2026 CFA Level I Exam: Learning Outcome Statements

Although unpaid wages don’t affect the total assets, it does impact the right side of the accounting equation by increasing liabilities and lowering the owner’s equity. Some transactions don’t affect the accounting equation because they increase and decrease multiple accounts of the same type (e.g., assets). The accounting equation still balances after the business records this transaction as the net effect of the total for assets on the left side of the equation remains unchanged and the transaction does not affect the right side of the equation.

Is it possible for an accounting transaction to only affect the left side of

This post explains everything you need to know about the effects of different types of business transactions on the accounting equation using examples and quizzes. Here are some transactions that will affect only the right side of the accounting equation. An example is when one asset increases while another decreases, such as equipment increasing while cash decreases. The equation is still balanced (assets worth $10,000 – $8,000 cash and $2,000 of furniture). Depreciation of the farm tractor will reduce the value of total assets and owner’s equity. Unlike transactions listed in previous sections, the effects of these transactions work in opposite directions because the same side of the accounting equation is involved.

Transactions that Affect Liabilities and owner’s Equity

(c) Supplies of \(\$ 1,800\) are purchased on account. (b) Insurance of \(\$ 800\) is paid for the year. (a) Stockholders invested \(\$ 12,000\) in the business in exchange for commonstock. Barry Barack, a fellow student, contends that the double-entry system meanseach transaction must be recorded twice. Now you have $8000 cash and furniture worth $2000.

Study notes from a previous year’s CFA exam: 4. Effects of Transactions on the Accounting Equation

From the previous section, we learned that all accounting transactions are recorded in the accounting information system. So the accounting equation after this transaction will be $10,000 higher on both sides. Whenever a transaction is recorded in the accounting books, it has an equal effect on both sides of the accounting equation. The paid-in capital section of stockholders’ equity will increase and the retained earnings section will decrease. The result is that liabilities decrease and stockholders’ equity increases. As a result its asset Cash decreases and its asset Prepaid Insurance increases.

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  • So, if the business has assets worth $80,000, and owner’s equity of $20,000, then we can say that the liabilities are equal to $60,000.
  • Net income or loss (revenues less expenses) and dividends affect stockholders’ equity.
  • The change in stockholders’ equity over the year was a $10,000 increase.
  • 6 Received \(\$ 21,000\) on account from clients.
  • Transaction Analysis and Trial Balance James Green, electrical contractor,began business on May 1.
  • A transaction may only affect one side, for example by increasing one asset and decreasing another asset by the same amount.
  • (a) Supplies are purchased on account.

Here are some specific examples when only the left side of the accounting equation is affected. Net income or loss (revenues less expenses) and dividends affect stockholders’ equity. For the following transactions, indicate the account debited and the accountcredited.

At the same time, the business now has cash of $10,000 which is an asset. It’s also possible that an increase in one asset causes another asset to decrease. Accounting uses a technique to show how a transaction changes the business’s resources while maintaining a balance, or showing the equal value of the exchange.

12 Paid a cash dividend, \(\$ 2,500\). 9 Paid interest on an outstanding note payable for August, \(\$ 95\). 6 Received \(\$ 21,000\) on account from clients. 4 Rendered services for various groups for cash, \(\$ 15,900\). Rendered services to customers, for cash. Rendered services to customers, on account.

3 Retumed \(\$ 1,500\) of equipment that was not satisfactory. Transaction Analysis and Trial Balance James Green, electrical contractor,began business on May 1. Prepare a trial balance as of August 31 .

Set up accounts for each item in the August 1 trial balance and enter thebeginning balances. 7 Paid \(\$ 1,700\) on accounts payable. For every accounting transaction, there is a source (money comes from somewhere) and a use (money goes somewhere).

The company’s asset Accounts what happens if the contribution margin ratio increases Receivable will decrease and its asset Notes Receivable will increase. Assets are increased with debits and liabilities are increased with credits. The change in stockholders’ equity over the year was a $10,000 increase. Specifically, the left side is affected when one asset replaces another through purchase or exchange, one liability replaces another, or stock is issued to replace a liability.

  • Short-term liabilities will decrease and long-term liabilities will increase.
  • If a transaction decreases the total assets of a business, then the right side of the accounting equation MUST reduce as well.
  • Whenever a transaction is recorded in the accounting books, it has an equal effect on both sides of the accounting equation.
  • This post explains everything you need to know about the effects of different types of business transactions on the accounting equation using examples and quizzes.
  • Assets are increased with debits and liabilities are increased with credits.

2 Purchased equipment on account, \(\$ 4,200\). Invested cash in business. Purchased equipment for cash. Paid an account payable. Preordering books will lower the amount of cash and increase the value of receivables. For the past 52 years, Harold Averkamp (CPA, MBA) hasworked as an accounting supervisor, manager, consultant, university instructor, and innovator in teaching accounting online.

The equation asserts that a business’ assets must equal the sum of its liabilities and equity. Which of the following transactions do not affect the accounting equation of a farmer? Total assets in the business will equal the sum of liabilities and equity after the transaction (i.e., $100,000). Purchasing the car on credit will increase the total assets and total liabilities by $10,000 each.

A transaction may only affect one side, for example by increasing one asset and decreasing another asset by the same amount. Accountingo.org aims to provide the best accounting and finance education for students, professionals, teachers, and business owners. Depreciation lowers the value of assets and has no effect on liabilities. As you can tell, the accounting equation will show $50,000 on both sides. Short-term liabilities will decrease and long-term liabilities will increase. The asset Cash decreases and the asset Equipment increases.

Every transaction will affect at least two of these accounts. Prepare journal entries and record the above transactions in T-accounts,and key entries with the numbers of the transactions. Green paid \(\$ 6,000\) cash and gave a notepayable for the balance. Create joumalentries and record the transactions for August in the appropriate T-accounts,using the references given. This means to keep the accounting equation in balance, any change to the left side of the equation must be accompanied by a change to the right side. But how do we go about recording these transactions in the accounting system?

(c) Employees are paid salaries in cash. (b) Why is a chart of accounts important? For the business, it’s the owner’s equity of $10,000. This concept is a part of the double-entry accounting system.

If a transaction decreases the total assets of a business, then the right side of the accounting equation MUST reduce as well. If a transaction decreases the total assets of a business, then the sum of its total liabilities and owner’s equity may or may not decrease depending on the nature of the transaction. These transactions only impact the right side of the accounting equation so the total assets will remain unchanged. How a transaction impacts the accounting equation depends on the type of the two or more accounts involved impairment definition (assets, liabilities, or equity). If a transaction causes one side of the equation (assets) to increase, then the other side of the equation (liabilities or owner’s equity) must also increase to keep the equation in balance. A business must make at least two changes in its assets, liabilities or equity when it records an accounting transaction, known as the dual nature of accounting.

So, if the business has assets worth $80,000, and owner’s equity of $20,000, then we can say that the liabilities are equal to $60,000. To revisit how accounting transactions affect the accounting equation, please refer to what you learnt in Accounting and Accountability Topic 2 and Section 2.7 (p.38-41) of the AAA textbook. For instance, when a business buys a computer for $2000 cash, asset (Computer equipment) increases by $2000 and asset (cash) decreases by $2000. It is important to note that this dual effect of accounting transactions does not necessarily mean that every transaction will affect both sides of the equation or even two elements of the equation.

A current liability Dividends Payable is created and the Retained Earnings (part of stockholders’ equity) will decrease. For the past 52 years, Harold Averkamp (CPA, MBA) has worked as an accounting supervisor, manager, consultant, university instructor, and innovator in teaching accounting online. (b) Cash is received on signing a note payable. (a) Supplies are purchased on account.