CFM22050 - Accounting for corporate finance: UK GAAP before 1 January 2005: lenders: accrual accounting: discounted loans

Balance sheet: timing

Sometimes a company may issue a loan which is to be redeemed (repaid) at a greater amount. Where this happens, the company will record the loan at its issue cost and then spread the difference (known as the discount) over the period to redemption. This means that the value of the asset on the balance sheet (the carrying value) increases each period. This is not a revaluation to go through a revaluation reserve, but a realised profit within the profit and loss account and will be shown as finance income.

Example

On 1 January 2006, Company A issued a loan to Company C. The terms of the loan are that Company A would advance £9,500 immediately and Company C would repay £10,000 on 31 January 2006.

The bookkeeping would be:

 

Debit

Credit

 

£

£

On 1 January 2006

 

 

Loan with Company C

9,500

 

Cash at Bank

 

9,500

On 31 January 2006

 

 

Cash at Bank

10,000

 

Loan with Company C

 

9,500

Finance Income (in P&L)

 

500