Question

Haley is a corporate certified public accountant (CPA) working on a new budget. When she lists the company’s liabilities, which of the following will she include? Entry field with incorrect answer Computer software Owners’ equity Marketable securities Employees’ wages and salaries

Answer 1

Answer:

None of the listed items would fall under the category of a liability

Explanation:

A liability is a present obligation that entails an outflow of economic resources (e.g cash) to settle. For an item to be classified as a liability it must relate to an event that had happened (i.e in the past) and not the future.

Computer software is likely an asset of a company. The payment for same, if not made already, can then be a liability.

Owners' equity is a contribution by the owner to further the business objectives.

Marketable securities are assets of the company, precisely current assets since it is assumed that they can be convertible to cash in a short while.

Employees' wages and salaries are expenses. It is only when they have not been paid as at when due i.e when the performance obligation has been satisfied (e.g workers have worked for a full month to which the salary relates) that it becomes a liability.