Inventur

Inventur is the process of determining the actual existence and quantity of a company’s assets and liabilities by performing a physical count and verification on a specific date. The results, together with valuation, form the basis for the balance sheet.

The scope includes tangible assets such as raw materials, work in progress, finished goods, merchandise, cash, and sometimes other items. In practice, two main methods are used: Stichtagsinventur, conducted as of a fixed date (usually year-end), and Permanente Inventur, a continuous, ongoing inventory. Cycle counting is also common in larger organizations.

Process: planning, organizing counting teams, recording Ist quantities, and reconciling them with the Soll balances in the accounting records. Discrepancies, known as Inventurdifferenz, are documented and posted as adjustments to assets or expenses. The resulting Inventurbestand supports accurate valuation and proper reflection in the financial statements.

Legal and practical context: In many jurisdictions, inventories are required by law for traders and are essential for internal control, audits, and asset management. Modern inventories are often supported by ERP systems, barcode scanning, and regular cycle counts to maintain up-to-date records.