Retained earnings

Few years ago I created an adjustment to previous year income account in the retained earning section. This was to account for income in previous year not included in the income for that year. Unfortunately when I close the fiscal year, this balance/account does not roll-over to the opening retained earnings. Would there be any consequence if I enter a journal entry to increase the opening retained earning and decrease the Adjustment to previous year income.  

  • Before you post another entry to correct, check the Data Integrity on the Maintenance menu.  Does it say Data OK?  Or do you have a discrepancy in the Debits and Credits?  When you run the fiscal year trial balance, does it balance?  How many years is it unbalanced?  Run it as of the last day of the year as well as the second last day of the year for each year until you see it balances.

    If there is a discrepancy then the proper way to correct this is to do a data repair.  Sage Tech support can correct it by phone but only for last year and current year.

  • Hi Richard

    Everything is in balance and the Data Integrity is ok.

    Maybe I did not explain my situation clearly. Here is the scenario.

    Dec 31, 2020:

    Owners Equity:

    Retained Earnings Previous year    $800,000

    Prior year adjustment                             $500

    Current year earnings                      $100,000  

    Total Equity                                      $900,500

    Jan1 after year-end closing:

    Retained Earnings Previous year    $900,000

    Prior year adjustment                             $500

    Current year earnings                                $0  

    Total Equity                                      $900,500

    The prior year adjustment does not roll-over to "Retained Earnings Previous year" account. 

    What I would like to do is make a journal entry to decrease/close the Prior year adjustment and increase the Retained Earning Previous year. 

    Will this cause any integrity issues.

    Thanks 

  • in reply to mahesh Patel

    If I am reading this correctly, the Prior Year Adjustment is a separate G/L account and not an entry already in the account (usually 3560) Retained Earings.

    I had assumed the adjustment made to Retained Earnings previously had already been posted to the Retained Earnings account directly.  So I thought it looked like

    Owners Equity:

    Retained Earnings Previous year    $800,000 + 500 = 800500

    Prior year adjustment                             $500

    Current year earnings                      $100,000  

    Total Equity                                      $900,500

    Jan1 after year-end closing:

    Retained Earnings Previous year    $900,000

    Prior year adjustment                             $500

    Current year earnings                                $0  

    Total Equity                                      $900,000

    And I thought the adjustment you wanted to make was to the income statement.

    If the amount should be in Retained Earnings and that will make the balance on your books match the accountant's numbers for your Retained Earnings on your income tax filings, then I would credit the Retained Earnings and debit the Prior Year Adjustment account as you suggest.  I am a little surprised the accountants didn't do this already though.  You might want to pass it by them at this year end.