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Class 11 and Class 12 commerce students, and CA Foundation aspirants, studying Financial Accounting.

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Trading Account: Meaning, Format and Examples

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Quick Overview & Key Takeaways

Focus Topic:Trading Account: Meaning, Format and Examples

Estimated Reading Time:8 mins

Meaning of Trading Account: - Trading account is prepared to find out the gross profit of the business for the particular accounting period. It is calculated…
Syllabus-aligned study material with detailed definitions, formats, and practical examples.
Interactive check: Includes a custom practice quiz at the bottom of the article to self-evaluate knowledge.

Meaning of Trading Account: -

Trading account is prepared to find out the gross profit of the business for the particular accounting period. It is calculated by comparing the net sale with the cost of goods sold(COGS). Gross Profit/Loss = Net Sale - COGS Net Sale = Total Sale (Cash sale + Credit Sale) - Sale Returned/Returned Inward Cost of Goods Sold = Opening Stock + Net Purchase + Direct Expenses - Closing Stock.

Opening Stock = Stock we have in hand at the start of the accounting year.
Net Purchase = Total Purchase (Cash Purchase + Credit Purchase ) - Purchase Returned/Returned Outward
Direct Expenses = All expenses which are directly related to purchasing of goods and converting them into saleable condition.
Closing Stock = Stock we have in hand at the end of the accounting year.

It shows the only gross profit it is not actual earning of the business. We will get know the actual earning in the Profit/Loss account after making the adjustment of all expenses (i.e. Direct and Indirect Expenses).

The feature of Trading Account: -

Trading Account shows the total revenue of the business for the current financial year.
It shows Gross Margin(Profit) or Loss for the current financial year.
It will be prepared at the end of each accounting or financial year.
Only Direct Expenses posted on the Debit side and Direct revenue are posted on the credit side.
Excess of credit side over the Debit side represents the Profit of the year and Excess of Debit side over Credit side represents the loss for the year.
Help in comparison with the closing stock with an opening stock
Help in fixation of the Selling price for the product in trading Business.

The Need for Trading Account: -

Gross Profit:-

We need the trading account to ascertain the gross profit for the year. Gross profit is playing a vital role in every business because the business has to meet all its expenses(i.e. Direct and Indirect expenses) from it.

Calculation of Gross Profit Ratio: -

It helps us to calculate GP ratio by providing us with the net sale and Gross Profit/Loss. (GP Ratio = Gross Profit / Net sale)

Stock or Inventory Turnover: -

It helps us to calculate the Stock or Inventory turnover ratio by providing us with the net sale and Closing stock. (Stock or Inventory turnover ratio = Closing stock / Net sale)

Net Sales: -

We got total sales and sales returns from the ledger accounts but the amount of net sale can be determined from this account.

The trend of Direct Expense and Direct Incomes:-

It helps in determining the trend of the Direct expenses and Direct income involved in the cost of goods sold and sales respectively. With the help of tread, top management takes a future decision for setting up the price of the products.

Preparation of Trading Account:-

For preparing Trading Accounts, we have to close the ledger of direct expenses or direct income. for this we have to post following closing journal entries in the Journal Proper: -

Closing Journal Entries: -

1. For closing all the Debit accounts of Direct expenses and Opening Stock: -

Trading Account Dr.

To Opening Stock Account

To Purchase Account

Stock as on 01/04/2015	10,000
Purchases	2,00,000
Freight	15,000
Wages	50,000
Carriage	10,000
Sales	3,20,000
Return Inward	10,000
Return outward	20,000
Stock as on 31/03/2018	20,000

Particulars	Debit	Credit
Trading A/c Dr.	285,000
To Opening Stock a/c		10,000
To Purchase a/c		200,000
To Freight		15,000
To Wages		50,000
To Carriage		10,000
(Being all expenses and Opening Stock related to Trading Account transferred)

Sales a/c Dr.	320,000
Closing Stock Dr.	20,000
To Trading a/c		340,000
(Being all Income and Closing Stock related to Trading Account transferred)

Sale a/c Dr.	10,000
To Return Inward a/c		10,000
(Being balance of Sale return account transferred to Sale account)

Return outward Dr.	20,000
To Purchase a/c		20,000
(Being balance of purchase return account transferred to purchase account)

Trading Account Dr.	75,000
To Profit/Loss Account		75,000
(Being gross profit transferred to profit/loss account )

Particulars		Amount	Particulars		Amount
Dr.					Cr.
To Opening Stock		10,000	By Sale a/c	320,000
To Purchase a/c	200,000		Less: - Return Inward a/c	10,000	310,000
Less: - Return outward	20,000	180,000	By Closing Stock		20,000
To Freight		15,000
To Wages		50,000
To Carriage		10,000
To Profit/Loss a/c (Balancing Figure represent Gross Profit)		75,000
		330,000			330,000

Stock as on 01/04/2015	30,000
Purchases	1,00,000
Freight	10,000
Wages	70,000
Carriage	20,000
Sales	1,70,000
Return Inward	30,000
Return outward	25,000
Stock as on 31/03/2018	40,000

Particulars	Debit	Credit
Trading A/c Dr.	285,000
To Opening Stock a/c		30,000
To Purchase a/c		100,000
To Freight		10,000
To Wages		70,000
To Carriage		20,000
(Being all expenses and Opening Stock related to Trading Account transferred)

Sales a/c Dr.	170,000
Closing Stock Dr.	40,000
To Trading a/c		210,000
(Being all Income and Closing Stock related to Trading Account transferred)

Sale a/c Dr.	30,000
To Return Inward a/c		30,000
(Being balance of Sale return account transferred to Sale account)

Return outward Dr.	25,000
To Purchase a/c		25,000
(Being balance of purchase return account transferred to purchase account)

Profit/Loss Account Dr.	75,000
To Trading Account		75,000
(Being gross loss transferred to profit/loss account )

Trading Account: Meaning, Format and Examples

Quick Overview & Key Takeaways

Meaning of Trading Account: -

The feature of Trading Account: -

The Need for Trading Account: -

Gross Profit:-

Calculation of Gross Profit Ratio: -

Stock or Inventory Turnover: -

Net Sales: -

The trend of Direct Expense and Direct Incomes:-

Preparation of Trading Account:-

Closing Journal Entries: -

1. For closing all the Debit accounts of Direct expenses and Opening Stock: -

2. For closing all the Credit accounts related to the Trading A/c: -

3. For the recording of Purchase Return and Sales Return in Trading A/c: -

4. For the recording of goods withdrawal by the owner for personal use not recorded yet transferred in Trading A/c: -

5. For the recording of goods distributed as sample or Donation not recorded yet transferred in Trading A/c: -

6. For the transfer of gross profit/loss to Profit and Loss Account: -

The format of Trading Account:-

1. Illustration: -

Solution: -

2. Illustration: -

Solution: -

Sarbjit SinghB.Com and M.Com

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