PSAF – L2 – Q8.3 – Revenue from Exchange Transactions

The academic year of Wisdom Academy starts from September each year but has a financial year from January 1 to December 31, consistent with the fiscal year of the Government of Ghana. With respect to the 2023/2024 academic year, a total of 6,000 students were on the roll of students, each expected to pay tuition fees of GHc8,000 for the academic year, divided into two equal parts for each semester. All students are expected to pay 25% of the first semester tuition fees at the start of September each year and pay the remaining 25% before the end of first semester examinations which starts in the first week of December. Similar arrangements pertain to the second semester which starts in February of the following year and ends in May. As at 31st December 2023, 20% of the total students’ population had paid their entire fees for the academic year, 60% of the students had paid full fees for the first semester only, the remaining 20% of the students had managed to pay only 90% of the tuition fees for the first semester but were allowed to write the end of semester examinations.

Required:

Explain the accounting treatment of tuition fees in the financial statements of Wisdom Academy for the year ended 31st December 2023 being guided by IPSAS 9: Revenue from exchange transactions.

The analysis below of the transaction shows that the total fees received for 2023 was GHc23,520,000. An amount of GHc480,000 was outstanding at the end of the year and GHc4,800,000 was paid in advance for 2024 financial year.

2023 Paid GHc’000 2023 Outstanding GHc’000 2024 (Advance) GHc’000
Full payments (0.260008000) 4,800 4,800
Half payment (0.660004000) 14,400
Remaining (0.260000.9*4000) 4,320 480
Total amounts 23,520 480 4,800

The treatment of the tuition fees falls under IPSAS 9, Revenue from Exchange Transactions. The total revenue of GHc24,000,000 should be recognised as revenue from exchange transactions in the statement of financial performance. The outstanding amount due from the student, GHc480,000 should be treated as receivable in the statement of financial position. Further, the fees received in advance of GHc4,800,000 should be recognized as deferred income in the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2023.