Appendix EX 6-36 Cost of merchandise sold

Identify the errors in the following schedule of the cost of merchandise sold for the current year ended May 31, 2014:


Cost of merchandise sold:
Merchandise inventory, May 31, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 105,000
Purchases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,110,000
Plus: Purchases returns and allowances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $55,000
 Purchases discounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,000 85,000
Gross purchases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,195,000
Less freight in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,000
Cost of merchandise purchased . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,173,000
Merchandise available for sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,278,000
Less merchandise inventory, June 1, 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91,300
Cost of merchandise sold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,186,700


Answer:
1. The schedule should begin with the June 1, 2013, not the May 31, 2014, merchandise inventory.
2. Purchases returns and allowances and purchases discounts should be deducted from (not added to) purchases.
3. The result of subtracting purchases returns and allowances and purchases discounts from purchases should be labeled “net purchases.”
4. Freight in should be added to net purchases to yield cost of merchandise purchased.
5. The merchandise inventory at May 31, 2014, should be deducted from merchandise available for sale to yield cost of merchandise sold.

A correct cost of merchandise sold section is as follows:

Cost of merchandise sold:

Merchandise inventory, June 1, 2013 $ 91,300
Purchases $1,110,000
Less: Purchases returns and
allowances $55,000
Purchases discounts 30,000 85,000
Net purchases $1,025,000
Add freight in 22,000
Cost of merchandise purchased 1,047,000
Merchandise available for sale $1,138,300
Less merchandise inventory, May 31, 2014 105,000
Cost of merchandise sold $1,033,300