Chapter Notes - Accounting for

Partnerships : Basic Concepts

CBSE Class -XII Accountancy
Revision Notes
Part - A
Accounting for partnership firms fundamentals
According to Section -4 of the Indian Partnership Act, 1932:
“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.
2. Agreement Partnership comes into existence by an agreement (either written or oral
among the partners. The written agreement among the partners is called Partnership
Deed.
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.
Relationship of Principal and Agent : Each partner is an agent ad well as a partner of the
firm. An agent, because he can bind the other partners by his acts and principal, because
he himself can be bound by the acts of the other partners.
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:
1. Name and address of the firm as well as partners.
2. Name and addresses of the partners.
3. Nature and place of the business.
4. Duration, if any of partnership.
5. Capital contribution by each partner.
6. Interest on capital.
7. Drawings and interest on drawings.
8. Profit sharing ratio.
9. Interest on loan.
10. Partner’s Salary/commission etc.
11. Method for valuation of goodwill and assets.
12. Accounting period of the firm and duration of partnership
13. Rights and duties of partners how disputes will be settled.
14. Decisions taken if some partner becomes insolvent.
15. Opening of Bank Account - whereas it will be in the name of firm or partners.
1. Rules to be followed in case of admission & Settlement of accounts or retirement or
death of partner.
2. Revaluation of assets & liabilities, if any to be done.
3. Method of recording of firm's accounts
4. Auditing
5. Date of commencement of partnership
Benefits of Partnership Deed
(1) It regulates the rights, duties and liabilites of each partner.
(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.
Rules applicable in the absence of partnership deed

Profit sharing Ratio Equal, Irrecspective of capital contribution.

Interest on Capital No Interest on Capital is to be allowed to any Partner

Interest on Drawings No interest on Drawings is to be charged to any partner

Salary or Commission to a Partner Not allowed to any partner

Interest on loan by a Partner Interest is allowed @ 6% per annum.

Distribution of Profits among Partners

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
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:
1. For transfer of balance of Profit and Loss Account Profit and Loss A/cDr.
To Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c
2. For Interest on Capital
For allowing Interest on capital
1. Interest on Capital A/c
To Partner’s Capital/Current A/cs (Being interest on capital allowed @ % p.a.)
2. For transferring Interest on Capital to p&L appropriation A/c.
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/cDr.
To Interest on Capital A/c.
(Being interest on capital transferred to p&L Appropriation A/c)
3. For Salary or Commission payable to a partner i. For allowing Salary or Commission to
a partner:
Partners Salary/Commission A/cDr.
To Partner’s Capital/Current A/cs
(Being salary/commission payable to a partner)
ii. For transferring Partner’s Salary/Commission A/c to Profit and Loss
Appropriation A/s:
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/cDr.
To Partner’s Salary/Commission A/c
1. For transfer of Reserves:
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/cDr.
To Reserve A/c
(Being reserve created)
2. For Interest on Drawings:
1. For charging interest on a partner’s drawings:
Partner’s Capital/Current A/c.Dr.
To Interest on Drawings A/c
(Being interest on drawings charged @ % p.a.)
2. For transferring interest on drawings to Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c Interest on
Drawings A/cDr.
To Profit and Loss Appropriation A/c
(Being interest on drawings transferred to P&L appropriation A/c)
3. For transfer to Profit (i.e. Credit Balance of Profit and Loss Appropriation Account
Profit and Loss Appropriation A/cDr.
To Partners Capital/Current A/cs (Being profits distributed among partners)
SPECIMEN OF PROFIT AND LOSS APPROPRIATION ACCOUNT Profit and Loss
Appropriation Account
For the year ending on

Particulars Rs. Particulars Rs.

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

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.
1. Fixed Capital Accounts
2. Fluctuating Capital Accounts
1. Fixed Capital Accounts
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
 when capitals are fixed.
(i) Capital Account
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:
Permanent-Additional Capital Introduced
•Permanent Capital Withdrawn or Drawings out of Capital only
Partner’s Capital A/Cs

Particulars X(Rs.) Y(Rs.) Particulars X(Rs.) Y(Rs.)

To Cash/Bank A/c By Balance b/d

(Capital Withdrawn) (Opening Cr. Balance)
To Balance c/d By Cash/Bank A/c
(Closing balance) (Additional Capital Introduced)

(ii) Current Account

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
Partner’s Current A/Cs

Particulars X(Rs.) Y(Rs.) Particulars X(Rs.) Y(Rs.)

By Balance b/d
To Balance b/d
(Opening Cr. Balance)
(Opening Dr. Balance)
By Interest on Capital
To Drawings
By Partner’s Salary or
(out of Profits)
Commission By Profit and
To Interest on Drawings
Loss
To Profit and Loss A/c
Appropriation A/c (Share in
(Share in losses)
Profits)
To Balance c/d (Closing
By Balance c/d (Closing Dr.
credit Balance)
Balance)

Note:

 Debit balance of Current Account is shown in Assets side of Balance Sheet.

 Credits balance of Current Account A/c is shown in Liabilities side of balance Sheet.
 Balance of Fixed Capital Accounts are always shown in Liabilities side of Balance Sheet as it
will be always be credit balance.

2. Fluctuating Capital Accounts

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
 Particulars X(Rs.) Y(Rs.) Particulars X(Rs.) Y(Rs.)

To Balance b/d By Balance b/d

(Opening Dr. Balance) (Opening Cr. Balance)

To Cash/Bank A/c By Cash/Bank A/c

(Capital Withdrawn) (Additional Capital Introduced)

To Drawings By Interest on Capital

By Partner’s Salary or
(out of profits)
Commission

To Interest on
By Profit and Loss
Drawings

To Profit and Loss A/c

Appropriation A/c
(Share in losses)
(Share in Profits)
To Balance c/d
By Balance c/d (Closing Dr.
(Closing credit
Balance)
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
b. A charge against profit.
A. Interest on Capital: An Appropriation of Profits:

In case of Losses Interest on Capital is NOT ALLOWED

In cases of Sufficient
Interest on Capital is ALLOWED IN FULL
Profits

Interest will be restricted to the amount of profit. Hence, profit

In case of Insufficient
will be distributed in the ratio of interest on capital of each
Profits
partner.

B. Interest on Capital: As a Charge against Profits:

Interest on Capital is always allowed in full irrespective of amount of profits of losses.
Note:
Interest on Capital is always calculated on the OPENING CAPITAL.
Il’ Opening Capital is not given in the question, it should be ascertained as follows:
 Particulars (Rs.)

Capital at the End

Add: 1. Drawingxxxxxx

1. Interest on Drawingsxxxxxx
2. Losses during the year xxxxxx

Less: 1. Additional Capital Introduced (xxxxxx)

1. Profits during the year (xxxxxx)

2. Any salary/commission received

Opening Capital..................

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:
Case 1: When Rate of Interest on Drawings is given in %
Interest on Drawings is calculated on flat rate irrespective of period.
Case 2: When Rate of Interest on Drawings is given in % p.a.
1. When date of Drawing is not given

Note: Interest is calculated for a period of 6 evenly during the year, that is why we take
2. When date of Drawings is given

Case 3: When different amount are withdrawn on different dates:

We have the following two methods to calculate the amount of interest on Drawing:
1. Simple Interest Method
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.

Month Date Drawings Amount

May 1 12000

July 31 6000

September 30 9000

November 30 12000
 Janurary 1 8000

March 31 7000
Interest on drawings is to be charged @ 9% p.a
SIMPLE METHOD

DATE AMOUNT PERIOD INTEREST @9%

1 MAY 12000 11 990

31 JULY 6000 8 360

30 SEP 9000 6 405

30 NOV 12000 4 360

1 JAN 8000 3 180

31 MAR 7000 0 00

DATE AMOUNT PERIOD PRODUCTS

43586 12000 11 132000

43677 6000 8 48000

43738 9000 6 54000

43799 12000 4 48000

43466 8000 3 24000

43555 7000 0 0

TOTAL 54000 306000

Interest = Total of products * 9/100* 1/12= 306000*9/100*1/12 = Rs 2295/-.
Case 4: When an equal amount is withdrawn regularly
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:
1. Amount should be same throughout the period
2. Date of Drawings should be same throughout the period
3. Drawings should be made regularly without any gap.
Value of T under Different circumstances will be as under:
Quarterly

Monthly Monthly Drawings

Drawings for Half yearly Drawings for 12
Drawings for for 06 Months (last 6
12 Months Months
12 Months months)

9
7.5 (beginning of every month 3.5(beginning of the
6.5(beginning
(beginning of every for six month in the month for last six
of the month)
quater) beginning of 6 month)
months)

6
middle of every month for 3(middle of the
6(middle of 6(middle of
six month for last six
very month) every quater)
month in the beginning of 6 month)
months)

3 (end of every month for

5.5( end of 4.5(end of six month in the beginning 2.5(end of the month
every month) every quater) of 6 for last six month)
months)

INTEREST ON PARTNERS LOAN

If a partner has given loan to the firm, he is entittled to receive interest on such loan at an
agreed rate.
It is a charge against profits. It is provided irrespective of profits or loss. It will also be
provided in the absence of Partnership Deed @ 6% per annum.
The following entries are passed to record the interest on partner’s loan
1. For allowing Interest on loan:
Interest on Partner’s Loan A/cDr.
To Partner’s Loan A/c
(Being interest on loan allowed @ % p.a.)
2. For transferring Interest on Loan to Profit and Loss A/c:
Profit and Loss A/cDr.
To Interest on Loan A/c
(Being Interest on loan transferred to P & L A/c)
It is always DEBITED to Profit and Loss A/c Rent Paid to Partner.
Rent paid to a partner is also a charge against profits and it will also be
DEBITED to Profit and Loss A/c
Note:

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.
Statement showing adjustment

B
Particulars A (Rs.) C (Rs.)
(Rs.)

A Amount to be given credited

Interest on Capital
(Not allowed or provided at a lower rate)
Partner’s Salary or Commission etc.
(Omitted to be recorded)
Actual Profits
(To be distributed in correct ratio)

Total A

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

Net Effect (A-B) +/- +/- +/-

+ Indicates Amount to be Credited to Partner’s Capital Account - Indicates Amount

to be Debited to Partners Capital Account
Journal

Date Particulars LF. Debit(Rs.) Debit(Rs.)

 Partners Capital A/C Dr.
(Amount to be Debited)
To Partners’ Capital A/c
(Amount to be Credited)
(Being adjustment entry passed)

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 OF PROFITS TO A PARTNER
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.
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.
Case: 2. When guarantee is given by a partner or partners to another partner.
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.