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Thread: Expense discovered after month-end close

  1. #1
    n00b areedy will become famous soon enough
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    Default Expense discovered after month-end close

    Please help with the following problem!

    "You are in the process of doing month-end close, and you just received a phone bill (which arrived late) which refers to the accounting period that is being closed. Is any adjusting entry needed?"

    Thank you for any help.

  2. #2
    Administrator ZahiD is a jewel in the rough ZahiD's Avatar
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    The questionis, did you already accrue the expense in the first place?

    For accruing an expense like a phone bill... the following should be done...

    Before receiving the phone bill:

    Dr. Phone Expense
    Cr. Accounts payable

    After the bill arrives:

    Dr. Accounts payable
    Cr. Cash
    zahid

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  3. #3
    n00b areedy will become famous soon enough
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    Why do i need to credit cash, if i haven't actually paid the bill yet?

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    Administrator ZahiD is a jewel in the rough ZahiD's Avatar
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    I mention above that After the bill arrives you

    Dr. Accounts payable
    Cr. Cash

    I assumed that once you get the bill you will pay it... was I wrong?
    zahid

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    n00b morlosky is on a distinguished road
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    Quote Originally Posted by ZahiD View Post
    The questionis, did you already accrue the expense in the first place?

    For accruing an expense like a phone bill... the following should be done...

    Before receiving the phone bill:

    Dr. Phone Expense
    Cr. Accounts payable

    After the bill arrives:

    Dr. Accounts payable
    Cr. Cash
    What if you don't know the exact amount of the bill? If you enter phone expense at$100.00, but when the bill arrives, it is only $80.00. How do you account for the difference?

  6. #6
    Getting feet wet lovely09 is on a distinguished road
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    If you can,make an adjustment to avoid any problem.I mean much better to file everything.As they say,better late than never.It can be adjusted but absolutely there's should be a range filed like from a phone bill.
    '

  7. #7
    n00b rambler has a spectacular aura about
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    Just stick it next month, havent you heard of materiality.
    If the period is closed you havent accrued it , and you cant adjust backwards then fix it in the next period.

  8. #8
    Moderator Helse is on a distinguished road Helse's Avatar
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    Default Stick Pigeons

    Finally, words of sense from rambler. Practice and academia seldom eat lunch together,
    unless to BOX THE IDIOT PROFESSORS EARS I LISTENED TO FOR 6 FRICKEN YEARS.

    My professors turned to me to ask if an IRS rule limits membership for an LLC
    similar to an S-Corporation. Pathetic, LLCs are created via state law, LLCs, LPs, LLPs and LLLPs
    lack any restrictions for maximum number of members (I think I gave my age in the previous rant).

    Revisions to entry without "adjustment" are not Verboten. Hence the discovery of
    the melodious footnote (fn) and erasure (replaced by liquid paper).

    Give rambler a rep power for his reasoning. Ahh, how do I... Hmm, I'm a Moderator, I should know
    how to grant "rep power".

    Hello, all take note lovely is another UKer, hurrah, three Brits at AB.
    Last edited by Helse; 12-25-2009 at 01:30 AM.
    http://www.accountingblock.com/avatars/helse.gif?type=sigpic&dateline=1271928550

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    Pat
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    Moderator Pat will become famous soon enough
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    Of course there are different levels of materiality to consider. It might be immaterial for the financial statements but may be material as to the monthly bonus computation for a unit manager. It also depends on how many units your company has and how it handles exceptions. Sometimes you have to discuss with operations and incorporate their preferences into your procedures.

    Each organization should include in the accounting policy and procedures manual.

  10. #10
    Senior Member daryljames is on a distinguished road
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    Since utility bills are accrued monthly - someone should have entered an "payment" estimate and paid it accordingly. If the invoice was more/less than your estimate - the next months accrual could have been adjusted.

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