Closing the Business

On dissolution, external liabilities such as amounts due to suppliers and the government are paid first. The partners’ loans and capital are then settled, and any remaining surplus is distributed among the partners. Therefore, the partners are the correct answer. Exam tip: remember the settlement order—external liabilities, partners’ loans, partners’ capital, and finally any surplus.

At dissolution, transactions relating to the realisation of assets and settlement of liabilities are recorded in the Realisation Account. Its balance shows the profit or loss on realisation. A Sales Account records normal business sales and does not determine the dissolution result. Exam tip: Profit or loss on dissolution is calculated through the Realisation Account.

When liabilities are settled for an amount equal to their book value, there is no difference between the amount payable and the amount paid. Therefore, this transaction creates neither a profit nor a loss in the Realisation Account. Exam tip: settlement at book value means zero difference.

When dissolution expenses are paid through the bank, money goes out of the bank; therefore, the transaction is recorded on the payment side of the bank account. The receipt side records money coming into the bank. Exam tip: an outflow from the bank is a payment, while an inflow is a receipt.

The accounting process on dissolution generally begins by opening a Realisation Account and transferring the realisable assets and external liabilities to it. The assets are then realised, liabilities are paid, and the resulting profit or loss is determined. Distribution of the final cash balance among partners occurs later, so option B is not correct. Exam tip: Remember that the Realisation Account is the first major account prepared on dissolution.

At dissolution, the sale proceeds of an asset such as furniture are credited to the Realisation Account. Thus, ₹5,000 is credited to Realisation Account, while the Cash or Bank Account is debited. The debit side records the transfer of assets, not their sale proceeds. Exam tip: Sale of an asset means credit the Realisation Account.

At dissolution, stock is transferred to the Realisation Account at its book value. It may then be sold for cash or taken over by a partner. Therefore, merely charging depreciation is not the normal dissolution treatment. Exam tip: remember that the Realisation Account records the book value of assets and the proceeds from their sale or takeover by a partner.

A realisation profit arises when the amount realised from assets exceeds their book value after considering realisation expenses and other related items. Therefore, if assets are sold above book value and there is no offsetting loss, a profit can arise. Selling assets below book value or incurring realisation expenses reduces the profit. Exam tip: In the Realisation Account, a credit-side excess over the debit side indicates realisation profit.

When the amount realised from selling assets is less than their book value, a realisation loss arises on the assets and is debited to the Realisation Account. Selling assets above book value results in a realisation profit, while selling them at book value causes neither profit nor loss on that item. Exam tip: Realisation loss may also arise when liabilities are settled for more than their book value.

At dissolution, book assets other than cash and bank balances are transferred to the Realisation Account so that the profit or loss on their sale or recovery can be determined. The Capital Account is used to settle partners’ capital balances, not to record the transfer of assets. Exam tip: Assets are transferred to the debit side of the Realisation Account, while liabilities are transferred to its credit side.

After dissolution, the firm’s business is closed, its assets are realised, and its liabilities are paid. Once the winding-up process is completed, the firm’s legal identity comes to an end. Remember that limited activities, such as realising assets and settling liabilities, may continue during winding up.

When cash is realised from debtors, the firm receives ₹4,000, so the Bank Account increases by ₹4,000 and a receipt is recorded. Option B is incorrect because no payment has been made. Exam tip: In the Bank Account, cash receipts are recorded on the debit side, while cash payments are recorded on the credit side.

The Realisation Account records transactions relating to the realisation of assets and settlement of liabilities when a firm is dissolved. Its balance shows the profit or loss arising from the realisation process. Calculating partners’ salaries or the firm’s tax is not its main purpose. Exam tip: Associate dissolution and profit or loss on asset realisation with the Realisation Account.

On dissolution, the sale proceeds of non-cash assets such as machinery are credited to the Realisation Account. The book value of the asset is debited to this account, enabling the firm to determine the profit or loss on realisation and settlement. Exam tip: associate the sale of assets and settlement of liabilities with the Realisation Account.

At dissolution, the cash realised from selling assets is first used to pay external liabilities, such as creditors and bills payable. The partners’ loans and capital accounts are settled afterwards. Therefore, option A is correct; the other options involve continuing or expanding the business, which is contrary to dissolution. Exam tip: remember the usual sequence—realise assets, pay external liabilities, and then settle the partners’ accounts.

During dissolution, the profit or loss on realization and other adjustments are recorded in the partners’ capital accounts. The final balance of each capital account determines the amount payable to that partner. The profit-sharing ratio is mainly used to distribute the realization profit or loss, not to determine the final amount payable. Exam tip: Remember that external liabilities and partners’ loans are settled before the partners’ capital balances.

When an asset is abandoned without consideration, no proceeds are received from it. Its book value is adjusted as a loss in the Realisation Account, which may increase the loss on realisation. Therefore, option A is correct. It does not increase realisation profit or the partners’ capital automatically. Exam tip: An asset yielding no proceeds at dissolution generally results in a loss through the Realisation Account.

At the end of dissolution, the amount realized from assets is used to pay liabilities, dissolution expenses, and the partners’ final claims. Any remaining amount is distributed among the partners, and the bank account is closed; therefore, its final balance is generally zero. A negative balance is not the normal conclusion because any deficiency is recovered from the partners. Exam tip: the bank account normally closes with a nil balance, whereas the Realisation Account may show a profit or loss.

At dissolution, all external liabilities are transferred to the Realisation Account. The journal entry is: the concerned liability account is debited and the Realisation Account is credited. Therefore, the Realisation Account is credited. It is debited when assets are transferred, not when liabilities are transferred. Exam tip: Assets are transferred to the debit side and liabilities to the credit side of the Realisation Account.

At dissolution, the book value of assets is transferred to the Realisation Account. Therefore, the Realisation Account is debited and the respective asset account is credited. The Bank Account is not debited for this transfer; it is affected when the asset is actually sold for cash. Exam tip: remember the entry as Realisation Account Dr. To Asset Account.

During dissolution, the firm first realises its assets and then pays external liabilities and partners’ loans. Any remaining amount is used to settle the partners’ capital accounts through the final payment, making this the last step. Purchasing stock or promoting sales is inconsistent with closing the business. Exam tip: remember the payment order—external liabilities, partners’ loans, and finally partners’ capital accounts.

Remaining cash balance = total cash receipts − total cash payments = ₹30,000 − ₹22,000 = ₹8,000. Therefore, option A is correct. Option B, ₹7,000, results from an incorrect subtraction. In the examination, subtract total payments from total receipts to find the closing cash balance.

When a firm is dissolved, its accounts are closed to record the realisation of assets, payment of outside liabilities and settlement of the remaining amount among the partners. Obtaining a new loan or admitting a new partner is not the purpose of closing the accounts on dissolution. Exam tip: associate dissolution with final settlement, not with continuing or expanding business.

The sale proceeds of ₹13,000 exceed the book value of ₹10,000 by ₹3,000. The excess realised on the sale of an asset is called realisation profit. Therefore, option A is correct; if the sale proceeds were lower than the book value, it would be a realisation loss. Exam tip: Sale proceeds − book value determines the realisation profit or loss.

The direct answer is option A: partners’ loans. In dissolution, the firm stops ordinary business and its assets are converted into cash so claims can be settled in a prescribed order. First, outside liabilities are paid, because creditors who are not partners have priority. After those external liabilities, loans advanced by partners to the firm are repaid. Only after both of these are settled is any remaining amount used to return partners’ capital, and any final surplus is distributed according to the partnership agreement. Option A is therefore correct. Option B, customers’ orders, is not a payment category in the statutory settlement sequence; orders may be completed or cancelled, but they do not receive the next cash priority. Option C, future sales, cannot be a claim because future sales are not an existing liability. Option D, new investments, is irrelevant because dissolution is closing the firm, not raising fresh capital. The memory order is: outside creditors first, partners’ loans next, partners’ capital after that, and surplus last.