Question
Harborline Supply accepted a note from a customer. Its year-end is December 31.
| Date | Event |
|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Accepted a $24,000, 3-month, 8% note receivable from a customer to settle their account. |
| December 31, 2026 | Accrued interest on the note. |
| February 1, 2027 | Collected the note in full plus all interest. |
Required: Prepare the journal entries for accepting the note, the December 31 interest accrual (2 months), and the February 1 collection (principal plus 3 months’ interest).
Scoring
- 40% Account naming / line matching
- 40% Amount correctness
- 20% Structure / section placement
IAS 1 — accrual basis of accounting
Adjusting entries exist to move revenue and expense into the period they belong to, regardless of when cash moved. Every adjusting entry touches at least one income statement account and one balance sheet account — and never the cash account, because the cash has either already moved or has not moved yet.
Common mistakes
- Debiting or crediting Cash in an adjusting entry — a reliable sign the entry is wrong.
- Adjusting for the full amount of a prepayment rather than only the expired portion.
- Missing accrued items entirely because no document prompted them — accrued interest and accrued wages are the usual casualties.
Further readingThe 5 types of adjusting entry