The compilation of these Government Budget and the Economy Notes makes students exam preparation simpler and organised.
Revenue Account and Capital Account
In our developing economy, it is absolutely essential that the government not only earn revenue but also incur expenditure. That is correct, to push along the development of the country the government must spend money. So let us learn about some related concepts of Capital Expenditure, Revenue Account, etc.
What is Capital Expenditure?
Capital expenditure, also known as CapEx comprises the funds used by an organization or the government to purchase and maintain fixed assets like property, machines, or any other equipment.
Capital Expenditure is a necessary requirement at times to take on new ventures or projects. Companies engage in capital expenditure while budgeting their expenses to broaden operations. It is also important when the company is engaged in expansion activities.
While discussing capital expenditure for governments, it includes the creation of assets as well as the reduction of liabilities. For example, repaying loans also constitutes a capital expenditure. This is because it helps in reducing the liabilities of an organization or government. These expenses are covered for by the government by raising capital or by capital transfers.
What is a Revenue Account?
A revenue account is an account with a credit balance. It includes all the revenue receipts also known as current receipts of the government. These receipts include tax revenues and other revenues of the government.
Tax revenues include the revenue earned by the government authorities by levying direct and indirect taxes and duties. Direct taxes include income tax, corporate tax, and so on. Indirect taxes include Excise duties, customs duties, and service tax. Other revenues include revenues from other sources of investments like interest, dividends, profits from public sector units, fees, fines, and so on.
Revenue expenditure includes expenses which are not used for the creation of assets or repayment of liabilities. These basically include the current expenses of the government. For example, paying salaries, giving grants are instances of revenue expenditure. It can further be divided into plan and non-plan expenditure. The current budget, however, has not used this classification.
What is a Capital Account?
A capital account is an account that includes capital receipts and payments. It basically includes assets as well as liabilities of the government. Capital receipts comprise the loans or capital that are raised by governments by different means.
They can also raise money from the public, such loans are market loans. They could also borrow from banks or other sources by means of Treasury Bills, also called T-Bills. Loans are also raised from external sources like foreign governments or international institutions. Another way of raising capital is by disinvestment in public sector units or other assets.
Difference between Revenue Expenditure and Capital Expenditure
Capital expenditures are usually one-off and they include the substantial investments of money or capital that a government makes for the purpose of expansion in various sectors and different businesses in order to generate profits.
These expenditures are generally for the purchase of fixed assets or assets with a long life. These include machines, manufacturing equipment or equipment to enhance the infrastructure. These assets generate value throughout their life term for the government and may or may not have a salvage value. The assets depreciate and their cost will deduct throughout the life of the asset and not in one go.
Revenue expenses, on the other hand, are relatively current or short-term in nature. They are expenses the government requires for running the day-to-day activities. These expenses are fully charged in the year of the expense and not depreciated over a period. They may also be recurring or non-recurring in nature.
Tax is a major source of revenue for the government. True or False?
The above statement is True. Taxes both Direct and Indirect are the government’s biggest source of revenue.