Basis of Accounting Class 11: Cash vs Accrual Explained

Chapter 4: Basis of Accounting – A Complete Guide for Class 11th Students

This video, presented by a Chartered Accountant, covers Chapter 4: Basis of Accounting for Class 11 Commerce students. It explains the two primary ways to record financial transactions and is crucial for understanding your broader syllabus. The chapter is short but important, typically carrying a 3-mark theory question and two practical problems.

Core Concept: Two Bases of Accounting

The fundamental question is: "On what basis do we prepare accounts?" There are two main approaches:

1. Cash Basis of Accounting

  • Focus: Only records transactions when cash is actually received or paid.
  • Logic: Income is recorded when cash is received; expenses when cash is paid.
  • Example: Rent paid for 10 months = expense of 10 months, even if 12 months' rent is due.
  • Appropriate for: Small businesses, professionals, or non-profit organizations with simple operations.

2. Accrual Basis of Accounting

  • Focus: Records transactions when they are earned or incurred, regardless of cash flow.
  • Logic: Income is recorded when earned (even if not received); expenses when incurred (even if not paid).
  • Example: Rent for 12 months is the expense, whether or not all has been paid.
  • Industry Standard: Required by law for all companies; provides a true and fair view of profitability. For a deeper insight into how this accuracy applies to business structures, check out our Comprehensive Guide to Basic Accounting: The Complete Accounting Cycle Explained.

Key Differences & Typical Exam Questions

A 3-4 mark theory question often asks you to distinguish between cash and accrual bases. Key points include:

  • Recognition of Credit Transactions: Accrual includes credit sales/purchases; cash does not.
  • Treatment of Outstanding/Prepaid Items: Accrual accounts for outstanding expenses and prepaid expenses; cash does not.
  • Profit Calculation: Accrual gives a more accurate profit figure.
  • Legal Acceptability: Accrual basis is more acceptable and required by law.

Practical Application: The Four Special Items

The main adjustment points between the two methods are:

  • Outstanding Expenses: Expenses incurred but not yet paid.
    • Cash Basis: Not considered an expense.
    • Accrual Basis: Considered an expense.
  • Prepaid Expenses: Expenses paid in advance.
    • Cash Basis: Considered an expense.
    • Accrual Basis: Not considered an expense for the current year.
  • Accrued Income (Income Earned but Not Received):
    • Cash Basis: Not considered income.
    • Accrual Basis: Considered income for the current year.
  • Income Received in Advance (Unearned Income):
    • Cash Basis: Considered income.
    • Accrual Basis: Not considered income for the current year.

Step-by-Step Solved Example 1

Question (Illustration): Michael's data:

  • Expenses paid: ₹1,60,000 (includes ₹40,000 prepaid)
  • Expenses not yet paid (outstanding): ₹20,000
  • Income received: ₹2,40,000 (includes ₹30,000 received in advance)
  • Income not yet received (accrued): ₹24,000

Solution:

Scenario A: Cash Basis of Accounting

  • Income = Cash received = ₹2,40,000
  • Expenses = Cash paid = ₹1,60,000
  • Profit (or Income) = 2,40,000 - 1,60,000 = ₹80,000

Scenario B: Accrual Basis of Accounting

  • Income = Income earned during the year.
    • Start with income received: ₹2,40,000
    • Subtract income received in advance (not this year's): -₹30,000
    • Add income earned but not received (this year's work): +₹24,000
    • Total Income = ₹2,34,000
  • Expenses = Expenses incurred during the year.
    • Start with expenses paid: ₹1,60,000
    • Subtract prepaid expenses (not this year's expense): -₹40,000
    • Add outstanding expenses (this year's liability): +₹20,000
    • Total Expenses = ₹1,40,000
  • Profit (or Income) = 2,34,000 - 1,40,000 = ₹94,000

Step-by-Step Solved Example 2

Question (Illustration): Vijay, a consultant, earned ₹4,00,000 during the year. He received ₹3,50,000 of this. His expenses incurred were ₹1,70,000, of which ₹1,30,000 were paid (₹40,000 outstanding). He also received ₹45,000 as consultancy fees relating to the previous year and paid ₹20,000 in expenses of the last year.

Solution:

Scenario A: Cash Basis of Accounting

  • Income = Cash received = ₹3,50,000 (this year) + ₹45,000 (previous year) = ₹3,95,000
  • Expenses = Cash paid = ₹1,30,000 (this year) + ₹20,000 (previous year) = ₹1,50,000
  • Income = 3,95,000 - 1,50,000 = ₹2,45,000

Scenario B: Accrual Basis of Accounting

  • Income = Income earned this year = ₹4,00,000 (The ₹45,000 from last year is not this year's income)
  • Expenses = Expenses incurred this year = ₹1,70,000 (The ₹20,000 paid for last year is not this year's expense)
  • Income = 4,00,000 - 1,70,000 = ₹2,30,000

Final Takeaway

  • Cash basis is simple but can give a misleading picture of financial health.
  • Accrual basis is the standard for accurate accounting and is required for most businesses.
  • Understanding the treatment of outstanding, prepaid, accrued, and unearned items is key to solving exam problems. To see how these concepts apply in more complex scenarios, refer to our guide on How to Generalize Transactions in Integrated Accounting Books.

Practice a few more problems from your NCERT book to master this short but important chapter. Good luck!

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