Understanding Balance Sheet

A balance sheet, also known as a "statement of financial position", reveals a company's assets, liabilities and owners' equity (net worth). The balance sheet, together with the income statement and cash flow statement, make up the cornerstone of any company's financial statements. If you are a shareholder of a company, it is important that you understand how the balance sheet is structured, how to analyze it and how to read it.

How the Balance Sheet Works

The balance sheet is divided into two parts that, based on the following equation, must equal (or balance out) each other. The main formula behind balance sheets is:

assets = liabilities + shareholders' equity

This means that assets, or the means used to operate the company, are balanced by a company's financial obligations along with the equity investment brought into the company and its retained earnings.

Assets are what a company uses to operate its business, while its liabilities and equity are two sources that support these assets. Owners' equity, referred to as shareholders' equity in a publicly traded company, is the amount of money initially invested into the company plus any retained earnings, and it represents a source of funding for the business.

It is important to note, that a balance sheet is a snapshot of the company’s financial position at a single point in time.

Know the Types of Assets

Current Assets

Current assets have a life span of one year or less, meaning they can be converted easily into cash. Such assets classes are: cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and inventory. Cash, the most fundamental of current assets, also includes non-restricted bank accounts and checks. Cash equivalents are very safe assets that can be are readily converted into cash such as Treasuries. Accounts receivable consists of the short-term obligations owed to the company by its clients. Companies often sell products or services to customers on credit, which then are held in this account until they are paid off by the clients. Lastly, inventory represents the raw materials, work-in-progress goods and the company’s finished goods. Depending on the company, the exact makeup of the inventory account will differ. For example, a manufacturing firm will carry a large amount of raw materials, while a retail firm caries none. The makeup of a retailers inventory typically consists of goods purchased from manufacturers and wholesalers.

Non-Current Assets

Non-current assets, are those assets that are not turned into cash easily, expected to be turned into cash within a year and/or have a life-span of over a year. They can refer to tangible assets such as machinery, computers, buildings and land. Non-current assets also can be intangible assets, such as goodwill, patents or copyright. While these assets are not physical in nature, they are often the resources that can make or break a company - the value of a brand name, for instance, should not be underestimated.

Depreciation is calculated and deducted from most of these assets, which represents the economic cost of the asset over its useful life.

Learn the Different Liabilities

On the other side of the balance sheet are the liabilities. These are the financial obligations a company owes to outside parties. Like assets, they can be both current and long-term. Long-term liabilities are debts and other non-debt financial obligations, which are due after a period of at least one year from the date of the balance sheet. Current liabilities are the company’s liabilities which will come due, or must be paid, within one year. This is comprised of both shorter term borrowings, such as accounts payables, along with the current portion of longer term borrowing, such as the latest interest payment on a 10-year loan.

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders' equity is the initial amount of money invested into a business. If, at the end of the fiscal year, a company decides to reinvest its net earnings into the company (after taxes), these retained earnings will be transferred from the income statement onto the balance sheet into the shareholder’s equity account. This account represents a company's total net worth. In order for the balance sheet to balance, total assets on one side have to equal total liabilities plus shareholders' equity on the other.

Another interesting aspect of the balance sheet is how it is organized. The assets and liabilities sections of the balance sheet are organized by how current the account is. So for the asset side, the accounts are classified typically from most liquid to least liquid. For the liabilities side, the accounts are organized from short to long-term borrowings and other obligations.

Analyze the Balance Sheet with Ratios

With a greater understanding of the balance sheet and how it is constructed, we can look now at some techniques used to analyze the information contained within the balance sheet. The main way this is done is through financial ratio analysis.

Financial ratio analysis uses formulas to gain insight into the company and its operations. For the balance sheet, using financial ratios (like the debt-to-equity ratio) can show you a better idea of the company’s financial condition along with its operational efficiency. It is important to note that some ratios will need information from more than one financial statement, such as from the balance sheet and the income statement.

Time for Tax Planning

It is now the time of the year when one should start the tax planning process. With four months in hand, you have sufficient time to properly plan out your needs. Of particular relevance to tax payers are the different options provided under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. The section contains various instruments which can be invested in by the taxpayer in order to save on tax.

However, it is to be noted that there are certain conditions and limits subject to which the investments can be made.

Further, the income form these instruments my further be or not be taxable. Accordingly, the choice would be different for different tax payers. Evaluate the various governing factors before taking a decision.

DO not choose the instruments blindly

While doing the tax planning exercise, it is important to note that one does not choose the instruments blindly. One should also keep in mind factors like rate of return, lock in period, taxability of the income earned on the instruments, flexibility of withdrawal in case of need, tenure, inflation rate and so on.

In some cases, one may save on tax in present terms, but in the long term, may erode capital in terms of inflation. In order to encourage savings, the government gives tax breaks on certain financial products under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.

Investments made under such schemes come under section 80C. Under this section, one can invest a maximum of Rs l lakh. In case one is in the highest tax bracket of 30%, you save a tax of Rs 30,000. Click NEXT to know the various investment options under this section.Welcome to Indian Share MarketYour Desire to EarnResearched Stocks Free Technical Charts Readers Our Target Demat A/C Opening Contact us (Posted date - 08 Dec 2010)Home page Get Free Advice Useful Sites Free Subscription Public

Provident Fund, Provident Fund and Voluntary Provident Fund

An account with a nationalized bank or post office offers a tax-free interest of 8% and the maturity period is 15 years. The minimum contribution is Rs 500 and the maximum is Rs 70,000. The interest is tax free.

Provident Fund is deducted directly from your salary by your employer. The deducted amount goes into a retirement account along with your employer's contribution. While employer's contribution is exempt from tax, your contribution (i.e., employee's contribution) is counted towards section 80C investments.

You can also contribute additional amounts through voluntary contributions (VPF). The current rate of interest is 8.5% per annum and interest earned is tax-free.

Life insurance premium

Any amount that you pay towards life insurance premium for yourself, your spouse or your children can be included in section 80C deduction. If you are paying premium for more than one insurance policy, all the premiums can be included.

Besides this, investments in unit-linked insurance plans (ULIPs) that offer life insurance with benefits of equity investments are also eligible for deduction.

Five-year bank fixed deposit, National Savings Certificate

Tax-saving fixed deposits (FDs) of scheduled banks with a tenure of five years are also entitled for section 80C deduction.

These are six-year small savings instrument, where the rate of interest is 8%, compounded half-yearly. The interest accrued every year is also deemed to be reinvested and thus eligible for section 80C deduction.

Equity-linked savings scheme, Home loan principal repayment

Mutual funds offer you specially-created tax saving funds called ELSS. These schemes invest your money in equities and hence, return is not guaranteed. Money invested is locked for a period of three years.

The principal portion of the EMI qualifies for deduction under Section 80C. Stamp duty and registration charges The amount you pay as stamp duty when you buy a house and the amount you pay for registration of the house can be claimed as deduction under section 80C. However, this can be done only in the year of purchase of the house. Children’s education expenses

These can be claimed as deductions under Section 80C. One would need to keep the receipts to claim the same.

Infrastructure bonds

In addition to the Rs 1 lakh limit, one can also claim an additional deduction of Rs 20,000 by investing in infrastructure bonds issued by specified financial institutions.

The interest earned on these bonds is subject to tax.