DISSOLUTION WITH LIQUIDATION

A partnership is liquidated when its business operations are completely terminated or ended. The
partnership assets are sold, the partnership creditors are paid, and the remaining assets, if any, are
distributed to the partners as return of their investments.
Partnership dissolution with liquidation may be caused by any of the following factors:
1. The accomplishment of the purpose for which the partnership was organized.
2. The termination of the term/period covered by the partnership contract.
3. The bankruptcy of the firm.
4. The mutual agreement among the partners to close the business.
Accounting problems involved in the liquidation of a partnership include:
1. Determination of the profit or loss from the beginning of the accounting period to the
date of liquidation and the distribution of such profit or loss.
2. Closing of the partnership books;
3. Correction of accounting errors in prior periods like overstatement or understatement
of inventories, excessive depreciation charges, and failure to provide adequately for
doubtful accounts; and
4. Liquidation of the business.
At the point of partnership liquidation, the assets and liabilities of the partnership are directly
intertwined with those of the individual partners' personal assets and liabilities because of the unlimited
liability of each partner. The priorities for creditors' claims against the assets available to pay the
partnership liabilities involve two concepts: the marshaling of assets and the right of offset.
Marshaling of assets involves the order of creditors' rights against the partnership's assets and the
personal assets of the individual partners. The order in which claims against the partnership's assets
will be marshaled is as follows:
1. Partnership creditors other than partners .
2. Partners' claims other than capital and profits, such as loans payable and accrued
interest payable.
3. Partners' claim to capital or profits, to the extent of credit balances in capital accounts.
The order of claims against the personal assets of the individual partners is as follows:
1. Personal creditors of individual partners.
2. Partnership creditors on unpaid partnership liabilities regardless of a partner's capital
balance in the partnership.
Right of offset involves offsetting a deficit in a partner's capital (debit balance in the capital account
of a partner) against the loan payable to that partner. The loan payable to a partner has a higher
priority in liquidation than a partner's capital balance but a lower priority than liabilities to outside
creditors.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Dissolution - the termination of a partnership as a going concern; it is the termination of the life of
partnership.
Winding up - the process of settling the business or partnership affairs; it is synonymous to
liquidation.
Termination - the point in time when all partnership affairs are ended.
Liquidation - the interval of time between dissolution and termination of partnership affairs; it is also
the process of winding up a business which normally consists of conversion of assets into cash,
payment of liabilities and distribution of remaining cash among the partners.

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Realization - the process of converting non-cash assets into cash.
Gain on realization - the excess of the selling price over the cost or book value of the assets
disposed or sold through realization.
Loss on realization - the excess of the cost or book value over the selling price of the assets
disposed or sold through realization.
Capital deficiency - the excess of a partner's share on losses over his capital.
Deficient partner - a partner with a debit balance in his capital account after receiving his share on
the loss on realization.
Right of offset - the legal right to apply part or all of the amount owing to a partner on a loan balance
against deficiency in his capital account resulting from losses in the process of liquidation.
Partner's interest - the sum of a partner's capital, loan balance and advances to the partnership.

TYPES OF LIQUIDATION
1. Lump-sum liquidation or liquidation by totals. This is a type of liquidation whereby the
distribution of cash to the partners is done only after all the non-cash assets have been realized,
the total amount of gain or loss on realization is known, and all liabilities have been paid.
2. Liquidation by installment or piece-meal liquidation. This is a type of liquidation whereby
assets are realized on a piecemeal basis and cash is distributed to partners on a periodic basis as
it becomes available, that is even before all non-assets are converted into cash.
PROCEDURES IN LUMP-SUM LIQUIDATION
When a partnership is to be liquidated, the books should be adjusted and balances of nominal
accounts are closed. The resulting net income or loss for the period is transferred to the partners'
capital account. Advances and withdrawals are closed to capital accounts since cash settlement
shall be based on the partners' capital account balances. The partnership is then ready to proceed
with liquidation as follows:
1. Sale of non-cash assets and distribution or allocation of gain or loss on realization among
the partners according to their residual profit and loss ratios (salary and interest factors
disregarded) unless liquidation ratios are specified in the partnership agreement.
2. Distribution of cash to the creditors and partners. In this procedure, the provisions of the
marshaling of assets and the exercise of the right of offset are applied.
Liquidation expenses may be incurred to facilitate the immediate realization of non-cash assets.
Payment of liquidation expenses reduces cash and is recorded as a deduction from partners'
capital based on the partners' profit and loss ratios.
When realization of assets in the course of liquidation results in a loss, the loss is carried to the
capital accounts of the partners as a deduction. If the partner's capital account results in a debit
balance, called capital deficiency, after the distribution of loss on realization, such can be offset
against any loan balance of the partner to the partnership. The amount offset shall be the amount
of the loan or the amount of the deficiency , whichever is lower.

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Cash can be distributed to partners before or after the elimination of the deficiency. If cash is
distributed after the elimination of the deficiency,
1. Capital deficiency is eliminated by
a. Making additional cash investment, if the deficient partner is solvent.
b. Charging the deficiency as additional loss to the remaining partners, if the
deficient partner is insolvent.
2. Cash available for distribution is then paid to partners to apply first on loan then
on capital.
Note that the final distribution of cash to partners is made based on partners' capital balances
and not on any ratio.
If cash is distributed to partners before eliminating the deficiency:
1. Cash available for distribution is paid to partners based on an accompanying schedule
to determine amounts to be paid to partners.
2. Deficient partners may
(a) If solvent, make additional cash investment; to be paid to partners as second cash
distribution, or the deficient partner may make direct cash settlement to the other
partners.
(b) If insolvent, the deficiency shall be absorbed by the other partners as additional loss
according to their profit and loss ratio.
The personal status of partners (that is, personal assets and personal liabilities) is sometimes
provided in the problem to indicate that a partner is solvent or insolvent. When personal assets
exceed personal liabilities, the partner is solvent to the extent of the excess. When personal assets
are less than personal liabilities, the partner is insolvent.
STATEMENT OF LIQUIDATION
The statement of liquidation is a statement prepared to summarize the liquidation process. It is the
basis of the journal entries made to record liquidation. This statement presents in working paper
form the effect of the liquidation on the statement of financial position. It shows the conversion of
assets into cash, the allocation of gain or loss on realization, and the distribution of cash to creditors
and partners.
Illustrative Problem A:
Henson, Domingo and Diaz
Statement of Financial Position
December 1, 2015
Assets
Cash
Other Assets

8,000
136,000

144,000

Case

Liabities and Equity

Liabilities
P
44,800
Domingo, Loan
2,000
Diaz, Loan
3,200
Henson, Capital
38,000
Domingo, Capital
24,000
Diaz, Capital
32,000
Total Liab & Equity P
144,000

(1) The other assets were sold for P140,000.

(2) The other assets were sold for P100,000.
(3) The other assets were sold for P74,000.

Instructions:
1. Prepare a statement of liquidation for each of the cases. For each case, prepare
a schedule of cash distribution.
2. Present journal entries to record the liquidation process.
Points of emphasis in the preparation of the statement of liquidation
1. Make sure that the balances before liquidation show equlaity of debits and credits. This will always
be true after each liquidation transaction.
2. Maintain two columns only for the debits. These are cash and other assets regardless of whether
the assets were given itemized like cash, receivables, inventory, supplies, equipment, etc.
Non-pcash assets are classified as "other assets."
3. Gain on realization increases capital while loss on relaization decreases capital.
4. Figures in parenthesis for each liquidation transaction represent reduction in the account.
5. Double rule when all columns are brought to zero balance.

Case 1 - The other assets were sold for P140,000. (Gain on realization, no capital deficiency)

Cash
Profit & Loss ratio
Balances before
liquidation
Sales of assets and
distribution of gain
Balances
Payment of liabilities
Balances
Payment to partners

8,000

Other
Assets

136,000

140,000 (136,000)
148,000
0
(44,800)
103,200
(103,200)

0
0

Henson, Domingo and Diaz

Statement of Liquidation
December 1 - 31, 2015
(all in Pesos P)
Loan
Liabilities Domingo
Diaz

44,800

2,000

44,800

2,000

(44,800)
0
0

2,000
(2,000)

Capital
Henson Domingo
2(40%) 2(40%)

Diaz
1(20%)

3,200

38,000

24,000

32,000

3,200

1,600
39,600

1,600
25,600

800
32,800

3,200
39,600
25,600
32,800
(3,200) (39,600) (25,600) (32,800)

The other assets with a book value of P136,000 were sold for P140,000 resulting in a P4,000 gain on realization distributed
among the partners in their 2:2:1 ratio.
The entries to record the liquidation process are:
(a) Realization of assets and distribution of gain on realization, 2:2:1
Cash

140,000
Other Assets
Henson, Capital (4,000 x 2/5)
Domingo, Capital (4,000 x 2/5)

136,000
1,600
1,600

Diaz, Capital (4,000 x 1/5)

800

(b) Payment of liabilities

Liabilities

44,800
Cash

(c ) Payment to partners
Domingo, Loan
Diaz, Loan
Henson, Capital
Domingo, Capital
Diaz, Capital
Cash

44,800

2,000
3,200
39,600
25,600
32,800
103,200

Case 2 - The other assets were sold for P100,000. (Loss on realization, no capital deficiency)

Cash

Henson, Domingo and Diaz

Statement of Liquidation
December 1 - 31, 2015
(all in Pesos P)
Loan
Liabilities Domingo Diaz

Other
Assets

Profit & Loss ratio

Balances before
liquidation
Sales of assets and
distribution of loss
Balances

8,000

136,000

100,000
108,000

(136,000)
0

44,800

2,000

Payment of liabilities
Balances
Payment to partners

(44,800)
63,200
(63,200)

0
0

(44,800)
0
0

2,000
(2,000)

44,800

2,000

3,200

3,200

Capital
Henson Domingo Diaz
2(40%) 2(40%) 1(20%)
38,000

24,000

32,000

(14,400) (14,400)
23,600
9,600

(7,200)
24,800

3,200
23,600
(3,200) (23,600)

9,600
24,800
(9,600) (24,800)

The other assets with a book value of P136,000 were sold for P100,000 resulting in a loss on realization of P 36,000 that can be
fully absorbed by the capital balances of all the partners.
The entries to record the liquidation process are:
(a) Realization of assets and distribution of loss on realization, 2:2:1
Cash
Henson, Capital (36,000,000 x 2/5)
Domingo, Capital (36,000 x 2/5)
Diaz, Capital (36,000 x 1/5)

100,000
14,400
14,400
7,200

Other Assets

136,000

(b) Payment of liabilities

Liabilities

44,800
Cash

(c ) Payment to partners
Domingo, Loan
Diaz, Loan
Henson, Capital
Domingo, Capital
Diaz, Capital
Cash

44,800

2,000
3,200
23,600
9,600
24,800
63,200

Case 3 - The other assets were sold for P74,000. (Loss on realization, capital deficiency, right of offset)

Cash
Profit & Loss ratio
Balances before
liquidation
Sales of assets and
distribution of loss
Balances
Payment of liabilities
Balances
Offset of loan against the
debit balance in the
capital of Domingo
Balances
Payment to partners

Henson, Domingo and Diaz

Statement of Liquidation
December 1 - 31, 2015
(all in Pesos P)
Loan
Liabilities Domingo
Diaz

Other
Assets

8,000

136,000

74,000
82,000

(136,000)
0

44,800

2,000

3,200

(44,800)
0

2,000

3,200

0
0

(800)
1,200
(2,000)

(44,800)
37,200

37,200
(37,200)

0
0

44,800

2,000

3,200

Capital
Henson Domingo
Diaz
2(40%) 2(40%) 1(20%)
38,000

24,000

32,000

(24,800) (24,800) (12,400)

13,200
(800) 19,600

13,200

3,200
13,200
(3,200) (13,200)

(800)

19,600

(800) 19,600
800 (19,600)

The other assets with a book value of P136,000 were sold for P74,000 resulting in a loss on realization of P 62,000.
The distribution of the loss on realization resulted in a debit balance in the capital of Domingo. The right of offset can be
exercised in as much as Domingo has a loan to the partnership.
The entries to record the liquidation process are:
(a) Realization of assets and distribution of loss on realization, 2:2:1

Cash
Henson, Capital (62,000,000 x 2/5)
Domingo, Capital (62,000 x 2/5)
Diaz, Capital (62,000 x 1/5)
Other Assets

74,000
24,800
24,800
12,400
136,000

(b) Payment of liabilities

Liabilities

44,800
Cash

44,800

(c ) Offset of Loan against deficiency

Domingo, Loan
Domingo, Capital
(d) Payment to partners
Domingo, Loan
Diaz, Loan
Henson, Capital
Diaz, Capital
Cash

800
800

1,200
3,200
13,200
19,600
37,200