What is the effect of overstating inventory on the financial statements?

July 23, 2009 - 9:22 pm

How does fraudulently overstating inventory make a company’s financial statements look better? Specifically the balance sheet and income statement?

When you overstate ending inventory then you reduce your cost of goods sold therefore increasing income.
Beginning InventoryOK
PurchasesOK
Goods available OK
Ending InventoryHIGH
Cost of Goods SoldLOW
IncomeHIGH

2 Responses to “What is the effect of overstating inventory on the financial statements?”

  1. antwan1357 Says:

    No it means someone is stealing from the company.

    if those inventory units are not being sold or are lost due to disaster

    it makes it look like nothing is being sold
    References :

  2. Rob P Says:

    When you overstate ending inventory then you reduce your cost of goods sold therefore increasing income.
    Beginning InventoryOK
    PurchasesOK
    Goods available OK
    Ending InventoryHIGH
    Cost of Goods SoldLOW
    IncomeHIGH
    References :

Leave a Reply