Other Receivables & Payables (Edexcel IGCSE Accounting)

Revision Note

Adjustments for Accrued & Prepaid Expenses

How do I record accruals and prepayments of expenses on the financial statements?

  • Calculate the total amount that is due for the current year

  • Accrued expenses are amounts which remain unpaid at the end of the accounting period

  • Prepaid expenses are amounts that are paid in the current accounting period but relate to a future accounting period

  • The total amount due for the year is the value included on the income statement

    • If an expense has an accrual then add that value to the balance of the account

    • If an expense has a prepayment then subtract that value from the balance of the account

  • The amounts of the accruals or prepayments are stated on the statement of financial position

    • The amount of an expense that is accrued is treated as a current liability

      • Label it as other payables

    • The amount of an expense that is prepaid is treated as a current asset

      • Label it as other receivables

Examiner Tips and Tricks

To help remember whether an accrual or a prepayment of an expense is an asset or a liability, consider whether the business still owes money. If it does then it is a liability.

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Where there are several accrued expenses, it is usual to show them all added as one figure on the statement of financial position called other payables under current liabilities. Similarly, several prepaid expenses are added together as one figure called other receivables under current assets.

Worked Example

Jenny runs a garage and her financial year ends 31 December 2023.

Jenny receives the electricity bill for her garage at the end of each month. The charge is $250 per month and Jenny pays by cheque on the 5th of the following month. At 31 December 2023, Jenny has not yet paid the bill for December.

Jenny pays insurance, $600, every six months. The payment is made in advance of six months. At 31 December 2023, Jenny has paid in advance for the following three months.

Prepare extracts of the financial statements to show how the electricity and insurance are treated.

Answer

Electricity:

  • Calculate the amount due for the financial year

    • 12 ✕ $250 = $3 000

    • This is the amount that will be stated on the income statement even though not all of it has been paid

  • Identify the amount still owed for December

    • One month’s bill of $250

    • This will be listed as a current liability on the statement of financial position

Insurance:

  • Calculate the amount due for the financial year

    • $600 ÷ 6 = $100 per month

    • 12 ✕ $100 = $1 200

    • This is the amount that will be stated on the income statement even though more has been paid

  • Identify the amount that has been paid in advance

    • Three months: 3 ✕ $100 = $300

    • This will be listed as a current asset on the statement of financial position

Jenny

Income Statement (extract) for the year ended 31 December 2023


Expenses

$

$

Electricity

3 000

Insurance

1 200

(4 200)

Jenny

Statement of Financial Position (extract) at 31 December 2023


$

Current assets

Other receivables

300

Current liabilities

Other payables

250

Adjustments for Accrued & Prepaid Income

How do I record accruals and prepayments of income on the financial statements?

  • Calculate the total amount that is due for the current year

  • Accrued income is an amount which has not yet been received at the end of the accounting period

  • Prepaid income is an amount that is received in the current accounting period but relates to a future accounting period

  • The total amount due for the year is the value included on the income statement

    • If an income has an accrual then add that value to the balance of the account

    • If an income has a prepayment then subtract that value from the balance of the account

  • The amounts of the accruals or prepayments are stated on the statement of financial position

    • The amount of an income that is accrued is treated as a current asset

      • Label it as other receivables

    • The amount of an income that is prepaid is treated as a current liability

      • Label it as other payables

Examiner Tips and Tricks

To help remember whether an accrual or a prepayment of income is an asset or a liability, consider whether the business is still owed income. If it is then it is an asset.

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Where there are several accrued incomes, it is usual to show them all added as one figure on the statement of financial position called other receivables under current assets. Similarly, several prepaid incomes are added together as one figure called other payables under current liabilities.

Worked Example

Savio is a trader. His financial year ends 30 September 2023. 

On 1 January 2023, Savio rents out a part of his building to a trader who pays $2 400 upfront for 12 months of rent. 

Savio receives commission, $375, every three months. On 30 September 2023, Savio has not yet received commission for the previous three months.

Prepare extracts of the financial statements to show how the rent received and commission received are treated.

Answer

Rent:

Current financial period

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

$2 400 rent for the year

  • Calculate the rent per month

    • £2 400 ÷ 12 = $200

  • Calculate the amount due for the financial year

    • 9 months included (J-F-M-A-M-J-J-A-S)

    • 9 ✕ $200 = $1 800

    • This is the amount that will be stated on the income statement even though more has been received

  • Identify the amount received in advance

    • 3 months prepaid (O-N-D)

    • 3 ✕ $200 = $600

    • This will be listed as a current liability on the statement of financial position

Commission

  • Calculate the commission per month

    • £375 ÷ 3 = $125

  • Calculate the amount due for the financial year

    • 12 ✕ $125 = $1 500

    • This is the amount that will be stated on the income statement even though not all of it has been received

  • Identify the amount still owed

    • 3 months owing: $375

    • This will be listed as a current asset on the statement of financial position

Savio

Income Statement (extract) for the year ended 30 September 2023


Other income

$

$

Rent

1 800

Commission

1 500

3 300

Savio

Statement of Financial Position (extract) at 30 September 2023


$

Current assets

Other receivables

375

Current liabilities

Other payables

600

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