Fundamental of Partnership Revision Notes
Fundamental of Partnership Revision Notes
“Partnership is the relations between two or more persons who have agreed to share the
profits of a business carried on by all or any one of them acting for all”
Features of Partnership
1. Two or more persons: There must be at least two persons to form a valid partnership.
The maximum number of partners cannot exceed the number of partners prescribed by
companies Act, 2013 which is 50 in any business whether banking or non- banking.
3. Existence of business and profit motive :A partnership can be formed for the purpose of
carrying on legal business with the intention of earning profits. A joint ownership of some
property by itself cannot be called a partnership.
4. Sharing of Profits : An agreement between the partners must be aimed at sharing the
profits. If some persons join hands to run some charitable activity, it will not be called
partnership. Futher, if a partner is deprived of his right to share the profits of the business,
he cannot be called as partner.
5. Buiness carried on by all or any of them acting for all : It means that each partner can
participate in the conduct of business and each partner is bound by the acts of other partners
in respect to the business of the firm.
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Partnership Deed
Since partnership is the outcome of an agreement, it is essential that there must be some
terms and conditions agreed upon by all the partners. Such terms and conditions mat be
either written or oral. The law doesnot make it compulsory to have a written agreement.
However, in order to avoid all misunderstandings and disputes, it is always the best course to
have a written agreement duly signed and registered under the Act.
The partnership deed is a written agreement among the partners which contains the
terms of agreement. It is also called ' Articles of Partnership' . A partnership deed
should contain the following points:
6. Interest on capital.
9. Interest on loan.
15. Opening of Bank Account – whereas it will be in the name of firm or partners.
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16. Rules to be followed in case of admission & Settlement of accounts or retirement or death
of partner.
19. Auditing
(2) It helps to avoid any misunderstanding amongst the partners because all the terms and
conditins of partnership have been laid down before hand in the deed.
(3) Any dispute amongst the partners may be settled easily as the partnership deed may be
readiy referred to.
Hence, it is always best course to have a written partnership deed duly signed by all the
partners and registered under the Act.
Transactiions of the partnerhsip firm are recorded according to the principles of Double-
entry book keeping system, and as in the case of a sole proprietorship concern a partnership
firm will also prepare Trading account, Profit & Loss account and Balance Sheet at the end of
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every year. The only difference between accounting of a sole trader and partnership firm is
that the profits of the partnership firm ar divided amongst the partners.
A Profit and Loss Appropriation Account is prepared to show the distribution of profits
among partners as per the provision of Partnership Deed (or as per the provision of Indian
Partnership Act, 1932 in the absence of Partnership Deed). It is an extension of profit and
Loss Account. It is nominal account. It records entries for interest on capital, Interest on
Drawings, Salary to the partner, and division of profits among the partners.
The Journal Entries regarding Profit and Loss Appropriation Account are as follows:
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To Partner’s Capital/Current A/cs
Appropriation A/s:
To Reserve A/c
6. For transfer to Profit (i.e. Credit Balance of Profit and Loss Appropriation Account
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To Partners Capital/Current A/cs
To Interest on Capital:
A
By Profit and Loss A/c (Net Profits
B
transferred from P & L A/c)
To Partner’s Salary/Commission
By Interest on drawings:
To Reserves
A
To Profits transferred to capital A/cs of:
B
A
B
Parter’s Capital Accounts : It is an account which represents the partners interest in the
business.
In case of partnership business, a separate capital account is mainted for each partner. The
capital accounts of partners may be maintained by any of the following two methods.
Under this method the original capitals invested by the partners remain constant, unless
additional capital is introduced by an agreement. All entries relating to drawings, interest on
capitals, interest on drawings, salary to partner, share of profits/losses are made in separate
account whihc is called as Current Account. Thus the following two accounts are maintained
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when capitals are fixed.
This account will always show a credit balance: Balance of Capital account remains fixed,
it does not change every year that is why it is called fixed capital method and only the
following two transactions are recorded in the Fixed Capital Accounts:
The Current account may show a debit or credit balance. All the usual adjustments such as
interest on Capital, partner’s salary/commission, drawings (out of profits), interest on
drawings and share in profits or losses etc. are recorded in this account.All the Current
Year's adjustments are recorded in this account, that is why it is called Current account.
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To Interest on Drawings Appropriation A/c
To Profit and Loss A/c (Share in Profits)
(Share in losses) By Balance c/d
To Balance c/d (Closing Dr. Balance)
(Closing credit Balance)
Note :
2. Credits balance of Current Account A/c is shown in Liabilities side of balance Sheet.
3. Balance of Fixed Capital Accounts are always shown in Liabilities side of Balance Sheet as
it will be always be credit balance.
In this method only one account i.e., Capital Account of each and every partner is prepared
and all the adjustment such as interest on capital interest on drawings etc, are recorded in
this account under this method, Capital account may show a debit or credit balance and the
balance of this account changes frequently from time to time therefore it is called fluctuating
Capital Account.In this method the capitals are not fixed. In the absence of information,
the Capital Accounts should be prepared by this method.
Partner’s Capital
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(Share in losses) (Share in Profits)
To Balance c/d By Balance c/d
(Closing credit Balance) (Closing Dr. Balance)
INTEREST ON CAPITAL
Interest on partners capital will be allowed only when it has been specifically mentioned in
the partnership deed. If interest on capital is to be allowed as per the agreement, it should be
calculated with respect to the time, rate of interest and the amount of capital. Interest on
Capital can be treated as either:
a. An Appropriation of profit; or
In case of
Interest on Capital is NOT ALLOWED
Losses
In cases of
Sufficient Interest on Capital is ALLOWED IN FULL
Profits
In case of
Interest will be restricted to the amount of profit. Hence, profit will be
Insufficient
distributed in the ratio of interest on capital of each partner.
Profits
Note:
Il’ Opening Capital is not given in the question, it should be ascertained as follows:
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Particulars (Rs.)
INTEREST ON DRAWINGS
Interest on drawing is charged by the firm only when it is clearly mentioned in Partnership
Deed. It is calculated with reference to the time period for which the money was withdrawn.
There are two cases in which calulation of interest on drawings may arise:
Interest on Drawing =
Note: Interest is calculated for a period of 6 months, we assume drawings have been done
evenly during the year, that is why we take average six months tenure.
Interest on Drawing =
We have the following two methods to calculate the amount of interest on Drawing:
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In this method, interest on drawing is calculated for each amount of drawing individually on
the basis of periods for which it remained withdrawn till the close of accounting period.
2. Product Method
In this method, the amounts of drawings are multiplied by the period for which it remained
withdrawn during the period;Thereafter the products are added and interest is calculated on
the total of products so arrived at for one month. The advantage of this system is that
separate calculations are not required each time.
We can explain the above mentioned two methods with the help of an example.
May 1 12000
July 31 6000
September 30 9000
November 30 12000
Janurary 1 8000
March 31 7000
SIMPLE METHOD
31 MAR 7000 0 00
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TOTAL 54000 2295
PRODUCT METHOD
31 MAR 7000 0 00
Interest on Drawing can be calculated using either Product Method or Direct Method (i.e.
Short Cut Method)
Direct Method will be used only if all the following three conditions are satisfied:
4. Interest on Drawing =
Quarterly
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Monthly Drawings for Half yearly Drawings for 12 Monthly Drawings
Drawings for 12 Months Months for 06 Months (last 6
12 Months months)
9
7.5 3.5(beginning of the
6.5(beginning (beginning of every month for
(beginning of month for last six
of the month) six month in the beginning of 6
every quater) month)
months)
6
3(middle of the
6(middle of 6(middle of middle of every month for six
month for last six
very month) every quater) month in the beginning of 6
month)
months)
If a partner has given loan to the firm, he is entittled to receive interest on such loan at an
agreed rate.
The following entries are passed to record the interest on partner’s loan
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To Interest on Loan A/c
Rent paid to a partner is also a charge against profits and it will also be
Note:
= =Rs. 5,000
PAST ADJUSTMENTS
If, after preparation of Final Accounts of firm, it is found that some errors or commission in
accounts has occurred than such errors or omissions are rectified in the next year by passing
an adjustment entry.
A statement is prepared to ascertain the net effect of such errors or omissions on partner’s
capital/current accounts in the following manner.
Total A
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B. Amount already given to be taken back now debited
* Interest on Capital
(If given at a higher rate)
* Interest on Drawings
(If not charged)
* Profits already distributed in wrong ratio
(debited now)
Total B
Journal
During Past Adjustment it is not compulsory that capital accounts of all partners are affected.
More than one partners Capital Account may be debited or credited but amount of debit &
credit should be equal.
Guarantee is an assurance given to the partner of the firm that at least a fixed amount
shall be given to him/her irrespective of his/her actual share in profits of the firm. If
actual share in profits is less than the guaranteed amount in that case the deficit
amount shall be borne either by the firm or by any partner as the case may be or as
may have been decided bya na agreement.
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Note:
Guarantee to a partner is given for minimum share in profits. If the actual share in profits is
more than the minimum share in profits, then the actual profits will be allowed to the
partner.
Case: 1. When guarantee is given by FIRM (i.e. by all the Partners of the firm)
1. If share in actual profits is less than the guaranteed amount then. Guaranteed amount to a
partner is first written off against the profits and then,
2. Remaining profits are distributed among the remaining partners in the remaining ratio.
1. Calculate the share in profits for the partner to whom guarantee is given.
2. If share in profits is more than the guaranteed amount, distribute the profit as per the
profit and loss sharing ratio in usual manner.
3. If share in profits is less than the guaranteed amount, find the difference between the
share in profits and the guaranteed amount and the difference known as deficiency.
Deficiency is contributed by the partner or partners who guaranteed in certain ratio and
subtracted from his or their respective shares.
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