12.1 The Capital Comparison Method & Cash/Bank Summaries

Key Takeaways

  • Incomplete records arise when businesses do not maintain a full double-entry bookkeeping system, commonly in small sole traders, cash-based micro-businesses, or following catastrophic record loss (fire, flood, theft, IT system corruption).
  • The Capital Comparison (Net Worth) Method deduces Profit for the Year from changes in equity over time using the fundamental formula: Profit for the Year = Closing Net Assets - Opening Net Assets + Total Drawings - Capital Introduced.
  • A Statement of Affairs is a reconstructed balance sheet at a single point in time, listing assets and liabilities under standard IAS/UK GAAP valuation rules (non-current assets at carrying amount, inventory at lower of cost and NRV, receivables net of doubtful debt allowances) to establish the balancing equity figure (Capital = Assets - Liabilities).
  • Owner's Drawings must encompass all forms of business value extracted for non-business purposes: physical cash withdrawals from bank/till, personal household living expenses or private utility bills settled from the business bank account, and trading inventory withdrawn at cost price.
  • Reconstructing Cash and Bank Summaries applies the double-entry equality principle (Opening Balance + Total Receipts = Total Payments + Closing Balance) to uncover unrecorded cash takings, cash business expenses, proprietor's cash drawings, or cash shortages/theft.
Last updated: August 2026

The Capital Comparison Method & Cash/Bank Summaries

In an ideal accounting environment, every financial transaction is evidenced by source documents, entered chronologically into books of prime entry, posted to nominal ledger accounts using double-entry bookkeeping, and verified via a balanced trial balance. In commercial reality, however, financial accountants frequently encounter situations where double-entry records are partial, disorganized, corrupted, or completely non-existent. These scenarios are collectively known as incomplete records.

Within the syllabus for AAT Level 3 Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements (FAPS), mastering incomplete records is a core professional competence. Accountants must possess the diagnostic and forensic skills required to reconstruct missing figures, establish accurate profit measurements, and prepare formal financial statements that comply with IAS 1 (Presentation of Financial Statements) and FRS 102.


1. Commercial Context and Causes of Incomplete Records

Incomplete records typically arise under two distinct commercial circumstances:

  1. Informal and Small-Scale Business Operations:
    • Sole Traders and Micro-Entities: Many small traders (such as market stallholders, independent tradespeople, local window cleaners, and small hospitality operators) lack formal accounting training or dedicated software. They often operate on a "cash-in-hand" basis or maintain only a simple single-entry notebook recording bank deposits and payments.
    • Cash-Dominated Enterprises: Retail outlets with substantial daily physical cash takings where cash is spent directly out of the till to pay suppliers, casual wages, or personal living expenses before banking the residual balance.
  2. Catastrophic Loss of Accounting Data:
    • Physical Disasters: Destruction of paper records, invoices, and physical day books caused by fire, localized flooding, or warehouse structural damage.
    • Crime and Theft: Burglary of office computers, till theft, or employee defalcation.
    • Information Technology Failure: Server hard drive crashes without off-site cloud backups, ransomware cyberattacks, or software data corruption.

The Accountant's Objective

Regardless of why records are incomplete, external stakeholders require reliable financial statements. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) demands accurate tax returns, commercial banks require audited or accountant-compiled figures to support overdrafts and loan facilities, and prospective purchasers require verified profitability. The accountant's task is to apply fundamental accounting logic to deduce missing figures from available auxiliary evidence.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     CAUSES AND REMEDIES OF INCOMPLETE RECORDS               │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ PRIMARY CAUSES:                                                             │
│ • No double-entry system (single-entry notebooks, loose receipts)          │
│ • Cash spent directly from till without recording                           │
│ • Catastrophic record loss (fire, flood, IT failure, theft)                 │
│                                                                             │
│ RECONSTRUCTION TOOLKIT:                                                     │
│ 1. The Capital Comparison Method (Net Worth Method)                         │
│ 2. Opening and Closing Statements of Affairs                                │
│ 3. Cash and Bank Summary Reconstructions (Receipts vs. Payments)            │
│ 4. Control Account Analysis (Sales Ledger & Purchases Ledger)               │
│ 5. Gross Margin and Mark-up Ratios                                          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

2. The Capital Comparison (Net Worth) Method

When a business has kept virtually no records of its revenue and expenditure during the year, but its financial assets and liabilities at the beginning and end of the accounting period can be identified, the Capital Comparison Method (also known as the Net Worth Method) is applied to determine the profit or loss for the year.

Theoretical Derivation from the Fundamental Accounting Equation

The method is derived directly from the fundamental accounting equation and the mechanics of owner's equity:

  Assets = Capital + Liabilities
  Capital = Net Assets = Total Assets - Total Liabilities

Over any accounting period, the growth or contraction of owner's equity is governed by four variables: opening capital, fresh capital introduced, trading profit (or loss) generated, and owner's drawings withdrawn:

  Closing Capital = Opening Capital + Capital Introduced + Profit for the Year - Drawings

Rearranging this equation to solve for Profit for the Year establishes the Master Capital Comparison Formula:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                  MASTER CAPITAL COMPARISON (NET WORTH) FORMULA              │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                             │
│  Profit for the Year = Closing Capital (Net Assets)                         │
│                      - Opening Capital (Net Assets)                         │
│                      + Total Drawings                                       │
│                      - Capital Introduced                                   │
│                                                                             │
│  Alternatively expressed:                                                   │
│  Profit for the Year = Increase in Net Assets + Drawings - Capital Introduced│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Economic Rationale for Adjustments

  • Why Drawings are Added Back (+): Drawings represent economic value generated by the business that the proprietor has extracted for personal consumption during the year. These withdrawals directly reduce closing net assets. If drawings were not added back, the calculated profit would be falsely understated by the amount the owner took home to live on.
  • Why Capital Introduced is Subtracted (-): Capital injections (such as personal savings deposited into the business bank account or personal assets transferred into the business) increase closing net assets. However, this increase in wealth was contributed externally by the owner, not generated through trading operations. Subtracting capital introduced isolates pure operational trading performance.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     CAPITAL COMPARISON SCHEDULE TEMPLATE                    │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                 £        £  │
│ Closing Net Assets (from Closing Statement of Affairs)                xx,xxx│
│ Less: Opening Net Assets (from Opening Statement of Affairs)         (xx,xxx)│
│ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ Increase / (Decrease) in Net Assets during the period                 xx,xxx│
│                                                                             │
│ ADD: Total Proprietor Drawings during the year:                             │
│   • Cash / Bank withdrawals for personal use                   xx,xxx       │
│   • Personal household / private bills paid from business bank xx,xxx       │
│   • Trading inventory taken for personal use (at cost)         xx,xxx  xx,xxx│
│ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ Subtotal                                                              xx,xxx│
│                                                                             │
│ LESS: Capital Introduced during the year:                                   │
│   • Personal cash / savings injected into business bank        xx,xxx       │
│   • Personal assets introduced at fair value (vehicles, tools) xx,xxx (xx,xxx)│
│ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ PROFIT / (LOSS) FOR THE YEAR                                          XX,XXX│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

3. The Statement of Affairs

A Statement of Affairs is a structured summary of an entity's assets and liabilities prepared at a specific date when formal nominal ledger accounts have not been maintained. In structure, format, and content, it is identical to a standard Statement of Financial Position (SFP).

The Two Strategic Roles of the Statement of Affairs

  1. Opening Statement of Affairs (Prepared at Day 1 of the accounting year):
    • Purpose: To compute Opening Capital (Opening Assets - Opening Liabilities). This establishes the baseline equity brought forward from the prior year.
  2. Closing Statement of Affairs (Prepared at the final day of the accounting year):
    • Purpose: To compute Closing Capital (Closing Assets - Closing Liabilities). This establishes the ending equity at the reporting date.

Rigorous Asset and Liability Valuation Rules under IAS / FRS 102

When compiling a Statement of Affairs, the accountant must apply standard accounting valuation principles to ensure that asset and liability figures reflect true economic realities rather than unadjusted raw estimates:

Balance Sheet ItemValuation Rule & Accounting StandardSpecific Reconstructive Adjustment Required
Non-Current AssetsCarrying Amount under IAS 16 (Historical Cost less Accumulated Depreciation to date).Apply the entity's depreciation policy (straight-line or reducing balance) for the current year. Stated net of depreciation.
InventoriesLower of Cost and Net Realizable Value (NRV) under IAS 2.Include physical stock counted at year-end. If damaged or obsolete, write down to estimated net selling price less repair/selling costs.
Trade ReceivablesAmortised Cost / Net Realizable Value under IFRS 9 / FRS 102.Deduct specific irrecoverable bad debts identified, then deduct the required Allowance for Doubtful Receivables (Gross Receivables - Bad Debts - Allowance).
Other ReceivablesAccruals Concept under IAS 1.Include prepaid operating expenses (e.g. prepaid rent, insurance, rates) and accrued income as current assets.
Cash & Cash EquivalentsReconciled Bank Balance & Cash Count.Include positive bank current account balances and verified physical petty cash/till cash. If overdrawn, classify as a Current Liability.
Trade PayablesSettlement Value.Total outstanding liabilities owed to credit trade suppliers at the date of the statement.
Other PayablesAccruals Concept under IAS 1.Include accrued operating expenses (e.g. unpaid heat and light, wages, accountancy fees) and deferred income as current liabilities.
Non-Current LiabilitiesLong-Term Contractual Debt.Bank loans, mortgages, and finance lease obligations repayable after more than 12 months.

4. Comprehensive Analysis of Drawings and Capital Injections

Accurately capturing all movements in owner's equity is vital for the Capital Comparison Method. In assessment tasks, examiners frequently embed multiple subtle forms of drawings and capital introductions.

1. The Three Dimensions of Owner's Drawings

Drawings represent any extraction of business resources for personal benefit:

  1. Direct Cash and Bank Withdrawals:
    • Regular weekly or monthly sums withdrawn from the business bank account or cash till by the sole trader as living allowances / "owner's salary".
  2. Personal Expenses Paid from Business Funds:
    • When a proprietor uses the business debit card, chequebook, or electronic banking to pay personal commitments. Common examples include:
      • Residential home mortgage or rent
      • Domestic council tax, water, and household electricity bills
      • Private family vehicle insurance, maintenance, and fuel
      • Personal life assurance or private medical insurance premiums
      • Children's school tuition fees or holiday expenses
  3. Trading Inventory Taken for Personal Use (Drawings of Goods):
    • Stock withdrawn from the warehouse or shop floor for personal or family consumption.
    • The Inviolable Valuation Rule: Inventory drawings must be recorded at COST PRICE, never at selling price. Valuing stock drawings at selling price would recognize an unrealized profit on transactions between the owner and the business, violating the realization and prudence principles.
  Total Drawings = Direct Cash/Bank Withdrawals 
                 + Private Bills Settled via Business Bank 
                 + Goods Taken for Own Use (at Cost Price)

2. The Three Dimensions of Capital Injected

Capital injections represent any personal resources introduced into the business by the owner:

  1. Direct Cash Injections: Personal savings, inheritances, or personal bank loans transferred into the business bank account.
  2. Introduction of Personal Non-Current Assets: Transferring a private motor vehicle, personal computer/laptop, or specialist tools into commercial business ownership. These must be introduced at Fair Value at the date of introduction.
  3. Business Expenses Settled from Personal Funds: When the proprietor pays a genuine business expense (such as business property insurance or commercial trade subscriptions) using their private personal credit card or personal bank account.
  Total Capital Introduced = Cash Injections from Personal Funds 
                           + Fair Value of Private Assets Introduced 
                           + Business Expenses Paid from Private Accounts

5. Cash and Bank Summaries: Reconstructing Missing Cash Flows

Where incomplete records include an active cash till or bank account, the accountant can reconstruct complete cash summaries using the fundamental double-entry equality of receipts and payments.

  Opening Cash Balance + Total Cash Inflows (Receipts) = Total Cash Outflows (Payments) + Closing Cash Balance

The Cash Summary Equation (Deriving Missing Cash Sales)

In small retail businesses, cash collected from daily sales is rarely banked in its entirety. Instead, the owner frequently pays cash expenses out of the till, takes personal cash drawings, and banks only the remaining balance.

                                CASH ACCOUNT / SUMMARY
Dr (Cash Inflows / Receipts)                                Cr (Cash Outflows / Payments)
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Details                                £     Details                                £
Opening Cash Balance b/d             xxx     Cash Business Expenses Paid (Wages, etc) xxx
Reconstructed Cash Sales (BALANCING) XXX     Cash Drawings by Proprietor              xxx
Cash Withdrawn from Bank Account     xxx     Cash Banked (Deposited into Bank Acct)   xxx
Personal Cash Injected (Capital)     xxx     Cash Stolen / Defalcation / Shortage     xxx
                                             Closing Cash Balance c/d                 xxx
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Receipts                       XXX     Total Payments                           XXX
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Rearranging the cash account allows the accountant to solve for Cash Sales as the balancing figure:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    CASH SALES RECONSTRUCTION FORMULA                        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                             │
│  Cash Sales = Cash Banked into Bank Account                                 │
│             + Cash Paid for Business Expenses (Wages, Petty Supplies)       │
│             + Cash Taken as Proprietor Drawings                             │
│             + Cash Stolen / Lost (Unaccounted Discrepancies)                │
│             + Closing Cash in Till Balance                                  │
│             - Opening Cash in Till Balance                                  │
│             - Cash Introduced as Capital                                    │
│             - Cash Withdrawn from Bank into Till                            │
│                                                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Reconstructing the Bank Summary Account

A parallel reconstruction of the bank account is conducted to identify missing bank-related figures (such as total receipts from credit customers, supplier payments, or unexplained withdrawals):

                                BANK ACCOUNT / SUMMARY
Dr (Bank Inflows / Receipts)                                Cr (Bank Outflows / Payments)
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Details                                £     Details                                £
Opening Bank Balance b/d (Asset)     xxx     Opening Bank Overdraft b/d (Liability)   xxx
Receipts from Credit Customers (SLCA)xxx     Payments to Trade Suppliers (PLCA)       xxx
Cash Sales Banked from Till          xxx     Operating Expenses (Rent, Rates, Power)  xxx
Capital Injected via Bank            xxx     Cash Withdrawn for Till                  xxx
Disposal Proceeds of Assets          xxx     Non-Current Asset Purchases              xxx
Closing Bank Overdraft c/d (Liab)    xxx     Proprietor Private Bills / Drawings      xxx
                                             Bank Charges & Loan Interest             xxx
                                             Closing Bank Balance c/d (Asset)         xxx
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Debits                         XXX     Total Credits                            XXX
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

6. Comprehensive Master Worked Case Study: Highland Craft Supplies

To see the full end-to-end integration of Statements of Affairs, Drawings reconciliations, Capital injections, and the Capital Comparison Method, study the case of Highland Craft Supplies, owned by sole trader Fiona MacLeod, for the year ended 31 December 20X5.

1. Opening Position at 1 January 20X5

Fiona provides the following inventory of assets and liabilities at the start of the year:

  • Specialist Craft Equipment (Cost £40,000; Accumulated Depreciation £8,000): Carrying amount £32,000
  • Delivery Motor Van (Cost £20,000; Accumulated Depreciation £6,000): Carrying amount £14,000
  • Trading Inventory at lower of cost and NRV: £18,500
  • Trade Receivables: £12,200
  • Prepaid Business Insurance: £800
  • Bank Current Account (in credit): £6,400
  • Petty Cash in Till: £500
  • Trade Payables: £14,800
  • Accrued Electricity: £1,200

2. Year-End Position at 31 December 20X5 (Pre-Adjustment Data)

At 31 December 20X5, the following raw asset and liability details are established:

  • Specialist Craft Equipment: A new cutting machine was purchased on 1 April 20X5 for £8,000 cash. Total cost of equipment is now £48,000. Total accumulated depreciation to 31 December 20X5 is determined to be £14,000.
  • Delivery Motor Van: Cost £20,000; accumulated depreciation to 31 December 20X5 is £9,000.
  • Personal Laptop Introduced: On 1 July 20X5, Fiona transferred her private laptop into the business. Its agreed fair value at introduction was £1,200. Depreciation for the half-year is £120 (carrying amount £1,080).
  • Trading Inventory counted on 31 December 20X5: Valued at cost of £23,000. However, items costing £1,000 were damaged by dampness and have an estimated net realizable value of only £400 (a write-down of £600 is required, making closing inventory £22,400).
  • Trade Receivables: Gross customer balances total £16,800. An irrecoverable customer debt of £800 is to be written off. Fiona maintains an Allowance for Doubtful Receivables of 5% of remaining receivables (5% x [£16,800 - £800] = 5% x £16,000 = £800). Net receivables = £16,800 - £800 - £800 = £15,200.
  • Prepaid Business Rates: £950.
  • Bank Balance at 31 December 20X5 (per bank reconciliation): £11,320.
  • Petty Cash in Hand: £700.
  • Trade Payables: £17,400.
  • Accrued Heat and Light: £1,400.
  • Unbilled Accountancy Fees Accrued: £1,000.

3. Proprietor Transactions During 20X5

  • Fiona withdrew £28,000 in cash/bank transfers for personal living expenses.
  • The business bank account paid Fiona's residential council tax of £2,600 and her family private health insurance of £2,000 (Total private bills = £4,600).
  • Fiona withdrew craft supplies from inventory for personal gifts with a cost price of £2,400 (normal retail selling price £3,600).
  • Fiona injected £5,000 cash from a personal inheritance into the business bank account on 1 September 20X5.
  • Fiona introduced her personal laptop (fair value £1,200) on 1 July 20X5.

Step 1: Prepare the Opening Statement of Affairs (1 January 20X5)

                           HIGHLAND CRAFT SUPPLIES
                 STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS AS AT 1 JANUARY 20X5
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
                                                      £             £
Non-Current Assets:
  Specialist Craft Equipment (Carrying Amount)                     32,000
  Delivery Motor Van (Carrying Amount)                             14,000
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Non-Current Assets                                           46,000

Current Assets:
  Inventories (at lower of cost and NRV)            18,500
  Trade Receivables                                 12,200
  Other Receivables (Prepaid Insurance)                800
  Cash and Cash Equivalents (Bank £6,400 + Cash £500) 6,900
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Current Assets                                               38,400
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL ASSETS                                                       84,400

Current Liabilities:
  Trade Payables                                    14,800
  Other Payables (Accrued Electricity)               1,200
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Current Liabilities                                         (16,000)
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
NET ASSETS (TOTAL ASSETS LESS TOTAL LIABILITIES)                   68,400
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
REPRESENTED BY: OPENING CAPITAL (Balancing Figure)                 68,400
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Step 2: Prepare the Closing Statement of Affairs (31 December 20X5)

                           HIGHLAND CRAFT SUPPLIES
                STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 20X5
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
                                                      £             £
Non-Current Assets:
  Specialist Craft Equipment (£48,000 - £14,000)                   34,000
  Delivery Motor Van (£20,000 - £9,000)                            11,000
  Office Laptop (£1,200 - £120)                                     1,080
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Non-Current Assets                                           46,080

Current Assets:
  Inventories (£23,000 cost less £600 damp write-down) 22,400
  Trade Receivables (Gross £16,800 - Bad Debt £800
                     - Allowance £800)              15,200
  Other Receivables (Prepaid Rates)                    950
  Cash and Cash Equivalents (Bank £11,320 + Cash £700)12,020
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Current Assets                                               50,570
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL ASSETS                                                       96,650

Current Liabilities:
  Trade Payables                                    17,400
  Other Payables (Accrued Heat & Light £1,400 
                  + Accrued Accountancy £1,000)      2,400
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Current Liabilities                                         (19,800)
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
NET ASSETS (CLOSING NET WORTH)                                     76,850
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
REPRESENTED BY: CLOSING CAPITAL (Balancing Figure)                 76,850
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Step 3: Calculate Total Drawings and Total Capital Introduced

  • Calculation of Total Drawings:

    • Cash & bank withdrawals: £28,000
    • Private council tax & private health insurance: £2,600 + £2,000 = £4,600
    • Goods taken for personal use at cost: £2,400 (ignore retail value £3,600!)
    • Total Drawings = £28,000 + £4,600 + £2,400 = £35,000
  • Calculation of Total Capital Introduced:

    • Cash injection from inheritance: £5,000
    • Fair value of personal laptop introduced: £1,200
    • Total Capital Introduced = £5,000 + £1,200 = £6,200

Step 4: Apply the Master Capital Comparison Method to Determine Profit

                           HIGHLAND CRAFT SUPPLIES
      CAPITAL COMPARISON PROFIT STATEMENT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DEC 20X5
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
                                                                    £
Closing Capital (Closing Net Assets at 31 Dec 20X5)                76,850
Less: Opening Capital (Opening Net Assets at 1 Jan 20X5)          (68,400)
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Increase in Net Assets during the year                              8,450

ADD: Total Proprietor Drawings:
  Cash and Bank Withdrawals                             28,000
  Personal Bills Paid from Business Bank                 4,600
  Trading Inventory Withdrawn for Own Use (at Cost)      2,400     35,000
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Subtotal                                                           43,450

LESS: Total Capital Introduced:
  Cash Injection from Inheritance                        5,000
  Personal Laptop Introduced at Fair Value               1,200     (6,200)
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
PROFIT FOR THE YEAR                                                37,250
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Equity Reconciliation Proof

We verify the arithmetic by reconciling the proprietor's Capital Account:

  Opening Capital (1 Jan 20X5)             £68,400
+ Capital Introduced during year            £6,200
+ Profit for the Year                      £37,250
- Total Drawings during year              (£35,000)
──────────────────────────────────────────────────
= Closing Capital (31 Dec 20X5)            £76,850  ◄─── Exactly matches Closing Net Assets!

7. Common Pitfalls and Exam Traps in Capital Comparison

  1. Deducting Inventory Drawings at Retail Selling Price: In examination scenarios, examiners intentionally give both the cost (£2,400) and selling price (£3,600). Always use cost price. Using selling price overstates drawings and distorts profit.
  2. Confusing Capital Injections with Income: If an owner introduces personal funds, this is credited to Capital, not Sales Revenue. In the capital comparison formula, it must be subtracted from the net asset increase.
  3. Failing to Value Assets at Carrying Amount: Raw trial balances or lists of assets often state non-current assets at original historical cost. Always deduct accumulated depreciation before calculating net assets.
  4. Overlooking Year-End Valuation Adjustments: Accruals, prepayments, irrecoverable bad debts, doubtful debt allowances, and damaged stock write-downs must be incorporated into the Statement of Affairs before extracting closing capital.
Loading diagram...
The Capital Comparison & Statement of Affairs Workflow
Test Your Knowledge

A sole trader provides the following records for the financial year ended 31 December 20X5: • Opening Net Assets: £54,000 • Closing Net Assets: £71,500 • Cash drawings paid directly to the proprietor: £22,000 • Personal residential electricity and private home broadband paid from the business bank account: £3,500 • Trading inventory taken by the proprietor for personal use (Cost: £1,800; Normal Selling Price: £2,700) • Capital Introduced: The proprietor transferred a private delivery van to the business valued at £8,000 and deposited £4,000 cash from personal savings. What is the Profit for the Year under the Capital Comparison Method?

A
B
C
D
Test Your Knowledge

When constructing an Opening or Closing Statement of Affairs from incomplete records, which of the following statements correctly describes the valuation rules applicable under IAS / UK GAAP (FRS 102)?

A
B
C
D
Test Your Knowledge

A sole trader who keeps incomplete records operates a cash-dominated retail shop. For the year ended 30 June 20X6, the cash records reveal: • Cash in till at 1 July 20X5: £800 • Cash in till at 30 June 20X6: £1,100 • Cash banked into the business bank account during the year: £142,000 • Cash used directly from the till to pay business operating expenses (casual wages & petty supplies): £18,400 • Cash drawings taken directly from the till by the proprietor: £24,000 • Unaccounted cash shortage suspected of being stolen by an employee: £2,500 • Cash introduced by proprietor from personal savings into till: £0 What was the Total Cash Takings (Cash Sales) generated by the shop during the financial year?

A
B
C
D