Talk:Basis of accounting

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Merge with article Matching principle

This article is not primarily on either cash method or accrual method of accounting but rather a comparison of the two. It would be appropriate to include the comparison within the main articles like 'matching principle' and highlight the difference between the two methods and their respective use in taxation and financial accounting. Some key aspects of the comparison are also found in deferred taxation in financial accounting. I believe there is no need for this stand alone artile.(Sohail Gogal 21:54, 31 August 2009 (UTC)) '

In response to the current circumstances, an assessment of the sitation suggests a combination in conjunction with Accrual may be a solution of higher appropriateness.--Telephone My name is Karen 22:20, 28 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

As a small business owner, I went searching for the topic "accrual method of accounting" because I wanted to compare Cash and Accrual methods to learn the difference more specifically. I was pleased to see this article come up first and clicked on it. I think it is entirely appropriate to have an article in this category and heading and I would not merge it. I think it would index stronger for the right terms if we leave it as it is, or expand it. - LB, HaztechGuy —Preceding unsigned comment added by HaztechGuy (talk • contribs) 15:23, February 8, 2010

I agree completely with HaztechGuy. For those searching for the differences between cash and accrual methods of accounting, this is the right article. The "matching principle" is a completely different concept in the context of consolidated tax returns. godot746 —Preceding unsigned comment added by Godot746 (talk • contribs) 22:47, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Don't merge. This article is very good, basic stuff on a non-GAAP overall accounting method permitted for U.S. tax purposes. It is NOT on the same topic as Matching, a GAAP concept, and should not be merged with that article. Some enhancements would be good. Glad non accountant users find it helpful.Oldtaxguy (talk) 23:02, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with all the above, don't merge. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.169.97.109 (talk) 17:13, 12 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

The article seems to be about US tax, not accounting (although obviously related). Should be renamed and a new one created. In fact think there's a major need for a Wikipedia Accountancy/Accountability/Governance Project to brush up all this accountancy/finance-related stuff. Those here are presumably interested in this sort of subject matter, so if you would pardon the hijack, contributions to attempt to institutionalize audit opinion within Wikipedia at bottom of following would be more than welcome:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Infobox_government_agency http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Infobox_company

Thanks, BrekekekexKoaxKoax (talk) 19:37, 19 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Individual taxpayers without books?

What about individual taxpayers who don't keep books? Also, Secretary is not defined or referred to. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.185.43.242 (talk) 06:54, 5 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

In my (more-or-less) expert opinion, taxpayers who don't keep books are restricted to the Cash Method. "Secretary" refers to the Secretary of the Treasury. But I suppose we need to find secondary sources for these concepts. — Arthur Rubin (talk) 07:44, 5 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Secretary

Should he / she change from the cash basis to the accrual basis (or vice versa), he / she must notify and secure the consent of the Secretary.

Which secretary is that? The secretary of the treasury? RJFJR (talk) 21:19, 3 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Title

The title of this article is not very good and is sort of random. I don't know if guidelines even permit a compare and contrast article like this. However, reading the content of the entry reveals that it is actually not a compare and contract article, but, rather, a general article on the two different accounting methods that has been given a poor title. Given that, the entry should be re-titled "Accounting methods" or "Accounting bases". The article can then have a subsection called "Accrual Basis" and another called "Cash basis" (as it currently does). There can be links in each of these subsections to more detailed articles on Accrual and Cash if needed. There is currently an article on Accrual. This can be linked to... Or it can be suggested that the Accruals article be merged into this article (after it has been renamed). This is all just a suggestion. If no one responds negatively to this, I'll be bold and implement it. ask123 (talk) 20:52, 27 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]