Q.If some goodwill already exists in the books and the new partner brings in his share of goodwill in cash, how will you deal with existing amount of goodwill?

Let’s start with something you already know from daily life. Suppose you and a friend run a small tiffin service together. After a year, a third friend wants to join. You both agree to let her in. But the business has grown — you have a reputation, some regular customers, and maybe a little cash saved. She can’t just walk in and claim equal share of everything you built before she arrived. That wouldn’t be fair to you and your original partner.

So you sit down and decide: what is the business worth today? How much should the new partner bring in as her share of that past effort? And once she comes in, how do we rewrite the partnership deed so everyone’s rights are clear from Day 1?

That’s the heart of Admission of a Partner — and the adjustments that follow.

What does “Admission Partner Adjustments” mean?

When a new partner is admitted into an existing partnership, the old partnership is dissolved in the eyes of accounting, and a new one begins. The new partner brings in capital (cash or assets) and also buys a share of the goodwill — the value of the business’s reputation and past efforts. But that’s not all. Several things need to be revalued or adjusted so that the new partner doesn’t unfairly gain or lose from past decisions.

These adjustments are:

1. Revaluation of Assets and Liabilities – because the balance sheet values may be outdated.
2. Treatment of Goodwill – the new partner compensates old partners for their past efforts.
3. Adjustment of Reserves and Accumulated Profits/Losses – these belong to old partners only.
4. Adjustment of Capital Accounts – to bring all partners’ capitals in proportion to the new profit-sharing ratio.

Each of these has a clear accounting treatment. Let’s go through them one by one.

1. Revaluation of Assets and Liabilities

Why? The balance sheet shows assets at book value (historical cost minus depreciation). But the new partner should not benefit from an undervalued asset (like land that has appreciated) nor suffer from an overvalued one. Similarly, liabilities may be understated or overstated.

Accounting treatment:

We open a Revaluation Account (also called Profit & Loss Adjustment Account).

• Increase in asset value → debit Asset, credit Revaluation A/c
• Decrease in asset value → credit Asset, debit Revaluation A/c
• Increase in liability → credit Liability, debit Revaluation A/c
• Decrease in liability → debit Liability, credit Revaluation A/c

The net profit or loss on revaluation is transferred to the old partners’ capital accounts in their old profit-sharing ratio.

Example format (Revaluation Account):

2. Treatment of Goodwill

Why? The new partner is buying a share of the business’s earning power built by old partners. She must compensate them for this.

Accounting treatment (as per NCERT):

The new partner brings her share of goodwill in cash. That cash is then withdrawn by the old partners (or left in the business). The journal entry:

1. When new partner brings goodwill in cash:

   Cash/Bank A/c Dr.

   To Goodwill A/c (or Premium for Goodwill A/c)

2. Then, distribute that amount to old partners in their sacrificing ratio:

   Goodwill A/c Dr.

   To Old Partners’ Capital A/cs (individually)

If the new partner does not bring cash for goodwill, we adjust through capital accounts (debit the new partner, credit the old partners).

3. Adjustment of Reserves and Accumulated Profits/Losses

Why? Any accumulated profits (like General Reserve, Profit & Loss A/c credit balance) belong to the old partners. The new partner should not get a share of past profits.

Accounting treatment:

Transfer the entire reserve/accumulated profit to old partners’ capital accounts in their old profit-sharing ratio.

Journal entry:

General Reserve A/c Dr.

To Old Partners’ Capital A/cs

Similarly, accumulated losses (debit balance of P&L A/c) are debited to old partners’ capital accounts.

4. Adjustment of Capital Accounts

Why? After all adjustments, the partners’ capitals may not be in the new profit-sharing ratio. The partnership deed may require capitals to be proportionate to profit shares.

Accounting treatment: …