Question

Difficulty: MediumTreatment and Valuation of Goodwill

Match each partnership goodwill scenario upon the admission of a new partner with its correct accounting entry treatment in the ledger books.

  • Goodwill is raised at full value in the books of the existing partners before admitting a new partner.Debit Goodwill Account; Credit Old Partners' Capital Accounts in old profit-sharing ratio.
  • Goodwill created in the books is subsequently fully written off by all partners.Debit All Partners' Capital Accounts in new profit-sharing ratio; Credit Goodwill Account.
  • The incoming partner pays a premium for goodwill directly to existing partners privately.No journal entry is recorded in the firm's books of account.
  • Goodwill is adjusted strictly through partner capital accounts without opening a goodwill account.Debit New Partner's Capital Account with their share; Credit Old Partners' Capital Accounts in sacrificing ratio.

Answer

1. Raising goodwill at full value matches with 'Debit Goodwill Account; Credit Old Partners' Capital Accounts in old profit-sharing ratio.' 2. Writing off goodwill matches with 'Debit All Partners' Capital Accounts in new profit-sharing ratio; Credit Goodwill Account.' 3. Premium paid privately matches with 'No journal entry is recorded in the firm's books of account.' 4. Adjusting goodwill through capital accounts matches with 'Debit New Partner's Capital Account with their share; Credit Old Partners' Capital Accounts in sacrificing ratio.'
Each scenario reflects standard partnership accounting rules under JAMB UTME guidelines: raising goodwill credits old partners in the old ratio, writing off debits all partners in the new ratio, private transactions require no book entries, and direct capital adjustments debit the incoming partner while crediting sacrificing partners.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the entry for raising goodwill
Goodwill is an asset created on the debit side, credited to existing partners in their old ratio.
Existing partners generated the goodwill prior to the admission of the new partner.
2
Analyze the entry for writing off goodwill
Goodwill asset is closed by crediting Goodwill Account and debiting all partners in the new ratio.
Writing off ensures no goodwill remains on the Balance Sheet and charges all current partners in their new profit distribution agreement.
3
Evaluate private payment of premium
No entry is recorded in the firm's accounting records.
Under the entity concept, personal transactions between individuals outside the firm are excluded from business financial statements.
4
Evaluate direct capital account adjustments for goodwill
Debit new partner's capital account for their share of goodwill, credit existing partners' capital accounts in sacrificing ratio.
This compensates existing partners for surrendering a portion of their profit share without creating an intangible asset account.

Key Concept

Accounting Treatment of Goodwill on Partner Admission
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