accruals concept

accruals concept
One of the four fundamental accounting concepts laid down in Statement of Standard Accounting Practice (SSAP) 2, Disclosure of Accounting Policies; it is also recognized in the Companies Act (1985) and the EU's Fourth Accounting Directive It requires that revenue and costs are recognized as they are earned or incurred, not as money is received or paid. Income and expenses should be matched with one another, as far as their relationship can be established or justifiably assumed, and dealt with in the profit and loss account of the period to which they relate. Accruals and prepayments are examples of the application of the accruals concept in practice. For example, if a rates bill for both a current and future period is paid, that part relating to the future period is carried forward as a current asset (a prepayment) until it can be matched to the future periods. The importance of the accruals concept was reaffirmed in Financial Reporting Standard 18, which has now superseded SSAP 2.

Big dictionary of business and management. 2014.

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  • accruals concept — One of the four fundamental accounting concepts laid down in Statement of Standard Accounting Practice (SSAP) 2, Disclosure of Accounting Policies; it is also recognized in the Companies Act (1985) and the EU s Fourth Directive. It requires that… …   Accounting dictionary

  • accruals basis — The matching of *revenues and *expenses to the periods in which they are earned or incurred. In contrast to a *cash basis approach, which *recognizes revenues and expenses in line with the receipt or payment of cash, an accruals basis of… …   Auditor's dictionary

  • accruals basis — /ə kru:əlz ˌbeɪsɪs/, accruals concept /ə kru:əlz ˌkɒnsept/ noun a method of preparing accounts in which revenues and costs are both reported during the period to which they refer and not during the period when payments are received or made …   Dictionary of banking and finance

  • accruals — 1. One of the fundamental accounting concepts, also known as the matching concept. Revenue and costs are credited or charged to the profit and loss account for the year in which they are earned or incurred, not when any cash is received or paid.… …   Financial and business terms

  • matching concept — An essential principle of accrual accounting in which revenue and expenditure are not allocated to accounting periods on the basis of cash received or paid, but matched within one particular period so that the profit for the period can be… …   Accounting dictionary

  • cash basis of accounting — receipts and payments basis Accounting based on the cash concept rather than the accruals concept. Transactions are recorded on the date that cash is received or paid out and are included in the profit and loss account in which these payments… …   Accounting dictionary

  • accounting concepts — accounting principles; = fundamental accounting concepts The basic theoretical ideas devised to support the activity of accounting. As accounting developed largely from a practical base, it has been argued that it lacks a theoretical framework.… …   Accounting dictionary

  • accounting concepts — accounting principles; fundamental accounting concepts The basic theoretical ideas devised to support the activity of accounting. As accounting developed largely from a practical base, it has been argued that it lacks a theoretical framework.… …   Big dictionary of business and management

  • Fourth Directive — An EU directive (1978) concerning the harmonization of company law and accounting practices in member states. It recognized five accounting concepts as fundamental: the accounting entity concept, the accruals concept, the consistency concept, the …   Accounting dictionary

  • Fourth Accounting Directive — An EU directive (1978) concerning the harmonization of company law and accounting practices in member states. It recognized five accounting concepts as fundamental: the accounting entity concept, the accruals concept, the consistency concept, the …   Big dictionary of business and management

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