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Profit and Loss Account
According to Prof. Carter:
‘A Profit and Loss Account is an account into which all gains and losses are collected, in order to ascertain the excess of gains over the losses or vice-versa’.
Why Profit and loss account is made?
- To find out the Net Profit or Net Loss
- Compare the net profit of the business with previous years and to assess the performance of the business.
- Find out the amount of overheads of a business.
Items appearing on a Profit and Loss account
Any Incomes or gains
Any income or gains of the business from sources other than sales are recorded on the Credit side of Profit and loss account.
Gross Profit or Loss
It is transferred to the P/L account from the Trading Account. Gross Profit is transferred to the Debit side whereas Gross Loss is transferred to the Credit side.
Office and Administrative expenses
Example include salaries, office rent, lighting, stationery etc.
Selling and Distribution expenses
Include advertising expense, commission, carriage outwards, bad-debts etc.
Miscellaneous expenses
Such as, interest on loan, interest on capital, depreciation etc.
