Question 510
An accounting team resolves the following issue: An asset is sold below net book value, yet the disposal entry credits a gain account. Which observed record or result is decisive?
Explanation
Correct Answer
Net book value, sale proceeds and disposal loss reconcile under the approved posting profile. This directly tests the intended correction: Correct the disposal transaction accounting to recognize an actual loss based on net carrying value and proceeds. The underlying failure or control mechanism is: Gain or loss on disposal is the difference between proceeds and carrying amount.
Incorrect Answers
The asset's book transactions and GL balances reconcile after a controlled correction. That would verify a different case: An asset has a depreciation adjustment after an approved useful-life change, but finance manually edits accumulated depreciation account balances. It does not verify the required corrective action: Correct the disposal transaction accounting to recognize an actual loss based on net carrying value and proceeds.
All eligible books across the intended entities are processed once with audit vouchers. That would verify a different case: Monthly depreciation is run in batch for several companies, but one legal entity's book was omitted from the batch scope. It does not verify the required corrective action: Correct the disposal transaction accounting to recognize an actual loss based on net carrying value and proceeds.
Asset cost increases by the improvement and subsequent depreciation adjusts according to book policy. That would verify a different case: An asset was initially capitalized at $8,000 but a later capital improvement of $1,200 is booked as routine maintenance expense contrary to policy. It does not verify the required corrective action: Correct the disposal transaction accounting to recognize an actual loss based on net carrying value and proceeds.