Accounting Principles Explained: How They Work, GAAP, IFRS

Going concern is a fundamental accounting assumption made when a company’s financial statements are prepared. It reflects the company’s ability to continue operating in the future.

Andy Smith is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), licensed realtor and educator with over 35 years of diverse financial management experience. He is an expert on personal finance, corporate finance and real estate and has assisted thousands of clients in meeting their financial goals over his career. The articles and research support materials available on this site are educational and are not intended to be investment or tax advice.

Matching Principle:

Fundamentals of accounting are guiding principles to perform such tasks. Operations of a business entity over an accounting period, generally fundamental accounting a year, are keys to prepare financial statements. A company uses accounts to measure where it stands in the economic sense.

Such as suppliers, creditors, investors, owners, board of directors, and regulatory bodies like the Securities and Exchange Commission , etc. The conceptual framework sets the basis for accounting standards set by rule-making bodies that govern how the financial statements are prepared.

What are fundamental accounting principles?

Therefore, the going concern concept by assuming that the business will not liquidate in the foreseeable future states that the firm should record the machinery’s value for its estimated life span. Now, the firm may charge ₹10,000 for 10 years from the profit and loss account. Secondly, the concept has the limitations of the monetary unit itself. Assumes a business will continue to operate in the foreseeable future. For example, a business might have certain expenses that are paid off over several time periods.

However, because of the differences between the two standards, the U.S. is unlikely to switch in the foreseeable future.

Accounting Concept

They help in decision-making as well as cost planning and assessment. Above all, accounting reports are of utmost importance to outside entities as well, viz., the investors, creditors, and regulatory bodies. Professionals across the world use a set of standards- “GAAP– Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” for preparing these reports. One is the accrual concept , which mandates that revenue and expenses are accounted for when they occur and not after the fact.

In contrast, the second step records the revenues, transactions, and assets when they happen and become a real profit in your budget. Generally accepted accounting principles, also ensure that businesses follow the same practices and standards while preparing financial statements. GAAP is a common set of generally accepted accounting principles, standards, and procedures. U.S. public companies must follow GAAP for their financial statements.

My Account

This is an accounting assumption because it does not apply to all businesses. Fundamental accounting assumptions or concepts are the set of assumptions that are made when preparing financial statements. This includes the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. The role of fundamental accounting assumptions is to provide a framework for understanding financial statements. Accounting is the procedure of data entry, recording, summarizing, analyzing, and then reporting the data related to financial transactions of businesses and corporations.

The basic point in this principle is that every entity is assumed to continue its operation in the foreseeable future. It is hence assumed that the entity does not have any intention to liquidate or curtail its operations. If such a case arises then the financial statements have to be prepared in a different manner.

Fundamentals of Accounting Principles

For example, Lynn Sanders owns a small printing company, Printing Plus. The customer did not pay cash for the service at that time and was billed for the service, paying at a later date. When should Lynn recognize the revenue, on August 10 or at the later payment date? She provided the service to the customer, and there is a reasonable expectation that the customer will pay at the later date. Directs a company to recognize revenue in the period in which it is earned; revenue is not considered earned until a product or service has been provided. This means the period of time in which you performed the service or gave the customer the product is the period in which revenue is recognized. Accountants sometimes make future projections with respect to revenues, expenses, and debts.

Without these principles, companies could manipulate their financial statements to make themselves look more financially healthy than they actually are. Fundamental accounting principles are basic rules and guidelines to record and report financial information. A journal entry is the basis of all accounts for any business entity. And the total of all debits should always equal the sum of all credits. If there is a difference between the two, that means journal entries will not balance. Financial statements only reflect income and expenses when they are received or paid. For instance, this method wouldn’t factor in accounts receivable.