Handling Non-Stock Items in Perpetual Inventory

Handling Non-Stock Items in Perpetual Inventory

Overview

This article explains how non-stock items are handled in iVendNext, the accounting entries involved, and best practices for managing them effectively.


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To be able to use the Perpetual Inventory feature, you must enable the feature first by navigating to: Home > Accounting > Company > Enable Perpetual Inventory



Note: Once enabled, iVendNext will automatically generate General Ledger (GL) entries for every stock transaction, ensuring real-time sync between stock and account balances.



1. What are Non-Stock Items?

Non-stock items are products or services that are not tracked as inventory. These items are typically expensed immediately upon purchase and do not contribute to the stock-in-hand value. Examples include:


  • Services: Consulting, maintenance, or repair services.

  • Consumables: Office supplies, cleaning materials, or other items used internally.

  • Expenses: Shipping charges, customs duties, or other costs that are not part of inventory.




2. How Non-Stock Items are Treated in Perpetual Inventory

Unlike stock items, non-stock items do not follow the same accounting flow in the Perpetual Inventory System. Here’s how they are handled:


2.1 No Inventory Tracking

  • Non-stock items are not tracked in the Stock Ledger or included in the Stock-in-Hand Account.

  • They do not affect the physical stock balance or inventory valuation.


2.2 Immediate Expense Booking

  • When a non-stock item is purchased, its cost is immediately expensed in the General Ledger (GL).

  • The expense is booked to the relevant account (e.g., Office Supplies, Shipping Charges) as soon as the Purchase Invoice is submitted.


2.3 No Stock Valuation

  • Since non-stock items are not part of inventory, they are not subject to valuation methods like FIFO or Moving Average.

  • Their cost is not included in the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) calculation.




3. Accounting Entries for Non-Stock Items

The accounting treatment for non-stock items differs from that of stock items. Here’s a breakdown of the GL entries for non-stock items:


3.1 Purchase Invoice for Non-Stock Items

When you create a Purchase Invoice for a non-stock item, the system generates the following GL entries:


  • Debit: Expense Account (e.g., Office Supplies, Shipping Charges).

  • Credit: Creditors Account (or Bank Account, if paid immediately).

Example:

  • You purchase office supplies worth $500.

  • The GL entry will be:

    • Debit: Office Supplies Account - $500.

    • Credit: Creditors Account - $500.


3.2 No Impact on Stock Accounts

  • Non-stock items do not affect the Stock-in-Hand Account or the Stock Received But Not Billed Account.

  • They are not included in inventory valuation or stock adjustments.




4. Best Practices for Managing Non-Stock Items

To effectively manage non-stock items in iVendNext, follow these best practices:


4.1 Use Separate Expense Accounts

  • Create separate expense accounts for different types of non-stock items (e.g., Office Supplies, Shipping Charges, Maintenance Services).

  • This allows for better tracking and reporting of expenses.


4.2 Clearly Define Non-Stock Items

  • Ensure that non-stock items are clearly defined in your item master.

  • Use appropriate item groups or categories to distinguish non-stock items from stock items.


4.3 Regularly Review Expense Accounts

  • Periodically review the expense accounts used for non-stock items to ensure accurate financial reporting.

  • Reconcile these accounts with actual expenses to identify any discrepancies.




5. Common Scenarios and Troubleshooting

5.1 Misclassification of Items

  • Issue: A stock item is mistakenly classified as a non-stock item (or vice versa).

  • Solution: Review the item master and reclassify the item correctly. Adjust any affected transactions if necessary.


5.2 Incorrect Expense Booking

  • Issue: Non-stock item expenses are booked to the wrong account.

  • Solution: Create a Journal Entry to correct the expense allocation. Ensure that future transactions are booked to the correct account.


5.3 Missing Expense Accounts

  • Issue: The required expense account for a non-stock item is missing.

  • Solution: Create the necessary expense account in the Chart of Accounts and update the item master accordingly.




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