Table of Contents
Accounting Treatment of Workmen Compensation Reserve, Retirement of a Partner
Workmen Compensation Reserve is the reserve created out of a firm’s profits to meet the needs of employees or workers. An amount is kept aside in the reserve in the name of workers to meet the unforeseen situation.
Accounting Treatment of Workmen Compensation Reserve, Retirement of a Partner:
The Workmen Compensation Reserve (WCR) is typically treated as follows at the time of a partner’s retirement:
-
If there is no Liability Or Claim Against the Workmen Compensation Reserve
In such a case, the entire amount of Workmen Compensation Reserve is transferred to all Partner’s Capital/ Current Accounts in their old profit-sharing ratio-
Workmen Compensation Reserve A/c Dr.
To All Partner’s Capital/ Current A/c
(Being the amount of Workmen Compensation Reserve credited to All Partner’s Capital Accounts in their old profit sharing ratio)
Example: Mohit Rachit and Sanchit are partners sharing profit in the ratio of 3: 2:1, their Balance sheet on March 31, 2024, shows Workmen compensation Reserve of 42,000. Sanchit Retires from the firm on April 1st, 2024. Record necessary journal entry
- If No Liability Or Claim Exist Against Workmen Compensation Reserve…….
JOURNAL ENTRIES IN THE BOOKS OF FIRM
Workmen Compensation Reserve A/c Dr. 42,000
To Mohit’s Capital A/c 21,000
To Rachit’s Capital A/c 14,000
To sanchit’s Capital A/c 7,000
(Being the amount of Workmen Compensation Reserve credited to all Partner’s Capital Accounts in their old profit sharing ratio 3:2:1)
-
If Claim For Workmen Compensation Exist
In such a situation, the treatment of the Workmen Compensation Reserve depends on the amount of liabilities. There can be three possible situations:
a.If the claim is lower than the amount of Workmen Compensation Reserve:
The amount of estimated claim is transferred to Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim Account and excess Workmen Reserve over the Workmen Compensation Claim is credited to all partners Capital/ Current A/c in their old profit sharing ratio. The journal passed is:
Workmen Compensation Reserve A/c Dr.
To Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim A/c
To all partner’s Capital/ Current A/c
(Being the provision for estimated claim made and balance transferred
to all Partner’s Capital Accounts in their old profit sharing ratio)
ALSO READ : Investment Fluctuation Reserve
Example: Mohit Rachit and Sanchit are partners sharing profit in the ratio of 3: 2:1, their Balance sheet on March 31, 2024, shows Workmen compensation Reserve of 42,000. Sanchit Retires from the firm on April 1st, 2024. Record necessary journal entry
- if the Claim on account of workmen’s compensation is Rs. 30,000.
The amount of estimated claim is transferred to Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim Account and excess Workmen Reserve over the Workmen Compensation Claim is credited to Mohit’s Capital A/c , Rachit’s Capital A/c and Sanchit’s Capital A/c in their old profit sharing ratio. The journal passed is:
JOURNAL ENTRIES IN THE BOOKS OF FIRM
Workmen Compensation Reserve A/c Dr. 42,000
To Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim A/c 30,000
To Mohit’s Capital A/c 6,000
To Rachit’s Capital A/c 4,000
To sanchit’s Capital A/c 2,000
(Being the provision for estimated claim made and balance transferred
to all Partner’s Capital Accounts in their old profit sharing ratio)
b.If The Claim Is Equal To The Workmen Compensation Reserve:
Workmen Compensation Reserve is transferred to Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim Account and no amount is left for distribution among the old partners.
Workmen Compensation Reserve A/c Dr.
To Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim A/c
(Being provision made for Workmen Compensation Claim.
Example: Mohit Rachit and Sanchit are partners sharing profit in the ratio of 3: 2:1, their Balance sheet on March 31, 2024, shows Workmen compensation Reserve of 42,000. Sanchit Retires from the firm on April 1st, 2024. Record necessary journal entry
- if the Claim on account of workmen’s compensation is Rs. 42,000.
Workmen Compensation Reserve is transferred to the Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim Account and no amount is left for distribution among the all partners.
JOURNAL ENTRIES IN THE BOOKS OF FIRM
Workmen Compensation Reserve A/c Dr. 42,000
To Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim A/c 42,000
(Being provision made for Workmen compensation Claim.)
c.If The Claim Is Higher Than The Amount Of Workmen Compensation Reserve:
The amount of Workmen Compensation reserve is transferred to the Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim Account and shortage being a loss, is debited to the Revaluation Account.
The journal entries passed are:
Workmen Compensation Reserve A/c Dr.
Revaluation A/c Dr.
To Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim A/c
(Being the amount of claim debited to Workmen Compensation Reserve and Revaluation Account)
All Partner’s Capital/ Current A/c Dr.
To Revaluation A/c
(Being the loss on Revaluation is transferred to Capital or current Accounts of old partners in their old ratio)
Example: Mohit Rachit and Sanchit are partners sharing profit in the ratio of 3: 2:1, their Balance sheet on March 31, 2024, shows Workmen compensation Reserve of 42,000. Sanchit Retires from the firm on April 1st, 2024. Record necessary journal entry
- Accounting Treatment of Workmen Compensation if the Claim on account of workmen’s compensation is Rs. 48,000.
The amount of Workmen Compensation reserve is transferred to the Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim Account and shortage being a loss, is debited to the Revaluation Account. The journal entries passed are:
JOURNAL ENTRIES IN THE BOOKS OF FIRM
Workmen Compensation Reserve A/c Dr. 42,000
Revaluation A/c Dr. 6,000
To Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim A/c 48,000
(Being the amount of claim debited to Workmen Compensation Reserve and Revaluation Account)
Mohit’s Capital A/c 3,000 Dr.
Rachit’s Capital A/c 2,000 Dr.
Sanchit’s Capital A/c 1,000 Dr.
To Revaluation A/c 6,000
(Being the loss on Revaluation is transferred to all Partner’s Capital Accounts in their old profit sharing ratio)
When Partners Decide Not To Close The Workmen Compensation Reserve
In this case, the gaining partner compensates the sacrificing partner proportionately of the amount of workmen compensation reserve against which there is no liability.
The journal entry is:
Gaining Partner Capital/ Current A/c… Dr.
To Sacrificing Partner’s Capital/ Current A/c
(Adjustment of Workmen Compensation Reserve without closing the WCR account)
In case, Claim for Workmen’s Compensation is determined or accepted, it becomes a liability. In this case, the Workmen Compensation Claim Account is credited instead of Provision for Workmen Compensation Claim Account.