Forums › Ask ACCA Tutor Forums › Ask the Tutor ACCA SBR Exams › Consolidation – difference between "Reserves" and "Retained earnings"
- This topic has 3 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 8 years ago by P2-D2.
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- August 16, 2016 at 10:20 am #333474
Hello Sir,
What is difference between “Reserves” and “Retained earnings”?
What types of profits goes in “Reserves” and “Retained earnings”? Why are they kept separately?
When is transfer/reclassification between these two required?
Thanks in advance!!
August 16, 2016 at 11:11 am #333501Hi,
Retained earnings is a type of reserve account and is an accumulation of all the profits and losses made since incorporation of the entity.
Other examples of reserve accounts are share premium and revaluation reserves but these are now all grouped together in what is called other components of equity (OCE).
A transfer between the reserves usually arises on revaluations of PPE, whereby any excess depreciation on the revalued asset is transferred from the revaluation reserve (part of OCE) to the retained earnings.
Retained earnings and OCE are kept separately because realised gains/losses go through retained earnings and unrealised gains/losses go through OCE.
Thanks
August 16, 2016 at 12:13 pm #333513I was confused with this thing for a long time. I am grateful for your help Sir, it is very clear now!!
August 18, 2016 at 11:57 am #333931It is very confusing but I’m glad it is much clearer now.
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