How is a balance sheet structured?
Mit dem Jahresabschluss wird die Buchführung eines jeden Geschäftsjahres abgeschlossen. Der Jahresabschluss hat große Relevanz, unter anderem, weil er die gesamtwirtschaftliche Situation eines Unternehmens repräsentiert. Ein Jahresabschluss kann jedoch auch nichtig sein. Wir von der Steuerkanzlei Martin Bleckmann in Köln erklären Ihnen, ab wann das der Fall ist und welche rechtlichen Folgen ein nichtiger Jahresabschluss mit sich bringt.
For companies with certain legal forms, the balance sheet is one of mandatory financial documents in the financial statements. But what is a balance sheet? Which companies must create them and at what point in time? And how is a balance sheet structured? The Martin Bleckmann tax office, your tax advisor in Cologne, will answer all these questions in the following text.
The most important things in brief
- The balance sheet compares the assets and capital of a company.
- This gives various interest groups an insight into the assets of a company.
- The structure of a balance sheet is subject to certain regulations.
The balance sheet
Together with the profit and loss statement, the balance sheet forms the annual financial statements of a company. This balance sheet compares the assets and capital of a company. The balance sheet therefore meets a Information function: Obtained through the comparison various interest groups, such as supervisory authorities and banks, but also investors, shareholders, a Overview of all assets of the company.
The accounting
The process in which a Proper balance sheet in accordance with legal requirements is created, is also known as accounting. We have summarized all the important rules that you must comply with when carrying out this accounting for you.
Which companies must prepare a balance sheet?
The balance sheet is not mandatory for every company. Only companies with a specific legal form Are subject to the so-called Accounting obligation. This accounting requirement applies to:
- partnerships with unlimited liability (e.g. OHG or GbR)
- Liability limited legal forms (e.g. GmbH or UG)
- Individual entrepreneurs with an annual turnover of more than 600,000 euros or an annual profit of over 60,000 euros
When must the balance sheet be prepared?
The balance sheet must be issued by companies subject to accounting obligations at a specified date, the Balance sheet date, are manufactured. In Germany, the balance sheet date is often December 31, but this can be used by companies be chosen completely freely.
The structure of a balance sheet
A balance sheet is structured in tabular form. This is divided into two sides. On the one hand, there is the Assets page, on which the assets of the accounted company are listed. On the other hand, there is the Liabilities page. This page represents the company's capital.
The assets on the balance sheet
The assets of a company, which must be listed on the assets page, can Distinguished into two types become. This is how fixed and current assets exist. As fixed assets This refers to assets that correspond to the operating purpose, i.e. machines, but also patents or licenses. that Current assets are assets that, in contrast, do not remain in the company for as long, such as inventories or circumstances.
The liabilities of the balance sheet
The capital shown on the liabilities side shows who on the assets side Listed assets include. This can be equity, i.e. capital that belongs to the company itself, but also to foreign capital from investors act.
