Definition of Bond Sinking Fund
A bond sinking fund is an investment made by a corporation that is restricted for the purpose of retiring its bonds payable, which is a long-term liability.
Since the money in the sinking fund is restricted for a long-term purpose, it cannot be used to pay its short-term liabilities. Therefore, the sinking fund is not a current asset nor is it part of the corporation’s working capital.
Example of Reporting a Sinking Fund on the Balance Sheet
A corporation’s bond sinking fund appears in the first noncurrent asset section of the corporation’s balance sheet. This section is likely to have the heading Investments.
The bond sinking fund is a noncurrent (or long-term) asset even if the fund contains only cash. The reason is the cash in the sinking fund must be used to retire bonds and cannot be used to pay current liabilities.
FAQs
The corporation will report the bond sinking fund balance in the investments section of its balance sheet. The investments section appears immediately after the current asset section.
Where is bond sinking fund on balance sheet? ›
A corporation's bond sinking fund appears in the first noncurrent asset section of the corporation's balance sheet. This section is likely to have the heading Investments. The bond sinking fund is a noncurrent (or long-term) asset even if the fund contains only cash.
What category is a bond sinking fund? ›
The company would classify the bond sinking fund as a non-current asset on its balance sheet. Basically, its just cash set aside by the company to cover any bond payments it would need to make to holders of the bonds.
Is a sinking fund a current liability? ›
A sinking fund is classified as a non-current or long-term asset and is sometimes included in the list of long-term investments or other investments in a balance sheet. Companies requiring significant capital to purchase new plants and equipment issue long-term debts and bonds.
Where do bonds sit on the balance sheet? ›
As such, the act of issuing the bond creates a liability. Thus, bonds payable appear on the liability side of the company's balance sheet. Generally, bonds payable fall in the non-current class of liabilities. Bonds can be issued at a premium, at a discount, or at par.
How is bond sinking fund recorded? ›
A sinking fund is typically listed as a noncurrent asset—or long-term asset—on a company's balance sheet and is often included in the listing for long-term investments or other investments. Companies that are capital-intensive usually issue long-term bonds to fund purchases of new plant and equipment.
Where should I put my sinking fund? ›
You can choose to open a separate savings account for your sinking fund. Just make sure the account doesn't have a minimum balance to maintain (like a money market account). You don't want monthly fees to chip away at your savings.
What accounting classification is sinking fund? ›
Explanation: A bond sinking fund would be categorized as an investment on the balance sheet. These are long-term assets.
Who does a sinking fund belong to? ›
Typically, a sinking fund's assets are gathered from tenants over time, sometimes by recurring contributions or as stipulated in the lease. By setting aside money regularly, the landlord can ensure they have the necessary funds when the expense occurs, reducing the need to borrow or divert funds from other sources.
What are the sinking fund expense categories? ›
Sinking fund categories, as such, depend on the expenses relevant to each individual. They can include auto repairs, health care costs, gifts, insurance payments, vacation funds, and more. You can think of sinking funds as a way of “sinking” your money into an account for later use. It's basically a savings strategy.
You can use a budgeting app, like You Need a Budget (YNAB) or PocketGuard, to monitor your sinking funds. Setting up automatic monthly transfers from your main checking account to your sinking funds account can help you stay on track.
Is a sinking fund an account? ›
In personal finance, a sinking fund is simply a savings account that you use to save for an expense that you know you will need to pay for in the future. The goal is to set aside enough money to cover this known expense so that you don't blow a hole through your budget when the bill eventually comes due.
Is sinking fund cash a current asset? ›
Is a sinking fund a current asset? Although sinking funds are listed on your balance sheets as an asset, they aren't considered to be a current asset (assets that are expected to be converted to cash within a year) because your business cannot use them as a source of working capital.
How do you record bonds on a balance sheet? ›
The principal portion of the bond is recognized as a bond payable in the liabilities section of the balance sheet. The entry to record the bond payable is a debit to cash for the amount of the funds received and a credit to the bond payable, to be remitted to the purchaser of the bond upon maturity.
How are bonds classified on the balance sheet? ›
The investment in bonds accounts appear in the assets section of the balance sheet. Those that are classified as trading securities to be sold or traded within one year are current assets.
How to classify investments on a balance sheet? ›
Investments held for one year or more appear as long-term assets on the balance sheet. Investments used to generate cash within the current operating period (within 12 months) appear as current assets and are called “treasury balances” or “marketable securities.”
How do I find my sinking fund payment? ›
How do you calculate sinking fund? First, multiply the percentage interest by the principal amount. This will equate to the interest amount, which is then added to the principal amount. This total is the amount of money that needs to be in the sinking fund to meet the set financial obligation.
Where do Treasury bonds go on a balance sheet? ›
U.S treasury bonds are the investment that has been made by the entity in the government bonds of particular country. Therefore, this investment would be classified on the asset side of the balance sheet.
What is the sinking fund factor of a bond? ›
The SFF is the equal periodic payment that must be made at the end of each of n periods at periodic interest rate i, such that the payments compound to $1 at the end of the last period. The SFF is typically used to determine how much must be set aside each period in order to meet a future monetary obligation.
What is a sinking fund in the balance sheet of housing society? ›
A sinking fund is a financial reserve established by a housing society to cover future maintenance and repair expenses of its common areas and infrastructure.