Which statement best distinguishes a balance sheet from an income statement?

• A. A balance sheet shows only revenues; an income statement shows only expenses.
• B. A balance sheet shows the school's assets, liabilities, and equity, while an income statement tracks income and expenses.
• C. An income statement lists assets; a balance sheet lists cash flow.
• D. Balance sheets and income statements are identical.

Answer: (B)

The key distinction is that a balance sheet shows the organization’s financial position at a point in time—listing what it owns (assets), what it owes (liabilities), and the owners’ or district’s stake (equity). An income statement, on the other hand, shows performance over a period by detailing revenues and expenses to reveal net income or loss. So the statement that a balance sheet presents assets, liabilities, and equity while an income statement tracks income and expenses accurately captures the difference. The balance sheet is not about revenues, and the income statement is not a list of assets or cash flow, and the two reports are not identical.