Introduction:
In this scenario, goods costing Rs.500 were sent to a customer on a sale or return basis for Rs.600 on 30th December 2017. However, these sales were mistakenly recorded as actual sales in the books. This mistake can have several implications for the business, including misrepresentation of sales figures, incorrect financial reporting, and potential losses if the customer decides to return the goods.

Implications of recording the sale as actual:
Recording the sale of goods sent on a sale or return basis as actual sales can have several implications for the business:

1. Overstated Sales: By recording the sale as an actual sale, the business may show higher sales figures on its financial statements, which can lead to an inaccurate representation of the company's performance.

2. Inflated Profits: The incorrect recording of the sale as an actual sale may lead to inflated profits since the cost of goods sold is not properly accounted for. This can mislead stakeholders and investors who rely on accurate financial information.

3. Inventory Mismanagement: As the goods were sent on a sale or return basis, they should have been treated as part of inventory and not as a sale. By incorrectly recording the sale, the business may mismanage its inventory levels, leading to potential stockouts or overstocking issues.

4. Incorrect Financial Reporting: The incorrect recording of the sale can lead to inaccurate financial reporting, affecting various financial metrics such as gross profit, net profit, and inventory turnover. This can have consequences for decision-making and analysis based on these financial statements.

5. Potential Losses: If the customer decides to return the goods, the business may incur losses. Since the sale was mistakenly recorded as an actual sale, the business may not have accounted for the possibility of goods being returned and may not have set aside provisions or made appropriate adjustments.

Steps to rectify the mistake:
In order to rectify the mistake and correct the accounting records, the following steps can be taken:

1. Reversal of Sales: The initial sale entry should be reversed by debiting the sales account and crediting the accounts receivable or customer's account. This will remove the incorrect sale from the books.

2. Adjusting Inventory: As the goods were not actually sold, they should be returned to inventory. The inventory account should be debited, and the cost of goods sold account should be credited for the cost of the goods.

3. Recording Sale or Return: A new entry should be made to record the goods sent on a sale or return basis. The accounts receivable or customer's account should be debited for the value of the goods, and the inventory account should be credited.

4. Disclosure and Notes: The company should disclose the error and the corrective actions taken in the financial statements. This ensures transparency and provides clarity to stakeholders regarding the correction.

5. Review and Control: It is important for the company to review its internal controls and procedures to prevent similar errors in the future. This may involve implementing checks and balances, improving communication, and providing training to relevant staff members.

Conclusion:
Recording the sale of goods sent on a sale or return basis as actual