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Microlesson · 5-min read

AS 13 – Bonus Shares: Accounting Treatment and Cost Per Share

## Bonus Shares under AS 13

### What Are Bonus Shares?

Bonus shares are additional shares issued by the company to existing shareholders at zero cost — funded out of the company's reserves. The shareholder pays nothing.

---

### Accounting Rule

ItemTreatment
Number of sharesIncreases
Cost of investmentNo change (Amt = ₹0)
Cost per shareFalls (same total cost, more shares)

```

Investment A/c Dr [No. of shares added] [Amt = ₹0]

To Bonus Shares A/c [₹0]

```

In the ledger: add shares in the No. of Shares column; enter ₹0 in the Amt column.

---

### Revised Cost Per Share After Bonus

$$\text{New cost per share} = \frac{\text{Total cost (unchanged)}}{\text{Old shares + Bonus shares}}$$

This revised cost per share is used for all subsequent sale calculations.

---

### Bonus Ratio

Bonus is always declared on shares held on the record date — this includes any shares purchased during the year before the bonus date.

Example: 15,000 + 5,000 = 20,000 shares eligible. Bonus ratio 1:5 → 20,000 ÷ 5 = 4,000 bonus shares.

Worked example

### Example 1

Example – Bonus Shares Followed by Sale (Q23 CDR)

Data:

  • 01.04.Y1: Purchased 1,000 equity shares @ ₹120 each (FV ₹100), Brokerage 2%, Share transfer fees 0.5%
  • 31.01.Y2: Bonus declared 1:2
  • 31.03.Y2: Sold 500 shares @ ₹90, Brokerage 2%
  • Nature: Current investment

Step 1 – Cost of 1,000 shares:

```

Purchase price: 1,000 × 120 = 1,20,000

Brokerage @ 2%: 1,20,000 × 2% = 2,400

Share transfer fees: 1,20,000 × 0.5% = 600

Total cost: 1,23,000

Cost per share: 1,23,000 ÷ 1,000 = ₹123

```

Step 2 – After Bonus (1:2 ratio):

```

Bonus shares received: 1,000 ÷ 2 = 500 shares @ ₹0

Total shares: 1,000 + 500 = 1,500

Total cost: ₹1,23,000 (unchanged)

New cost per share: 1,23,000 ÷ 1,500 = ₹82

```

Step 3 – Sale of 500 shares:

```

Sale proceeds: 500 × 90 = 45,000

Less: Brokerage @ 2%: ( 900)

Net sale proceeds: 44,100

Cost of 500 shares: 500 × 82 = 41,000

Profit: 3,100

```

Journal Entry:

```

CIB A/c Dr 44,100

To Investment A/c 41,000

To P&L (Profit) 3,100

```

Ledger (Invest. in Eq. Shares):

ParticularsSharesAmtParticularsSharesAmt
To Bank (Purchase)1,0001,23,000By CIB (Sale)50044,100
To Bonus Shares5000By Bal c/d1,00082,000
To P&L (Profit)3,100
Total1,5001,26,100Total1,5001,26,100

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Adding a cost to bonus shares — bonus shares are ALWAYS recorded at ₹0 in the Amt column.
  • Forgetting to include current-year purchased shares in the bonus ratio calculation — bonus is on all shares held on the record date, not just opening shares.
  • Using the old cost per share for sales after bonus — always recalculate cost per share after bonus issuance.
  • Including bonus shares as 'income' — they are not income; they merely reduce cost per share.
Reference:
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