Which of the statements below is true regarding the statement of retained earnings?

Complete these practice problems. Check your answers after you finish.

Self-test

True-false

Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false.

    1. At the end of the accounting period, three trial balances are prepared.
    2. The amounts in the Adjustments columns are always added to the amounts in the Trial Balance columns to determine the amounts in the Adjusted Trial Balance columns.
    3. If a net loss occurs, it appears in the Income Statement credit column and Statement of Retained Earnings debit column.
    4. After the closing process is complete, no balance can exist in any revenue, expense, Dividends, or Income Summary account.
    5. The post-closing trial balance may contain revenue and expense accounts.
    6. All accounting systems currently in use are computerized.

    Multiple-choice

    Select the best answer for each of the following questions.

    1. Which of the following accounts is least likely to be adjusted on the work sheet?

    a. Supplies on Hand.

    b. Land.

    c. Prepaid Rent.

    d. Unearned Delivery Fees.

    2. If the Balance Sheet columns do not balance, the error is most likely to exist in the:

    a. General journal.

    b. General ledger.

    c. Last six columns of the work sheet.

    d. First six columns of the work sheet.

    3. Net income for a period appears in all but which one of the following?

    a. Income Statement debit column of the work sheet.

    b. Statement of Retained Earnings credit column of the work sheet.

    c. Statement of retained earnings.

    d. Balance sheet.

    4. Which of the following statements is false regarding the closing process?

    a. The Dividends account is closed to Income Summary.

    b. The closing of expense accounts results in a debit to Income Summary.

    c. The closing of revenues results in a credit to Income Summary.

    d. The Income Summary account is closed to the Retained Earnings account.

    5. Which of the following statements is true regarding the classified balance sheet?

    a. Current assets include cash, accounts receivable, and equipment.

    b. Plant, property, and equipment is one category of long-term assets.

    c. Current liabilities include accounts payable, salaries payable, and notes receivable.

    d. Stockholders' equity is subdivided into current and long-term categories.

    April 29, 2022/ Steven Bragg

    What is the Statement of Retained Earnings?

    The statement of retained earnings reconciles changes in the retained earnings account during a reporting period. It is useful for understanding how management utilizes the profits generated by a business. The statement begins with the beginning balance in the retained earnings account, and then adds or subtracts such items as profits and dividend payments to arrive at the ending retained earnings balance. The general calculation structure of the statement is:

    Beginning retained earnings + Net income - Dividends = Ending retained earnings

    The statement of retained earnings is most commonly presented as a separate statement, but can also be appended to the bottom of another financial statement.

    Advantages of the Statement of Retained Earnings

    A key advantage of the statement of retained earnings is that it shows how management chooses to redirect the retained earnings of a business. It may indicate that funds are being allocated to the acquisition of more assets, or perhaps sent to investors in the form of dividend payments. Thus, it can provide a general indication of how management wants to use excess funds.

    Example of the Statement of Retained Earnings

    The following example shows the most simplified version of a statement of retained earnings:

     Arnold Construction Company
    Statement of Retained Earnings
    for the year ended 12/31x2

    Retained earnings at December 31, 20X1 $150,000
    Net income for the year ended December 31, 20X2 40,000
    Dividends paid to shareholders -25,000
    Retained earnings at December 31, 20X2 $165,000

    It is also possible to provide a greatly expanded version of the statement of retained earnings that discloses the various elements of retained earnings. For example, it could separately identify the par value of common stock, additional paid-in capital, retained earnings, and treasury stock, with all of these elements then rolling up into the totals just noted in the last example. Here is a sample of a more expanded statement of retained earnings:

    Arnold Construction Company
    Statement of Retained Earnings
    for the year ended 12/31x2

     
    Common Stock,
    $1 Par

    Additional Paid-In
    Capital

    Retained
    Earnings
    Total
    Shareholders’
    Equity
    Retained earnings at December 31, 20X1 $10,000 $40,000 $100,000 $150,000
    Net income for the year ended December 31, 20X2     40,000 40,000
    Dividends paid to shareholders     -25,000 -25,000
    Retained earnings at December 31, 20X2 $10,000 $40,000 $115,000 $165,000

    The statement is most commonly used when issuing financial statements to entities outside of a business, such as investors and lenders. When financial statements are developed strictly for internal use, this statement is usually not included, on the grounds that it is not needed from an operational perspective.

    Terms Similar to the Statement of Retained Earnings

    The statement of retained earnings is also known as the retained earnings statement, the statement of shareholders' equity, the statement of owners' equity, and the equity statement.

    What is true about the statement of retained earnings?

    The statement of retained earnings is a key financial document that shows how much earnings a company has accumulated and kept in the company since inception. The numbers provide insight into a company's financial position and the owner's attitude toward reinvesting in and growing their business.

    What does the statement of retained earnings report quizlet?

    Statement of retained earnings - Reports the accumulation of profits kept by the business during the current accounting period with that of prior periods. 3. Balance Sheet - Reports the financial position of the business at a point in time.

    Which of the following statements is true of an income statement?

    Which of the following statements is true of an income statement? There is net income when total revenues are greater than total expenses.

    Which of the following statements is true about the balance sheet?

    The correct answer is d. A balance sheet is a statement that provides information regarding the assets and liabilities of a company. Internally generated assets are not recorded in the balance sheet under US GAAP.