For a former business owner, how should loan payments be classified?

When categorizing loan payments, it’s important to distinguish between the principal amount and the interest component, as they have different implications for Accounting purposes. The principal repayment should be recorded on the balance sheet as a reduction of the liability (the loan amount), as it reduces the outstanding debt. This does not affect the profit and loss statement.

In contrast, the interest portion of the loan payment is considered an expense and should be recorded in the profit and loss statement under interest expenses. This impacts the business’s net income and is tax-deductible.

If any part of the loan is used for purchasing a fixed asset, it should be reflected on the balance sheet under fixed assets, and depreciation should be recorded as well. Properly categorizing these payments helps in maintaining accurate financial records, which is crucial for financial analysis and management.

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