ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONS

SCO: 209, First Floor, Sector-36/D. Chandigarh (M): 0172-5017149, 9876149390,9915169925

CONSIGNMENT

Meaning of Consignment Account:Consign means to send. In Accounting, the term consignment account relates to accounts

dealing with a situation where one person (or firm) sends goods to another person (or firm) on the basis
that the goods will be sold on behalf of and at the risk of the former. The following should be noted
carefully:
a)

The party which sends the goods (consignor) is called principal.

b)

The party to whom goods are sent (consignee) is called agent.

c)

The ownership of the goods, i.e., the property in the goods, remains with the consignor or the
principal-the agent does not become their owner even though they are in his possession. On
sale, of course, the buyer will become the owner.

d)

The principal does not send an invoice to the agent. He sends only a Performa invoice, a
statement that looks like an invoice but is really not one. The object of the Performa invoice is
only to convey information to the agent regarding particulars of the goods sent.

e)

Usually, the agent recovers from the principal all expenses incurred by him on the consignment.
This however can be changed by agreement between eh two parties.

f)

It is also usual for the agent to give an advance to the principal in the form of cash or a bill of
exchange. It is adjusted against the sale proceeds of the goods.

g)

For his work the agent receives a commission, calculated on the basis of gross sale. For
ordinary commission the agent is not responsible for any bad debt that may arise. If the agent is
to be made responsible for bad debts, he is to be paid a commission called delcredere
commission. It is calculated on total sales, not merely on credit sales until and unless agreed.

h)

Periodically, the agent sends to the principal statement called Account Sales. It sets out the
sales made by the agent, the expenses incurred on behalf of the principal, the commission
earned by the agent and the balance due to the principal.

i)

Firms usually like to ascertain the profit or loss on each consignment or consignments to each
agent.
Consignment Account relates to accounts dealing with such business where one person sends
goods to another person on the basis that such goods will be sold on behalf of and at the risk of
the former.

Distinction between Consignment and Sale:-

Sr.
1.

2.

3.
4.

5.

Consignment
Ownership of the goods rests with the consignor till
the time they are sold by the consignee, no matter
the goods are transferred to the consignee.
The consignee can return the unsold goods to the
consignor.
The relationship between eh consignor and the
consignee is that of a principal and agent.
The relationship between the consignor and the
consignee is that of a principal and agent.
Expenses done by the consignee to receive the
goods and to keep it safely is borne by the
consignor.

Sale
The ownership of the goods transfers with
the transfer of goods from the seller to the
buyer.
Goods sold are the property of the buyer
and can be returned only if the seller
agrees.
It is the buyer who will bear the loss if any,
after the delivery of goods.
The relationship between eh seller and
the buyer is that of a creditor and a
debtor.
Expenses incurred by the buyer are to be
borne by the buyer itself after the delivery
of goods.

SCO: 209, F.F.Sector-36/D Chandigarh.0172-5017149, 9876149390, 9915169925

ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONS
SCO: 209, First Floor, Sector-36/D. Chandigarh (M): 0172-5017149, 9876149390,9915169925

Valuation of stock:The principle is that stock should be valued at cost or net realisable value whichever is
lower, the same principle as is practised for preparing final accounts. In the case of
consignment, cost means not only the cost of the goods as such to the consignor but also all
expenses incurred till the goods reach the premises of the consignee. Such expenses include
packaging, freight, cartage, insurance in transit, octroi, etc. But expenses incurred after the
goods have reached the consignees godown (such as godown rent, insurance of godown,
delivery charges) are not treated as part of the cost of purchase for valuating stock on hand.
That is why in the case given above; stock has been valued ignoring godown rent and
insurance.
Sometime an examination problem states only that the consignors expense amounted to such
and such amount and that consignee spent so much. If details are not available for valuing
stock the expenses incurred by the consignor should be treated as part of cost while those
incurred by the consignee should be ignored) if the expected selling price of stock on hand is
lower than the cost the value put on the stock should be expected net selling price only, i.e.,
expected selling price less delivery expenses, etc.

Goods Invoiced above cost:Sometimes the proforma invoice is made out at a value higher than the cost and entries
in the books of the consignor are made out on that basis-even the stock remaining unsold will
initially be valued on the basis of the invoice price. It must be remembered, however, that the
profit or loss can be ascertained only if sale proceeds (plus) stock on hand, valued on cost
basis, is compared with the cost of the goods concerned together with expenses. Hence, if
entries are first made on invoice basis, the effect of the loading (i.e., amount added to arrive at
the invoice price) must be removed by additional entries. Suppose in the example given above,
if the invoice is cost plus 20%, i.e., Rs. 60,000 for the goods sent to Wye. The entries will be
initially:

Abnormal loss:If any accidental or unnecessary loss occurs, the proper thing to do is to find out the cost of the
goods thus lost and then to credit the consignment Account and debit the Profit and loss
Account-this will enable the consignor to known what profit would have been earned had the
loss not taken place. Suppose 1,000 sewing machines costing Rs. 250 each are sent on
consignment basis and Rs. 10,000 are spent on freight etc. 20 machines are damaged beyond
repair. The amount of loss will be:

Normal Loss:If some loss is essential and unavoidable, it would be spread over the entire consignment while
valuing stock. The total cost plus expenses incurred should be divided by the quantity available
after the normal loss to ascertain the cost per unit. Suppose 1,000 kg of apples are consigned
to a wholesaler, the cost being Rs. 3 per kg, plus Rs. 400 of freight. It is concluded that a loss of
15% is unavoidable. The cost per kg will be Rs. 3,400850 or Rs. 4. If the stock is 100kg its
value will be Rs. 400.

SCO: 209, F.F.Sector-36/D Chandigarh.0172-5017149, 9876149390, 9915169925

ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONS
SCO: 209, First Floor, Sector-36/D. Chandigarh (M): 0172-5017149, 9876149390,9915169925

Commission:Commission is the remuneration paid by the consignor to the consignee for the services
rendered to the former for selling the consigned goods. Three types of commission can be
provided by the consignor to the consignee, as per the agreement, either simultaneously or in
isolation. They are:

Ordinary commission:- The term commission simply denotes ordinary commission. It

is based on fixed percentage of the gross sales proceeds made by the consignee. It is
given by the consignor regardless of whether the consignee is making credit sales or
not. This type of commission does not give any protection to the consignor from bad
debts and is provided on total sales.

Del-credere commission:- To increase the sale and to encourage the consignee to

make credit sales, the consignor provides an additional commission generally known as
del-credere commission. This additional commission when provided to the consignee
gives a protection to the consignor against bad debts. In other words, after providing
the del-credere commission, bad debts is no more the loss of the consignor. It is
calculated on total sales unless there is any agreement between the consignor and the
consignee to provide it on credit sales only.

Over-riding Commission:- it is an extra commission allowed by the consignor to the

consignee to promote sales at higher price then specified or to encourage the
consignee to put hard work in introducing new product in the market. Depending on the
agreement it is calculated on total sales or on the difference between actual sales and
sales at invoice price or any specified price.

Return of goods from the consignee:Consigned goods can be returned by the consignee because of many reasons like poor quality
or not up to the specimen or destroyed in transit etc. In such a situation, the question arises is
the valuation of returned goods. Consigned goods returned by the consignee to the consignor
are valued at the price at which it was consigned to the consignee. Expenses incurred by the
consignee to send those goods back to the consignor are not taken into consideration while
valuing it because only those expenses are included in the cost of goods which help to bring
the goods into present location and condition i.e the saleable condition.

Account sales:An account sale is the periodical summary statement sent by the consignee to the consignor. It
contains details regarding:

Sales made,

Expenses incurred on behalf of the consignor,

Commission earned,

Unsold stock left with the consignee,

Advance payment or security deposited with the consignor and the extent to which it
has been adjusted,

Balance payment due or remitted.

It is a summary statement and is different from Sales Account.

SCO: 209, F.F.Sector-36/D Chandigarh.0172-5017149, 9876149390, 9915169925

ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONS
SCO: 209, First Floor, Sector-36/D. Chandigarh (M): 0172-5017149, 9876149390,9915169925

Accounting books of the consignee:The consignee is not concerned when goods are consigned to him or when the consignor
incurs expenses. He is concerned only when he sends an advance to the consignor, makes a
sale, incurs expenses on the consignment and earns his commission. He debits or credits the
consignor for all these as the case may be.

Advance by the consignee vs security against the consignment:Generally the consignor insist the consignee for some advance payment for the goods
consigned at the time of delivery of goods. This advance payment is adjusted in full against the
amount due by the consignee on account of the goods sold.
But if the advance money deposited by the consignee is in the form of security against
the goods consigned then the full amount is not adjusted against the amount due by the
consignee to the consignor on account of goods sold in case, there is any unsold stock left with
the consignee. In that case proportionate security in respect of unsold goods in carried forward
till the time the respective goods held with the consignee are sold.
An overview of the consignment transaction between consignee and consignor can be
duplicated with the help of the following chart:

Consignment Account

Goods consigned
Consignor

Consignee
Account sales

Details of sales made by the consignee

Expenses incurred on behalf of the consignor

Consignor

Commission earned
Unsold stock left with the consignee
Advance payment or security deposited
Balance due or remitted

SCO: 209, F.F.Sector-36/D Chandigarh.0172-5017149, 9876149390, 9915169925

ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONS
SCO: 209, First Floor, Sector-36/D. Chandigarh (M): 0172-5017149, 9876149390,9915169925
Books of consignor:If Del Credere Commission is allowed
For Bad debts
-No Entry-

If Del Credere commission is not

Allowed
Consignment
To Consignee A/c

Books of consignee:
If Del Credere Commission is allowed
Bad Debts will be written off against
Del credere commission and there will be
No effect in consignors A/c
For bad Debts
Bad Debts
To Consignment debtors
If not allowed
Consignor A/c

Dr.

To Consignment debtors A/c

BOOKS OF CONSIGNOR
(i) When Goods are sent
Consignment A/c

Dr.

To Goods sent on consignment

(ii) If above goods sent on Invoice Price
Goods sent on consignment A/c

Dr.

To consignment A/c
(with loading)
(iii) Expense incurred by the consignor
Consignment A/c

Dr.

To Cash/Bank
(iv) Advance received from consignee
Bank B/R

Dr.

To Consignee
Note:- If above B/R has been discounted by the consignor. Discount Amount will not affect the
consignment account. It will be transferred to P & L A/c.
(v) For Expenses paid by consignee
Consignment A/c

Dr.

To Consignee

SCO: 209, F.F.Sector-36/D Chandigarh.0172-5017149, 9876149390, 9915169925

ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONS
SCO: 209, First Floor, Sector-36/D. Chandigarh (M): 0172-5017149, 9876149390,9915169925
(vi) For Sales by consignee
Consignee A/c
Dr.
To Consignment
(vii) Commission payable to consignee
Consignment A/c
Dr.
To consignee
(viii) For Unsold stock
Consignment stock A/c
Dr.
To consignment A/c
(ix) For Abnormal Loss
Abnormal Loss A/c
Dr.
To consignment A/c
(x) Amount Recovered from Insurance Company
Cash Dr.
To Abnormal Loss
(xi) If damaged goods are sold
Cash/consignee
Dr.
To Abnormal loss
(xii) If commission is payable on above sale
Abnormal loss
Dr.
To Consignee
(xiii) Balance of Abnormal loss transfer to profit & Loss
P & L A/c
Dr.
To Abnormal Loss A/c
(xiv) For profit/Loss on consignment If profit
Consignment A/c
Dr.
To consignment A/c
If Losss
P & L A/c
Dr.
To consignment A/c
(xv) Final Remittance from consignee
Bank B/R A/c
Dr.
To Consignee
(xvi) Closing of Goods sent on consignment
Goods sent on consignment A/c
Dr.
To Purchases/Trading A/c

BOOKS OF CONSIGNEE
(i)

For Receiving Goods

-No Entry(ii)
Advance Given to Consignor
Consignor A/c
Dr.
To bank B/P
(iii) For payment of Expenses by consignee
Consignor A/c
Dr.
To Cash/Bank
(iv) For sale of goods
Cash/bank (if cash sale)
Dr.
Consignment Debtors A/c (if credit sale)
To Consignor
(v) Collection from Consignment debtors
Cash/bank A/c
Dr.
To Consignment debtors
(vi) For Commission
Consignor A/c
Dr.
To commission
(vii) For making final Payment to consignor
Consignor A/c
Dr.
To Cash/Bank /B/P

SCO: 209, F.F.Sector-36/D Chandigarh.0172-5017149, 9876149390, 9915169925