Accounting

Bookkeeping: The most important aspects of legally compliant bookkeeping [Update!]

The Accounting is an essential part of every company. It enables the company's financial situation to be monitored, transactions to be tracked and reports to be prepared. A proper Accounting is crucial to ensure the success of a company and to fulfil legal requirements. In this article, we will discuss the importance of Accounting for companies and shed light on the various aspects of accounting.

Key Takeaways

  • Accounting is the systematic recording and documentation of business transactions and serves to monitor the financial situation of a company.
  • Accounting is subject to legal requirements, which can vary depending on the size of the company and its legal form.
  • The documents to be retained include invoices, receipts, account statements and contracts.
  • In accounting, accounts such as the bank account, the cash account and the goods receipt account must be managed.
  • A proper Balance sheet and Profit and loss account requires accurate recording of all business transactions and correct valuation of assets and liabilities.
  • In accounting, various tax types such as Value added tax, Trade tax and income tax are taken into account.
  • Correct invoicing requires the invoice number, date, service description and tax amount, among other things.
  • Accounting software can make work easier and minimise errors.
  • Bookkeeping must be carried out regularly and correctly, whereby the responsibility lies with the entrepreneur or an authorised accountant.
  • Incorrect accounting can lead to fines, back tax payments and, in the worst case, criminal prosecution.

 

What is accounting and why is it important?

Accounting is the systematic recording of a company's financial transactions. It includes recording income and expenses, tracking payments and preparing financial reports such as balance sheets and profit and loss statements. Accounting is important for monitoring the financial status of a company and making informed business decisions.

Proper accounting offers a number of advantages for companies. It makes it possible to monitor the company's cash flow, control expenditure and set financial targets. By regularly reviewing financial reports, companies can also recognise potential problems or bottlenecks at an early stage and take appropriate action. In addition, proper accounting is also essential for legal compliance.

The legal requirements for accounting

Accounting is subject to certain legal requirements, which may vary from country to country. In most countries, companies are required by law to keep proper accounts and prepare financial reports such as balance sheets and profit and loss accounts. These reports usually have to be submitted to the tax authorities on an annual or quarterly basis.

Failure to comply with legal accounting requirements can have serious consequences. Companies can be fined and, in the worst case, even lose their business licence. In addition, inadequate bookkeeping can also lead to legal disputes with customers, suppliers or employees.

Documents required for accounting

For proper bookkeeping, certain Documents must be stored. These include invoices, receipts, bank statements, payslips and contracts. These documents serve as proof of financial transactions and make it possible to check the accuracy of the bookkeeping.

Proper document management is crucial for accounting. All documents should be carefully organised and stored securely for quick access and easy review. Electronic document management can help to streamline the process. Simplify and the Efficiency to increase.

Accounts that must be kept in the accounting system

Various accounts must be kept in the accounting department in order to track income and expenditure. These include the bank account, the cash account, the supplier account and the customer account. Each account is used to record certain transactions and monitor the financial status of the company.

Proper account management is important to maintain an overview of the company's financial situation. All transactions should be recorded and reviewed regularly to ensure that all income and expenses are recorded correctly. Accurate account management also makes it possible to prepare financial reports such as balance sheets and profit and loss statements.

How do you prepare a proper balance sheet and income statement?

Accounting

A balance sheet is a summary of a company's financial situation at a specific point in time. It shows the company's assets, liabilities and equity. A profit and loss account, on the other hand, shows the company's income, expenses and profit or loss over a specific period of time.

In order to prepare a proper balance sheet and income statement, all of the company's financial transactions must be recorded. This includes income, expenditure, investments, loans and other financial activities. The recorded Data are then entered in the corresponding accounts and summarised at the end of the reporting period.

Tax types that must be taken into account in accounting

Various types of tax must be taken into account in accounting, depending on the country and type of company. These include VAT, income tax, corporation tax and trade tax. Each type of tax has its own rules and regulations that must be observed in accounting.

Proper tax administration is important to ensure that all tax obligations are met. Companies should make their tax payments on time and submit all required documentation and reports to the tax authorities. Accurate accounting also makes it possible to identify and utilise potential tax benefits or reliefs.

Correct invoicing

Proper invoicing is an important part of accounting. Invoices serve as proof of financial transactions and enable companies to track payments and collect outstanding receivables. Proper invoicing includes all necessary information such as invoice number, date, service description, quantity and price.

Accurate invoicing is important to avoid disputes or misunderstandings with customers. Companies should ensure that all invoices are accurate, complete and sent to customers on time. Electronic invoicing can help to simplify the process and minimise errors.

The importance of accounting software

Accounting software is an important tool for companies to manage their accounting efficiently. It makes it possible to record financial transactions, create reports and monitor the company's cash flow. Accounting software also offers functions such as automatic calculation of taxes, creation of invoices and Administration of customer and supplier data.

The use of accounting software offers a number of advantages for companies. It saves time and resources as many tasks can be automated. It also minimises the Risk errors and enables accurate and reliable accounting. In addition, accounting software also offers the option of creating financial reports quickly and easily.

Frequency of bookkeeping and who can carry it out

The frequency of bookkeeping depends on the size of the company and the legal requirements. In most cases, companies must complete their bookkeeping at least once a year and prepare financial reports. Larger companies usually carry out monthly or quarterly bookkeeping in order to regularly monitor the financial status of the company.

Bookkeeping can be carried out by internal employees or external accountants. Internal employees should have knowledge of accounting and finance and be familiar with the legal requirements. External accountants can assist companies with bookkeeping and ensure that all legal requirements are met.

Consequences of incorrect accounting

Incorrect accounting can have serious consequences for companies. Incorrect or incomplete financial reports can lead to legal disputes with customers, suppliers or employees. Companies can also be fined if they violate legal regulations.

In addition, incorrect accounting can also affect the confidence of investors, banks and other business partners. Accurate and reliable accounting is therefore crucial to maintaining trust in the company and ensuring long-term success.

Conclusion

Accounting is an essential part of every company. It makes it possible to monitor the financial status of the company, track transactions and create reports. Proper accounting is important to ensure the success of a business and to fulfil legal requirements. Companies should ensure that they have the necessary knowledge and resources to perform accurate and reliable bookkeeping. Using accounting software can help to simplify the process and minimise errors.

In our latest article on the CAFM-blog is about the topic "Efficient Facility management with computer support: How CAFM systems optimise the operation of buildings". Find out how CAFM systems can help to optimise the operation of buildings and make them more efficient. With the help of computer support, various processes in facility management can be automated and simplified. Read the full article here.

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