The use of Profit and Loss Account is used to determine the financial performance for a specific period. Under commercial law, this is achieved in particular by the Profit and Loss Statement, in which expenses and revenues are contrasted.
What is a profit and loss statement (profit and loss statement)?
The profit and loss statement compares the expenses incurred and income generated within a specific period.
If the income exceeds the expenses, a profit generally results. If the expenses are higher than the income, a loss is generally incurred.
What sizes does the profit and loss statement show?
The profit and loss statement categorises the income and expenses relevant to the net income for the period. Depending on the accounting standards and presentation format, various individual items may be shown.
Fundamentally, a distinction can be made between the following quantities in particular:
- Yields
- Expenses
- Interim results
- annual or periodic result
Balance sheet and profit and loss statement – what's the difference?
The Balance sheet shows assets, liabilities and equity at a specific reporting date. The profit and loss statement, on the other hand, looks at expenses and income within a specific period.
In short: The Balance sheet is as of a specific date – the profit and loss statement is over a period of time.
Both invoices are related to each other and, for companies with corresponding accounting obligations, belong to Annual financial statements. Further basics are explained in the glossary article on Accounting.
profit and loss statement and MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS – what's the difference?
The management accounts (MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS) is typically used for ongoing in-year evaluation based on the accounting data available up to that point.
The profit and loss statement, on the other hand, is part of the Jahresabschluss and takes into account the postings and deferrals relevant to this year-end closing. An interim MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS is therefore not to be equated with a final profit and loss statement.
Connection with the double Bookkeeping
In the double-entry bookkeeping Expenses and income are recorded in corresponding accounts. These values form a basis for the subsequent determination of profit and loss in profit and loss statement.
