Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Difference Between Trading And Profit And Loss Account

Difference Between Trading And Profit And Loss Account

The main dissimilarities or difference between trading account and profit and loss account can be pointed out as follows:

1. Meaning

Trading Account: It records trading activities (buying or selling of goods) for a particular period.
Profit And Loss Account: It is prepared to represent net profit or net loss for a particular period.

2. Objectives

Trading Account: The objective of preparing trading account is to ascertain trading results (gross profit or gross loss) for the specific period.
Profit And Loss Account: The objective of preparing profit and loss account is to ascertain net profit or net loss at the end of accounting period.

3. Component Of Final Account

Trading Account: Preparing trading account is the first step of final account. So, it is a first component of final account.
Profit And Loss Account: It is prepared after preparing trading account. So, it is a second step or component of final account.

4. Dependency

Trading Account: It does not depend on any account.
Profit And Loss Account: Balance of trading account is needed to prepare profit and loss account. So, it depends on trading account.

5. Stock Adjustment

Trading Account: Stock should be adjusted while preparing trading account.
Profit And Loss Account: No stock adjustment is needed to prepare profit and loss account.

   
difference-between-trading-profit-loss-account

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6. Recording

Trading Account: All direct expenses and revenues are recorded in this account.
Profit And Loss Account: All indirect expenses and indirect incomes are included in this account.

7. Balance Transfer

Trading Account: Balance of trading account (gross profit or gross loss) is transferred to profit and loss account.
Profit And Loss Account: Balance of profit and loss account (net profit or net loss) is transferred to balance sheet.

Trading Account Vs Profit And Loss Account (Comparison Chart)

Basis For Difference

Trading Account
Profit And Loss A/C
Introduction

Statement prepared to record the trading activities of the firm for a particular period
 Statement prepared to show the net profit or loss of the firm
Objective/Purpose

To find out gross profit or loss
To find out net profit or loss
Step Of Final Account

First step
Second step
Dependency

Not dependent on other accounts
Dependent on trading account
Stock Adjustment

Needed
Not needed
Recording Of

Direct expenses and direct revenues
Indirect expenses and indirect incomes
Balance Transfer

To profit and loss account
To balance sheet

I hope this post is helpful to understand the difference between trading account and profit and loss account and to make comparison between them.