Ram and Rahim are partners in a firm sharing profits and losses in the ratio of 3:2. Rahul is admitted into partnership for 1/3 share in profits. He brings in Rs. 10,000 as capital, but is not in a position to bring any amount for his share of goodwill which has been valued at Rs. 30,000. Give necessary journal entries under each of the following situations:
(a) When there is no goodwill appearing in the books of the firm,
(b) When the goodwill appears at Rs 15,000 in the books of the firm, and
(c) When the goodwill appears at Rs. 36,000 in the books of the firm.

Explanation

(a) When no goodwill appears in the books

Normally, when goodwill is raised in the books of the firm, it will be shown in the balance sheet at its agreed value. If, however, the partners decide that after necessary adjustments have been made in the old partners’ capital accounts, the goodwill should not appear in the firm’s balance sheet, then it has to be written off. This is done by crediting the goodwill account and debiting the capital accounts of all the partners (including the new partner) in the new profit sharing ratio. The net effect of such treatment will be that the new partner’s capital account stands debited to the extent of his share of goodwill and the old partners capital accounts credited in the ratio of their sacrifice, and the goodwill shows nil balance.