On a company’s balance sheet, retained earnings or accumulated deficit balance is reported in the stockholders’ equity section. Stockholders’ equity is the amount of capital given to a business by its shareholders, plus donated capital and earnings generated by the operations of the business, minus any dividends issued. Retained earnings refer to the portion of a company’s net income or profits that it retains and reinvests in the business instead of paying out as dividends to shareholders. It’s an equity account in the balance sheet, and equity is the difference between assets (valuables) and liabilities (debts). The amount of retained earnings is calculated by subtracting total dividends paid to shareholders from the total net income in a fiscal year. Step 1: Prepare the Statement Heading Alternatively, companies take the net income for the period to the retained earnings account first. Subsequently, they subtract any declared dividends from that balance. Because expenses have yet to be deducted, revenue is the highest number reported on the income statement. During a specific financial period, it reports the business’s revenue, liabilities, and numbers for the shareholders’ equity section. This document is essential as you learn how to calculate retained earnings and other equities. It […]