What is the Journal Entry for Goods Given as Charity or Free Samples?

Journal Entry for Goods Given as Charity or Distributed as Free Samples

Charity generally refers to the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money or goods to those in need. Goods given as free samples are however a way of advertising. Both acts when performed by a company are required to be recorded in the books of accounts.

Goods given to charity or goods distributed as free samples are not to be accounted for as sales. Instead, they are accounted for as expenses, simply because, in this case, the outflow of goods happen without any consideration.

Journal Entry for Goods Given as Charity

When accounting for goods given as charity, purchases are reduced with the exact cost of goods contributed.

Example

A company, Unreal Pvt Ltd. gave goods to a charity which cost them 20,000. Journal entry for charity, in this case, will be posted as,

Treatment of Charity in Final Accounts

• The amount is reduced from purchases in the trading account.
• It is shown as an expense on the debit side of the income statement.

Related Topic – What is the Journal Entry for Accrued Income?

Journal Entry for Goods Distributed as Free Samples

When accounting for goods distributed as free samples purchases are credited and the advertisement account is debited.

Example

A company Unreal Pvt Ltd. distributed goods as free samples, which cost 15,000 to the company. Journal entry for goods distributed as free samples will be posted as,

Treatment of Free samples in Financial Statements

• The amount is deducted from purchases in the trading account.
• It is shown as an expense on the debit side of the profit and loss account.

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