's share.
When a partner retires or dies, the share of profit released by that partner is taken up by the remaining partners. The proportion in which they acquire this share is called the gain (or gaining) ratio.
Gain ratio = New profit-sharing ratio - Old profit-sharing ratio
…
- CBSE 2026Set MARCH1 markQ.In the case of death of a partner, the amount due to the deceased partner is transferred to his ______ account.
›Reveal solutionSolution
On the death of a partner, the amount due is transferred to the Deceased Partner's Executor's Account.
When a partner dies, his Capital Account is credited with his capital, his share of accumulated profits/reserves, revaluation profit, share of goodwill, interest on capital and his share of profit up to the date of death, and debited with drawings and any losses. The resulting balance (the amount due) is then transferred out of his Capital Account:
Journal Entry Deceased Partner's Capital A/c Dr. - CBSE 2026Set MARCH1 markMCQQ.A, B and C are partners sharing profits in the ratio of 5 : 3 : 2. If C retires, the New Profit Sharing Ratio between A and B will be :(a) a) 3 : 2(b) b) 5 : 3(c) c) 5 : 2(d) d) 1 : 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Without any fresh agreement, the remaining partners keep their old mutual ratio, so the new ratio of A and B is 5 : 3 - option (b).
A, B and C shared profits 5 : 3 : 2. On C's retirement, C's share (2/10) is taken over by A and B. When nothing else is stated, the remaining partners share future profits in their existing relative proportion, i.e. 5 : 3.
…
- CBSE 2026Set MARCH1 markQ.Profit or loss on revaluation is transferred to all partners' capital accounts in case of retirement of a partner. [State True/False]
›Reveal solutionSolution
The statement is True - revaluation profit/loss goes to all partners in the old ratio on retirement.
When a partner retires, assets and liabilities are revalued so that the retiring partner gets the benefit or bears the burden of changes that occurred while he was a partner. The profit or loss shown by the Revaluation Account therefore relates to the period during which the retiring partner was present, and it is distributed among all partners (old + retiring) in their …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Seema, Madhu and Shweta are partners in the ratio of 2 1/3 : 3 1/3 : 4 1/3 in a firm. Shweta retired from the firm. Gaining ratio will be A) 7 : 13 B) 7 : 10 C) 10 : 13 D) 13 : 7
›Reveal solutionSolution
After converting the mixed numbers, the old ratio is 7 : 10 : 13; on Shweta's retirement the gaining ratio of Seema and Madhu is their old ratio 7 : 10 — option (B).
First convert the profit-sharing ratio:
2 1/3 : 3 1/3 : 4 1/3 = 7/3 : 10/3 : 13/3
Multiplying each by 3 = 7 : 10 : 13 (Seema : Madhu : Shweta).
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Which account is credited, when lump-sum payment is made to retiring partner?
›Reveal solutionSolution
On a lump-sum settlement, the Cash/Bank Account is credited.
The amount finally due to a retiring partner is paid out of the firm's cash. The entry is:
Retiring Partner's Capital A/c ... Dr
To Cash/Bank A/c
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Fill in the blank: The amount due to deceased partner is paid to ________.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Answer: To the legal representatives of the deceased partner.
On a partner's death, the amount standing to his credit is transferred to his Executors'/Legal Representatives' Account and paid to his legal heirs or executors. So the amount due to a deceased partner is p …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Fill in the blank: Retirement or death of a partner also leads to ________ of a partnership firm.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Answer: Reconstitution.
When a partner retires or dies, the existing partnership agreement ends and the remaining partners continue under a new agreement. The firm is not dissolved but reconstituted. So retirement or d …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Hema, Jaya and Rama are partners in a partnership firm shares profit-loss equally. Hema and Jaya decided to share profit-loss in the ratio of 4:3 after taking retirement of Jaya. What will be the gain of Hema?(a) 1/3(b) 5/21(c) 4/7(d) 3/4(a) 1/3(b) 5/21(c) 4/7(d) 3/4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Hema's gain on Jaya's retirement = 5/21.
Hema, Jaya and Rama originally shared profit and loss equally, i.e. each had a share of 1/3. The question states that after Jaya's retirement the firm continues between Hema and Rama in the new ratio 4:3 (the stem's wording names "Jaya" a second time, but since Jaya is the partner retiring, the two CONTINUING partners can only be Hema and Rama — this is read as the intended meaning).
Gain (or loss) on reconstitution = New Share − Old Share.
Hema's old share = 1/3
Hema's new share = 4/7 (her part of the new 4:3 ratio)
Gain of Hema = New Share − Old Share
= 4/7 − 1/3
= (4×3 − 1×7) / 21
= (12 − 7) / 21
= 5/21
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.In case of death of partner, to whom is the balance amount of his capital account transferred?
›Reveal solutionSolution
The deceased partner's capital account balance is transferred to his Executor's Account.
When a partner dies, the partnership between him and the surviving partners automatically comes to an end (though the firm may continue with the surviving partners). The deceased partner's capital account is settled as follows:
- His capital account is credited with: his share of General Reserve/accumulated profits, his share of Revaluation profit (or debited for loss), his share of goodwill of the firm, and his share of profit from the last balance sheet date up to the date of death (calculated on time basis, usually using last year's or average profit).
- His capital account is debited with any drawings made and interest on drawings, if applicable.
- The final (net) balance standing to his credit no longer belongs to the firm — it is a debt payable to his legal representative. …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.On the death of a partner, Ram, his share in the Profits of the firm ₹45,000 till the date of his death is transferred to the _______.(a) Credit of Profit and Loss Suspense Account(b) Debit of Profit and Loss Suspense Account(c) Credit of Profit and Loss Account(d) Debit of Profit and Loss Account(a) Credit of Profit and Loss Suspense Account(b) Debit of Profit and Loss Suspense Account(c) Credit of Profit and Loss Account(d) Debit of Profit and Loss Account
›Reveal solutionSolution
Ram's share of profit till death is transferred to the debit of the Profit and Loss Suspense Account (Option B).
When a partner dies during the course of an accounting year, it is not practical to close the firm's books on the date of death just to work out the exact profit for that broken period. Instead, the firm estimates the deceased partner's share of profit from the start of the year to the date of death (here ₹45,000) and passes the entry:
Profit and Loss Suspense Account Dr. ₹45,000To Ram's Capital Account ₹45,000…
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