Share
forfeiture, Re-issue and its Accounting treatment:
Today we are
going to learn another important concept of company accounting Share Forfeiture. So far we have
learned—“The process of issue of share and their accounting treatment” we have
also learned that if any share holder fails to pay allotment money we write it
as “calls in Arrear” and this “calls in arrear” gets adjusted when that
shareholder pays his outstanding amount at the time of 1st call or
final call but what if any share holders completely failed to pay his or her allotment
or call money? Here comes our today’s term “Share Forfeiture” which says that in
that case their shares would be forfeited-that is, cancelled. Thus, Share
Forfeiture is said to happen when company imposed penalty on the shareholder
for the non- payment of their allotment or call money and because of this,
those shareholders cease to become the member of that company.
But what do
you think; company can overnight forfeit their shares without saying anything to
them? Answer is definitely No! The company must send prior intimation notice to
the defaulting shareholders and informed him that if they failed to pay their
due amount with interest within some specific time limit their share will be
forfeited. And I think you know that there must be a clause of share forfeiture
in the company’s article of association otherwise they first have to alter it
and then go for the SF.
Now what
exactly happens in the process of share forfeiture is that the company takes
the money given by the defaulting shareholders and terminates their membership.
INTERESTING! Means, if suppose you as a
shareholders has paid ‘application money’ ‘allotment money’ ‘1st
call money’ but failed to pay final call money, your total money of
application, allotment and first call will be taken by the company , you won’t
receive any money from that and moreover, you will be ceased to become the shareholder
of that company . Complete loss man, your complete loss! But why the Company Ac
is so harsh about the defaulting shareholders? Answer is because if millions of
share holders will do the same, it would be hard for the companies to decide
who their original shareholder is and the normal activity of the companies
would be next to impossible, thus the company act is so harsh for this type of
defaulting shareholders. Ok forget about the shareholder; let’s think from the
company’s point of view— as we are learning Company Accounting , let’s think
about whether company is getting profited by it or not? Answer is Yes probably,
because they reissue or resell those forfeited shares and transfer this
forfeited money (gain) to Capital Reserves but when forfeited share are re-issued
at discount –that is, less than the face value then the company adjust the discounted
(loss) amount with that forfeited amount and then balance will be transferred
to Capital Reserve.
Curious readers
can think that what if the forfeited shares are re-issued at premium? Answer is,
nothing you just relax, premium amount will be credited as usually to security premium account -as simple as that!
Now very
interesting part is about to come please reader I beg you to order some tea or
coffee till then we need to recall what we have learned so far-
ü Meaning of share Forfeiture.
ü Consequence of share Forfeiture.
ü Accounting treatment when forfeited shares
are reissued at discount and premium.
You’re ready? Let’s move further:
With the help
of Double Entry concept, it would be interesting to imagine the Balance sheet
affect of the whole scenario..
1)
When
share holder ‘X’ gives application money say Rs 5000—In the Asset side of Balance
sheet, Bank balance increases with Rs 5000 and in the liability side share capital increases with the
similar amount Rs 5000.
2)
When
that shareholder gives allotment money say Rs 6000 (including premium Rs1000).—In
the Asset side of Balance sheet, Bank balance increases with Rs 6000 and in the
liability side share capital
increases with Rs 5000 and Security
premium account increases with Rs 1000.
3)
Now
the shareholder ‘X’ hasn’t paid first and final call money say Rs 7000—In the asset
side of balance sheet, calls in arrear created with Rs 7000 and in the
liability side share capital increase with Rs 7000. Here till now it has not
been cleared whether ‘X’ will paid his part of liability or not. He can pay
within time limit or maybe not.
4)
Now
after the specific time limit, after giving notice, company has decided to
forfeit his share—means time for cancellation has come---firstly, total Share
Capital a/c which has so far been
credited with Rs 17000 should be debited with same amount to cancel it. Secondly,
calls in arrear of Rs 7000 in asset side should be credited to cancel the
entry. Till now financial position is, liability is decreased for Rs 17000 and
asset is decreased for Rs7000. Now third and final is create share forfeiture
account for Rs 10000 in liability side under capital reserve. To make it very
clear I’m showing you journal entry for step 4—
Share capital a/c debit 17000
To share forfeiture a/c 10000
To calls in arrear a/c
7000
It is to be noted that Security
premium of 1000 given by ‘X’ should not be touched and remain as it is in
Balance sheet.
Now suppose ‘X’ had failed to pay
allotment money also then calls in arrear would be Rs13000, share forfeiture
would be Rs5000, share capital would be Rs 17000 and very important point security premium account would be debited
with Rs1000. Journal entry on that case would be:
Share capital a/c debit 17000
Security premium a/c debit 1000
To share forfeiture
a/c 5000
To calls in arrear a/c 13000
Suppose
share were issued at discount for say Rs 2000 and shareholder ‘X’ failed to pay
the same first and final call Rs 7000.
Allotment money paid was Rs 3000, and application money paid was Rs 5000
Here when share were issued entry were:
Bank a/c debit 8000
Calls in arrear
a/c debit
7000
Discount on
issue of share a/c debit 2000
To share
capital a/c
17000
Now after forfeiture, entry for
cancellation would be:
Share capital a/c debit 17000
To share forfeiture a/c 8000
To calls in arrear
a/c 7000
To discount on issue of
share a/c 2000
It is very interesting to know that
when shares are issued at a discount, it will be credited to cancel entry but
if shares are issued at a premium and shareholder failed to pay premium money;
it will not be touched to cancel entry at the time of forfeiture.
Well done!
You have paid enough attention just my final point is coming, you are about to
have the mastery in this concept. I need to say one more thing listen
carefully!
When the part
of forfeited shares is re-issued, the proportionate amount will be transferred to
Capital reserve after adjusting discount if any. Suppose 100 shares are
forfeited for say Rs 5000 and of this, 80 shares are re-issued at a discount of
say Rs 200. Here calculation would be: 5000/100*80= Rs4000 (minus) 200= 3800
will go directly in the capital reserve and the remaining 1000 will go for
share forfeiture Account.
This is how I
explained about share forfeiture; Re-issue and their accounting treatment if
you have any question regarding this concept feel free to ask in the comment
box below.