Accounting for Partnership: Fundamentals Class 12 Accountancy | Expert Commerce Edge
Due to the limitations of sole proprietorship regarding limited capital, limited managerial abilities, and the low scale of business, which involves more risk due to unlimited liability, the need for partnership arises. A partnership is a relation of mutual trust and faith. There are certain peculiarities in the accounts of a partnership firm than those prepared in a sole proprietorship firm. The main peculiarities regarding the accounting of partnership firms are the maintenance of partners’ capital accounts, distribution of profits to the partners, etc.
Meaning of Partnership:
A partnership is an agreement, written/oral, between two or more persons who have agreed to do some lawful business and to share profit or loss arising from the business.
According to the Indian Partnership Act, 1932, Section 4
“Partnership is the relation between persons who have agreed to share the profits of a business carried on by all or any of them acting for all.”
In partnership, two or more persons join hands to set up a business and share its profit and losses.
Persons who have entered into a partnership with one another are called individually partners and collectively ‘a firm’, and the name under which their business is carried on is called the ‘firm name’. A partnership firm is not a separate legal entity apart from the partners constituting it.
Features of Partnership
1. Two or More Persons: There must be a minimum of two persons to form a partnership firm, according to the Indian Partnership Act, 1932, but it does not specify the maximum number of partners. In this issue, Section 11 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956 limits the number of partners to 10 (ten) for a partnership carrying on banking business and 20 (twenty) for a partnership carrying on any other type of business.
As per Companies Act 2013 limits the number of partners to 50 [Section 464 Rule No. 10 of Comapnies (Misc.) Rule, 2014]
2. Agreement: Partnership comes into existence on account of an agreement among the partners, and not from status or operations of law. The agreement becomes the basis of the relationship between the partners. It may be written or oral. It may be for a fixed period or a particular venture or at will.
3. Business: A partnership can be formed to carry on some lawful business to earn profits.
4. Mutual Agency: The partnership business may be carried on by all the partners or any of them acting for all. This statement means that every partner is entitled to participate in the conduct of the affairs of its business, and there exists a relationship of mutual agency between all the partners.
Partners are agents as well as principals for all other partners. Each partner can bind other partners by his acts and also is bound by the acts of other partners about the business of the firm. The relationship of the mutual agency is an important feature of partnership that one can say there would be no partnership if this feature were absent,
5. Sharing of Profit: The agreement between the partners must be to share the profits (or losses). Though the definition of partnership, according to Partnership Act, describes the partnership as the relationship between people who agree to share the profits of a business, the sharing of loss is implied. If some persons join hands for some charitable activity, it will not be termed as a partnership.
6. Liability of Partnership: The liability of the partnership is unlimited. Each partner is liable jointly with all the other partners and also individually to the third party for all the acts of the firm done while he is a partner.
Partnership Deed:
A partnership is formed by an agreement, there must be some terms and conditions agreed upon by all the partners. A document in writing which contains the terms of agreement for the partnership is called a ‘Partnership Deed’. This document contains the details about all the aspects affecting the relationship between the partners including the objectives of the business, the contribution of capital by each partner, ratio in which the profit and losses will be shared by the partners, and entitlement of partners to interest on capital, interest on the loan, etc. The clauses of the partnership deed can be altered with the consent of all the partners. It is also known as ‘Articles of Partnership’.
Contents of Partnership Deed:
- Names and Addresses of the firm and its main business.
- Names and Addresses of all partners.
- Amount of capital contributed or to be contributed by each partner.
- The accounting period of the firm.
- Date of commencement of partnership firm.
- Rules regarding operations of a bank account.
- Profit and loss sharing ratio.
- Duration of partnership, if any.
- Rate of interest on capital, loan, drawings, etc.
- Salaries, commissions, etc., if payable to any partner(s).
- The rights, duties, and liabilities of each partner.
- Mode of auditor’s appointment, if any.
- Rules to be followed in case of admission, retirement, death of a partner.
- Rules to be followed in case of insolvency of one or more partners.
- Settlement of accounts on the dissolution of the firm.
- Rules for the settlement of disputes among the partners.
- Safe custody of the books of accounts and other documents of the firm.
- Any other matter relating to the conduct of business.
Provisions Relevant for (Affecting) Accounting of Partnership:
Normally, the partnership deed covers all matters relating to the mutual relationship of partners amongst themselves. But if the partnership is silent on certain matters, or in the absence of any deed, the provisions of the Indian Partnership Act, 1932, shall apply.
The important provisions affecting partnership accounts are:
- Profit-Sharing Ratio: In the absence of a deed or agreement, the profit and loss of the firm are to be shared equally by the partners, irrespective of their capital contribution to the firm.
- Interest on Capital: No interest on capital shall be allowed to the partners. Even if there is a provision to pay interest on capital, it is paid only when there is a profit.
- Interest on Drawings: No interest is to be charged on drawings.
- Interest on Loan, Advances: If any partner, apart from his capital, provides a loan to the firm, he is entitled to get interest at the rate of 6% per annum. Such interest shall be paid even if there a losses to the firm.
- Remuneration to Partners: No partner is entitled to any salary or commission for participating in the business of the firm.
Apart from the above, the Indian Partnership Act specifies that subject to a contract between the partners:
- If a partner derives any profit for himself/herself from any transaction of the firm or the use of the property or business connection of the firm or the firm name, he/ she shall account for the profit and pay it to the firm
- If a partner carries on any business of the same nature as and competing with that of the firm, he/she shall account for and pay to the firm all profit made by him/her in that business.
Profit and Loss Appropriation Account:
Journal Entries relating to Profit and Loss Appropriation Account:
1. Transfer of Net Profit/Net Loss as per Profit and Loss Account to Profit and Loss Appropriation Account:
(a) If Profit:
Profit and Loss A/c Dr.
To Profit and Loss App. A/c
(b) If Loss:
Profit and Loss App. A/c Dr.
To Profit and Loss A/c
2. Interest on Capital:
(a) For crediting interest on capital to partner’s Capital/Current
Account:
Interest on Capital A/c Dr.
To Partner’s Capital A/c or Current A/c (Individually)
(b) For transferring interest on Capital to Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c:
Profit and Loss App. A/c Dr
To Interest on Capital A/c OR
Only one entry may be passed in place of the above two entries:
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c Dr.
To Partner’s Capital/Current A/c (Individually)
3. Interest in Drawings:
(a) For charging interest on drawings to partner’s Capital/ Current A/c:
Partners Capital/Current A/c (Individually) Dr.
To Interest on Drawings A/c
(b) For transferring interest on drawings to Profit and Loss Appropriation Account:
Interest on Drawings A/c Dr.
To Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c OR
Only one entry may be passed in place of the above two entries:
Partner’s Capital/Current A/c (Individually) Dr.
To Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c
4. Salary to Partner(s):
(a) For crediting partner’s salary to partner’s Capital/Current A/c:
Salary to Partner A/c Dr.
To Partner’s Capital /Current A/c (Individually)
(b) For transferring partner’s salary to Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c:
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c Dr.
Talary to Partner A/c OR
Only one entry may be passed in place of the above two entries:
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c Dr.
To Partner’s Capital/Current A/c (Individually)
5. Commission to Partner(s):
(a) For crediting partner’s commission to partner’s Capital/ Current A/c:
Commission to Partner A/c Dr.
To Partner’s Capital/Current A/c (Individually)
(b) For transferring partner’s commission to Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c:
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c Dr.
To Commission to Partner A/c OR
Only one entry may be passed in place of the above two entries:
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c Dr.
To Partner’s Capital/Current A/c (Individually)
6. Share of Profit/Loss after adjustments:
(a) If Profit
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c Dr.
To partner’s Capital/Current A/c (Individually)
OR
(b) If Loss:
Partner’s Capital/Current A/c (Individually) Dr. To Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c
The format of Profit and Loss Appropriation Account is given below:
Format of Profit and Loss Appropriation Account
Maintenance of Capital Accounts of Partners:
There are two methods by which the capital accounts of partners are maintained. They are the following:
(a) Fixed Capital Method
(b) Fluctuating Capital Method
(a) Fixed Capital Method: Under the fixed capital method, the capitals of the partner shall remain fixed unless some additional capital is introduced or some amount of capital is withdrawn with the consent of all the partners.
In this method, two accounts for each partner are to be maintained:
- Capital Account
- Current Account.
1. Capital Account: This account is credited with the amount of capital introduced by the partner. This account will continue to show the same balance from year to year unless some amount of capital is introduced or withdrawn. This account always appears on the liabilities side in the balance sheet.
2. Current Account: All entries relating to drawings, interest on capital, interest on drawings, salary or commission, the share of profit or loss, etc., are made in this account. This account is debited with drawings, interest on drawings, the share of loss, etc. and credited with the interest on capital, salary, commission, the share of profit, etc. The balance of this account will fluctuate from year to year. If it has a credit balance, then it will appear on the liabilities side of the Balance Sheet, and if it has a debit balance, then it will appear on the assets side of the Balance Sheet.
The format of the Capital Account and Current account are as follows:
(b) Fluctuating Capital Method: Under this method, only one account, i.e. Capital Account, is maintained for each partner. All the entries relating to the interest on capital, salary, commission to partners, the share of profit and loss, drawings, interest on drawings, etc., are directly recorded in the capital accounts of the partners. The balance of this account fluctuates from year to year. The format of Fluctuating Capital Account is as follows:
Partner’s Capital Account
Difference between Fixed and Fluctuating Capital Accounts
Interest on Capital – Accounting Treatment
Interest on capital is allowed to partners if it is provided in the partnership agreement. It is calculated as:
Interest on capital = Amount of Capital × Rate/100 × Time
When there are both additions and withdrawals of capital by the partners during the financial year, the interest on capital can be calculated as:
1. On the opening balance of Capital A/c, interest is calculated for the whole year.
If the closing balance of the Capital A/c is given, then we have to find the opening balance of Capital A/c:
Opening Capital = Closing Capital + Drawings during the year + Interest on Drawing – Share of Profits – Salary to Partner – Commission to Partner – Additional Capital
2. On the additional capital brought in by any partner during the year, interest is calculated from the date of introduction of additional capital to the last day of the financial year
3. On the amount of capital withdrawn (other than usual drawings) during the year, interest on capital for the period from the date of withdrawal to the last day of the financial year is calculated and deducted from the total of the interest calculated under points (1) and (2) above.
Or
Drawing from capital has been made then the amount deducted from the capital and interest is calculated on the balance amount.
The interest on capital is allowed only when there is profit during the financial year. No interest will be allowed on capital if the firm has incurred a net loss during the year. If the profit of the firm is less than the amount due to the partners as interest on capital, the payment of interest will be restricted to the number of profits. In other words, profit will be distributed in the ratio of interest on the capital of each partner.
Salary and Commission of Partners:
Salary and commission can only be payable to the partners if it has been agreed by all the partners and expressly stated in the partnership deed. The partner’s commission is calculated as under:
(a) On Net Profit Before Charging Commission =
Net Profit before commission × (Rate of Commission / 100)
(b) On Net Profit After Charging Commission =
Net Profit before commission × (Rate of Commission / (Rate of Commission + 100))
Interest on Partner’s Loan:
When a partner provides a loan to the firm, a separate loan account is opened for the partner and interest on the loan at the agreed rate is credited. In the absence of a prior agreement, the interest on the loan is to be credited at the rate of 6% p.a. The interest thus provided on the partner’s loan is a charge against profits and must be allowed even when there is a loss.
Interest on Drawings – Accounting Treatment
Drawing is the amount withdrawn, in cash or in-kind, for personal use by the partner(s). Interest on drawings is calculated concerning the date of withdrawal.
The calculation of interest on drawings under different situations is shown as under:
(a) When Fixed Amount is Withdrawn Every Month/Quarter:
If the withdrawals are of uniform amount and are made at regular intervals, then interest on drawings can be calculated on the total of the amount drawn for the average of the periods applicable to the first and last instalment.
Average period = (No. of months left after first drawings + No. of months left after last drawings) ÷ 2
Depending upon the availability of information, interest on drawings in different cases is calculated as follows:
Rules for Calculation of Drawings of equal amount Made Monthly during the year
(a) When drawings are made at the beginning of every month:
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate/100 × 6½/12
(b) When drawings are made in the middle of every month:
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate/100 × 6/12
(c) When drawings are made at the end of every month:
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate/100 × 5½/12
Rules for Calculation of Interest on Drawings of Equal Amount Made Quarterly
(a) Drawings in the beginning of each quarter:
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate/100 × 7.5/12
(b) Drawings in the middle of each quarter:
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate/100 × 6/12
(c) Drawings at the end of each quarter:
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate/100 × 4.5/12
Rules for Calculation of Drawings of Equal Amount Made for 6 Months
(a) Drawings in the beginning of each month for 6 months:
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate/100 × 3.5/12
(b) Drawings in the middle of each month for 6 months:
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate/100 × 3/12
(c) Drawings at the end of each month for 6 months:
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate/100 × 2.5/12
Rules for Calculation of Drawings of Equal Amount Made for 9 Months
(a) Drawings made in the beginning of each month:
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate/100 × 5/12
(b) Drawings made in the middle of each month:
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate/100 × 4.5/12
(c) Drawings made at the end of each month:
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate/100 × 4/12
(b) When Varying Amounts are Withdrawn at Different Intervals: When the partners withdraw unequal amounts of money at different time intervals, there are two methods for calculating Interest on Drawings.
- SImple Method : Under this method, calculation is done only for the period the amount has been utilesed by the partners.
- Formula : Interest on Drawing = Amount of drawing × Rate of Interest /100 × No. of months /12
- Product Method – Under this method, each amount of drawing is multiplied by its period.
- Formula : Interest on Drawing = Total of Products × Rate of Interest /100 × 1/12 or 1/365
Important Notes –
- When the total amount withdrawn is given, but the dates of withdrawals are not specified, then it is assumed that the amount was withdrawn evenly throughout the year. Here, the time period is taken 6 months.
Interest on Drawings = Total Drawings × Rate /100×6/12 - If the rate of interest on drawings is given without the word ‘per annum or p.a.’, interest is charged for the full year without considering the time factor.
Past Adjustments – Accounting Treatment
Sometimes, after making of final accounts and the distribution of profits among the partners, a few omissions or errors in the recording of transactions or the preparation of summary statements are found. These errors or omissions need adjustments for correction of their impact.
This error or omissions may relate to:
- Interest on capital may have been omitted or have been wrongly treated.
- Interest in drawings may have been omitted.
- Salary or commission payable has been omitted in the capital account of the partner.
- The profit-sharing ratio has been changed from the past.
- Interest in the partner’s loan has been omitted.
Guarantee of Profit to a Partner:
Sometimes, a partner may be guaranteed a minimum amount of profit by one or some or by all the partners in the existing profit-sharing ratio or some other agreed ratio. The minimum guaranteed amount shall be paid to a partner when his share of profit as per the profit-sharing ratio is less than the guaranteed amount.
The following steps may be followed in this case:
- Calculate the share of profit of the partner who has been guaranteed a minimum amount of profit as per profit-sharing ratio. If this amount is more than or equal to the amount guaranteed, no adjustment is required.
- If the share of profit of that partner is less than the guaranteed amount, then we have to find out the difference between the guaranteed amount and the share of profit of that partner.
- Then, we add this difference to the share of the profit of the partner and deduct the difference from the share of profit of other partners or partner who has guaranteed the amount in the agreed ratio.
