accountingrevision

Learn

DashboardTopics

Practice

Revision SessionMCQ PracticePractice QuestionsEssay PlannerPast PapersChain Builder

Account

Settings
Contents

Incomplete Records

Section 2 of 10

Statement of Affairs

What Is a Statement of Affairs?

A statement of affairs is used to calculate capital when a full trial balance is not available. It applies the accounting equation:

Capital = Assets − Liabilities (or equivalently: Assets = Liabilities + Capital)

List all known assets on the left and all known liabilities on the right. Capital is the balancing figure.

Layout

                          Assets      Liabilities & Capital
Bank balance                x
Inventory                   x
Trade receivables            x
Non-current assets           x
Trade payables                              x
Bank loan                                   x
Capital (balancing figure)                  x
                           ───                      ───
Total                        x                       x

Alternative (formula method):

  • Assets = sum all asset values
  • Liabilities = sum all liability values
  • Capital = Assets − Liabilities

Worked Example — Jai Carapaz (Opening Capital at 30 Nov 2013)

Assets £Liabilities & Capital £
Bank balance1 750
Equipment10 000
Inventory1 250
Long-term loan20 000
Machinery40 000
Trade payables910
Trade receivables500

Formula method:

  • Assets: 1 750 + 10 000 + 1 250 + 40 000 + 500 + 17 000 = 70 500
  • Liabilities: 20 000 + 910 = 20 910
  • Capital: 70 500 − 20 910 = 49 590

Closing Capital at 30 Nov 2014

Assets £Liabilities & Capital £
Bank balance2 000
Equipment14 000
Inventory1 300
Long-term loan30 000
Machinery48 000
Trade payables1 000
Trade receivables700

Formula: 81 000 − 31 000 = 50 000

Exam tip: Always check whether a bank balance is an asset (positive) or a liability (overdraft — shown in brackets). An overdraft goes on the liabilities side.

Finished this chapter? Mark it complete to earn XP.

Previous
Vehicles17 000
Opening capital49 590
Total70 50070 500
Vehicles15 000
Closing capital50 000
Total81 00081 000