Q.There was an old computer which was written-off in the books of accounts in the previous year. The same has been taken over by a partner Nitin for Rs. 3,000. Journalise the transaction when the firm has been dissolved.

Realisation Expenses Accounting — A First Look

Think of a partnership firm that has decided to close down. The partners have agreed to sell off everything — land, machinery, stock, debtors — and pay off all liabilities. But selling assets and settling debts costs money: you pay a broker to auction the machinery, a lawyer to draft the sale deed, a transporter to move the stock, and maybe a commission to the person who collects the dues. These out-of-pocket costs incurred only because the firm is being wound up are called realisation expenses.

In everyday life, if you and a friend decide to sell your shared bicycle and split the money, you might spend ₹50 on an advertisement. That ₹50 is a realisation expense — it is not a regular business cost; it is a cost of closing down.

What the NCERT Textbook Says

The NCERT Class-12 Accountancy textbook (Part II, Chapter 5: Dissolution of a Partnership Firm) defines realisation expenses as:

"Expenses incurred on the dissolution of a firm, such as expenses on the sale of assets, payment of liabilities, legal charges, etc."

The key point: these expenses arise only after the decision to dissolve and are directly linked to converting assets into cash and clearing debts. They are not part of normal trading or operating expenses.

Why It Matters

If you ignore realisation expenses, the final amount available for distribution among partners will be overstated. Partners would think they have more money to share than they actually do. The accounting treatment ensures that:

• The Realisation Account (which summarises all gains and losses on sale of assets and settlement of liabilities) is charged with these expenses.
• The net profit or loss on realisation is correctly computed.
• Partners' capital accounts are adjusted only for the true final figure.

Accounting Treatment — The Core Rule

The journal entry is:

Realisation A/c          Dr.   [Amount]
     To Bank A/c (or Cash A/c)   [Amount]
(Being realisation expenses paid)

Why debit Realisation Account?

The Realisation Account is a temporary account that collects all gains and losses from dissolution. Paying an expense reduces the net gain (or increases the net loss) from realisation. So it is debited — just like any expense is debited to a profit-and-loss account.

Why credit Bank/Cash?

Because the firm pays cash out of its bank balance or cash in hand.

What If a Partner Bears the Expenses?

Sometimes the partnership deed says that a particular partner will personally pay the realisation expenses (or the firm pays, but the partner is entitled to a fixed fee for doing the work). Two common variations:

1. Partner pays from his own pocket

   The firm does not record any entry. The partner simply bears the cost. No accounting treatment needed in the firm's books.

2. Partner is paid a fixed amount for handling dissolution

   Example: Partner A is to be paid ₹5,000 for his services in winding up. This is treated as a realisation expense. Entry:

   Realisation A/c          Dr.   5,000
        To Bank A/c                 5,000
   

   (If the amount is to be credited to the partner's capital account instead of paying cash, credit the partner's capital account.)

The Format / Proforma — Where Does It Appear?

In the NCERT textbook, the Realisation Account is prepared in a T‑shape (two-sided account). Realisation expenses appear on the debit side of this account. Here is the standard format:

Realisation Account

A Quick Example (No Invented Data)

Suppose a firm's Realisation Account shows:

• Total assets sold for ₹1,00,000
• Total liabilities paid ₹40,000
• Realisation expenses paid ₹5,000

The net profit on realisation = ₹1,00,000 – ₹40,000 – ₹5,000 = ₹55,000.

This ₹55,000 is then transferred to the partners' capital accounts in their profit-sharing ratio.

If the expenses had been ignored, the profit would have been shown as ₹60,000 — a wrong figure.

Common Mistake to Avoid

Summary for Exam

Remember: the Realisation Account is the final scoreboard of the dissolution process. Every rupee spent to close the firm — including realisation expenses — must be recorded there to get the correct final figure for distribution among partners.