Question

Sales Returns

Which of the following statements is true relating to the allowance for sales returns?

a. Sales returns is treated as an expense in the income statement and, therefore, reduces profit for the period.

b. An excess of the amount by which the allowance for sales returns is increased compared with the actual returns for the period indicates the company may have inflated profit for the period.

c. The amount by which the allowance for sales returns is reduced during the period is recognized as a reduction of sales for the period, thus reducing profts.

d. Increasing the allowance for sales returns by an amount that is less than the actual returns recognized for the period may indicate either the company is attempting to increase profit for the period or its estimates that less of its products will be returned in the future.

Deferred Revenue
True or false: A reduction of the deferred revenue account can be interpreted as a leading indicator of lower future revenues. Explain

a. Fale. Revenue is recognized when the deferred revenue liability increases. If the deferred revenue account has decreased, more cash came in from customers and more revenue will be recgnized in the future.

b. True. Revenue is recognized when the deferred revenue liability decreases. If the deferred revenue account has decreased, less cash came in from customers and less revenue will be recognized in the future.

c. False. Revenue is recognized when the deferred revenue liability decreases. If the deferred revenue account has decreased, less cash came in from customers and more revenue will be recognized in the future.

d. True. Revenue is recognized when the deferred revenue liability decreases. If the deferred revenue account has decreased, more cash came in from customers and less revenue will be recognized in the future.

Foreign Exchange Effects on Sales  
True or false: A multinational company reports that a large amount of its sales is generated in foreign currencies that have strengthened vis-à-vis the $US. Consolidated revenues are likely lower than would have been reported in the absence of such a shift in exchange rates.

a. False. Strengthening foreign currencies implies a weakening $US. As the $US weakens, foreign currencies purchase less $US, resulting in an decrease in foreign currency-denominated sales, expense and profit. Consolidated revenues will therefore, likely be higher.

b. True. Strengthening foreign currencies implies a weakening $US. As the $US weakens, foreign currencies purchase less $US, resulting in an decrease in foreign currency-denominated sales, expense and profit. Consolidated revenues will therefore, likely be lower.

c. False. Strengthening foreign currencies implies a weakening $US. As the $US weakens, foreign currencies purchase more $US, resulting in an increase in foreign currency-denominated sales, expense and profit. Consolidated revenues will therefore, likely be higher.

d. True. Strengthening foreign currencies implies a weakening $US. As the $US weakens, foreign currencies purchase less $US, resulting in an increase in foreign currency-denominated sales, expense and profit. Consolidated revenues will therefore, likely be lower.

Answer 1

1. The following statements is true relating to the allowance for sales returns:

c. The amount by which the allowance for sales returns is reduced during the period is recognized as a reduction of sales for the period, thus reducing profts.

Sales return is contra to sales and thus is reduced from Sales to net sales.

2. A reduction of the deferred revenue account can be interpreted as a leading indicator of lower future revenues. Explain

b. True. Revenue is recognized when the deferred revenue liability decreases. If the deferred revenue account has decreased, less cash came in from customers and less revenue will be recognized in the future.

3. A multinational company reports that a large amount of its sales is generated in foreign currencies that have strengthened vis-à-vis the $US. Consolidated revenues are likely lower than would have been reported in the absence of such a shift in exchange rates.

c. False. Strengthening foreign currencies implies a weakening $US. As the $US weakens, foreign currencies purchase more $US, resulting in an increase in foreign currency-denominated sales, expense and profit. Consolidated revenues will therefore, likely be higher.