What is an income statement

The Income Statement is one of the core financial statements in a company. The statement shows the profit and loss over a period of time.

The primary purpose of an income statement is to show whether a company has profit or loss within the given fiscal year. Achieving this insight involves the meticulous examination of all operating revenues and operating expenses for the said period. By subtracting total expenses from revenues, one arrives at the annual result before tax—a crucial indicator of a company’s operational success.

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Understanding the bottom line

The primary purpose of an income statement is to ascertain whether a company has generated a profit or incurred a loss within a given fiscal year. Achieving this insight involves the meticulous examination of all operating revenues and operating expenses for the said period. You will get the annual result before tax, by subtracting total expenses from sales.

The annual report

The income statement serves as a fundamental component of a company’s annual report, offering stakeholders a comprehensive view of its financial performance. Alongside the income statement, the annual report typically includes the balance sheet, notes, and cash flow statement.