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Accounting Process: Unit - 1 Basic Accounting Procedures - Journal Entries

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CHAPTER

2
ACCOUNTING PROCESS
UNIT -1 BASIC ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES – JOURNAL ENTRIES
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After studying this unit, you would be able to:
 Understand meaning and significance of Double Entry System.
 Familiarize with the term ‘account’ and understand the classification of accounts into personal,
real and nominal.
 Note the utility of such classification and sub-classifications.
 Understand how debits and credits are determined from transactions and events.
 Observe the points to be taken care of while recording a transaction in the journal.

UNIT OVERVIEW

• All documents in books which contain financial records and act as evidence of
Source Documents transactions.

• Purchase day book, Cash book, Sales day book and Purchases return book
Books of original entry
• Accounts where information relating to a particular asset/liability, capital,
and Ledger Accounts income and expnses are recorded.

• It contains the totals from various ledger accounts and act as preliminary
Trial Balance check on accounts before producing final accounts.

Accounts

Personal Impersonal
Accounts Accounts

Artificial Real Nominal


Natural Representative
(Legal) Accounts Accounts

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.2 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

1.1 DOUBLE ENTRY SYSTEM


Double entry system of accounting is more than 500 years old. “Luca Pacioli” an Italian friar & mathematician
published Summa de Arithmetica, Geometria, Proportioni, et Proportionalita (“Everything about
Arithemetic Geometry and proportions”). The first book that described a double entry accounting system. Double
entry system of book-keeping has emerged in the process of evolution of various accounting techniques. It is the
only scientific system of accounting. According to it, every transaction has two-fold aspects–debit and credit and
both the aspects are to be recorded in the books of accounts. Therefore, in every transaction at least two accounts
are effected.
For example, on purchase of furniture either the cash balance will be reduced or a liability to the supplier will
arise. and new asset furniture is acquired . This has been made clear already, the Double Entry System records
both the aspects. It may be defined as the system which recognises and records both the aspects of transactions.
This system has proved to be systematic and has been found of great use for recording the financial affairs for
all institutions requiring use of money.

1.2 ADVANTAGES OF DOUBLE ENTRY SYSTEM


This system affords the under mentioned advantages:
(i) By the use of this system the accuracy of the accounting work can be established, through the device of
the trial balance.
(ii) The profit earned or loss suffered during a period can be ascertained together with details.
(iii) The financial position of the firm or the institution concerned can be ascertained at the end of each
period, through preparation of the balance sheet.
(iv) The system permits accounts to be kept in as much details as necessary and, therefore affords
significant information for the purposes of control etc.
(v) Result of one year may be compared with those of previous years and reasons for the change may be
ascertained.
It is because of these advantages that the system has been used extensively in all countries.

1.3 ACCOUNT
We have seen how the accounting equation becomes true in all cases. A person starts his business with say,
` 10,00,000; capital and cash are both ` 10,00,000. Transactions entered into by the firm will alter the cash
balance in two ways, one will increase the cash balance and other will reduce it. Payment for goods purchased,
for salaries and rent, etc., will reduce it; sales of goods for cash and collection from customers will increase it.
We can change the cash balance with every transaction but this will be cumbersome. Instead it would be better
if all the transactions that lead to an increase are recorded in one column and those that reduce the cash balance
in another column; then the net result can be ascertained. If we add all increases to the opening balance of cash
and then deduct the total of all decreases we shall know the closing balance. In this manner, significant
information will be available relating to cash.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


3 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.3

The two columns which we referred above are put usually in the form of an account, called the ‘T’ form. This is
illustrated below by taking imaginary figures:
CASH
Increase Decrease
(Receipt) (Payment)
` `
Opening Balance (1) 10,00,000 (7) 1,00,000
(2) 2,50,000 (8) 3,00,000
(3) 2,00,000 (9) 2,00,000
(4) 5,00,000 (10) 5,00,000
(5) 1,35,000
(6) 4,00,000 (11) 12,00,000
New or Closing Balance 1,85,000
24,85,000 24,85,000

Since, each T-account shows only amounts and not transaction descriptions, we key each transaction in some
way, such as by numbering used in this illustration. However, one can use date also for this purpose.
What we have done is to put the increase of cash on the left hand side and the decrease on the right hand side;
the closing balance has been ascertained by deducting the total of payments, ` 23,00,000 from the total of the
left - hand side. Such a treatment of receipts and payments of cash is very convenient.
Here we talked about only one account namely cash, now let us see how to make T-accounts when asset as well
as liabilities are effected from a particular transaction.
Now, let us take some more examples:-
Transaction 1:
Initial investment by owners ` 25,00,000 in cash.
This will effect two accounts namely cash and capital. The asset cash increases and the stock holders’ equity
paid up capital also increases.
CASH
Increase Decrease
(1) 25,00,000

CAPITAL
Decrease Increase
(1) 25,00,000

Transaction 2:
Paid cash to the creditors ` 14,00,000
This will effect cash account which will decrease and creditors account which is a liability will also decrease.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.4 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

CASH
Increase Decrease
(2) 14,00,000
CREDITORS
Decrease Increase
(2) 14,00,000

The proper form of an account is as follows:


Account
Date Particulars Ref. Amount Date Particulars Ref. Amount
`

The columns are self-explanatory except that the column for reference (Ref.) is meant to indicate the sources
where information about the entry is available.

1.4 DEBIT AND CREDIT


We have seen that in T-accounts increase and decrease entries are made on the left and right side of the
accounts for assets respectively and vice-versa for liabilities. But, formally accountants use the term Debit (Dr.)
to denote an entry on the left side of any account and Credit (Cr.) to denote an entry on the right side of any
account.
We know that by deducting the total of liabilities from the total of assets the amount of capital is ascertained, as
is indicated by the accounting equation.
Assets = Liabilities + Capital
or
Assets – Liabilities = Capital
To understand the equation better, let us expand it:-
Assets = Liabilities + stockholders’ Equity

Assets = Liabilities + ( contributed capital + beginning retained earnings + revenue - expense - dividends)
Here,
Contributed capital = the original capital introduced by the owner.
Beginning retained earnings = previous earnings not distributed to the shareholders.
Revenue = generated from the ongoing activities of the business

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


5 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.5

Expenses = cost incurred for the operations of the company.


Dividends = earnings distributed to the shareholders of the company
We have also seen that if there is any change on one side of the equation, there is bound to be similar change
on the other side of the equation or amongst items covered by it or an opposite change on the same side of the
equation. This is illustrated below:
Transactions Total = Liabilities + Owner’s
Assets ` Capital
` `
(1) Started business with cash ` 10,00,000 10,00,000 10,00,000
(2) Borrowed ` 5,00,000 + 5,00,000 + 5,00,000
(3) Withdrew cash from business ` 2,00,000 - 2,00,000 - 2,00,000
(4) Loan repaid to the extent of ` 1,00,000 - 1,00,000 - 1,00,000
(5) Bought furniture worth ` 3,00,000 with +3,00,000
Cash - 3,00,000
Balance 12,00,000 = 4,00,000 + 8,00,000

As has been seen previously, what has been given above is suitable only if the number of transactions is small.
But if the number is large, a different procedure of putting increases and decreases in different columns will be
useful and this will also yield significant information. The transactions given above are being shown below
according to this method.
Total Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Capital
Decrease Decrease Increase Decrease Increase
` ` ` ` `

(1) 10,00,000 10,00,000


(2) 5,00,000 5,00,000
(3) 2,00,000 2,00,000
(4) 1,00,000 1,00,000
Total 15,00,000 3,00,000 1,00,000 5,00,000 2,00,000 10,00,000
Balance 12,00,000 4,00,000 + 8,00,000

It is a tradition that:
(i) increases in assets are recorded on the left-hand side and decreases in them on the right-hand side; and
(ii) in the case of liabilities and capital, increases are recorded on the right-hand side and decreases on the
left-hand side.
When two sides are put together in T form, the left-hand side is called the ‘debit side’ and the right hand
side is ‘credit side’. When in an account a record is made on the debit or left-hand side, one says that
one has debited that account; similarly to record an amount on the right-hand side is to credit it.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.6 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

From the above, the following rules can be obtained:


(i) When there is an increase in the amount of an asset, its account is debited; the account will be credited
if there is a reduction in the amount of the asset concerned: Suppose a firm purchases furniture for
` 8,00,000 the furniture account will be debited by ` 8,00,000 since the asset has increased by this
amount. Suppose later the firm sells furniture to the extent of ` 3,00,000 the reduction will be recorded
by crediting the furniture account by ` 3,00,000.
FURNITURE
Increase Decrease
(1) 8,00,000 (2) 3,00,000
Balance 5,00,000

(ii) If the amount of a liability increases, the increase will be entered on the credit side of the liability account,
i.e. the account will be credited: similarly, a liability account will be debited if there is a reduction in the
amount of the liability. Suppose a firm borrows ` 5,00,000 from Mohan; Mohan’s account will be credited
since ` 5,00,000 is now owing to him. If, later, the loan is repaid, Mohan’s account will be debited since
the liability no longer exists.
MOHAN
Decrease Increase
(2) 5,00,000 (1) 5,00,000

(iii) An increase in the owner’s capital is recorded by crediting the capital account: Suppose the proprietor
introduces additional capital, the capital account will be credited. If the owner withdraws some money,
i.e., makes a drawing, the capital account will be debited.
(iv) Profit leads to an increase in the capital and a loss to reduction: According to the rule mentioned in (iii)
above, profit & incomes may be directly credited to the capital account and losses & expenses may be
similarly debited.
However, it is more useful to record all incomes, gains, expenses and losses separately. By doing so,
very useful information will be available regarding the factors which have contributed to the year’s profits
and losses. Later the net result of all these is ascertained and adjusted in the capital account.
(v) Expenses are debited and Incomes are credited: Since incomes and gains increase capital, the rule is
to credit all gains and incomes in the accounts concerned and since expenses and losses decrease
capital, the rule is to debit all expenses and losses. Of course, if there is a reduction in any income or
gain, the account concerned will be debited; similarly, for any reduction in an expenses or loss the
concerned account will be credited.
The rules given above are summarised below:
(i) Increases in assets are debits; decreases are credits;
(ii) Increases in liabilities are credits; decreases are debits;
(iii) Increases in owner’s capital are credits; decreases are debits;

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


7 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.7

(iv) Increases in expenses are debits; decreases are credits; and


(v) Increases in revenue or incomes are credits; decreases are debits.
The terms debit and credit should not be taken to mean, respectively, favourable and unfavourable things. They
merely describe the two sides of accounts.

ILLUSTRATION 1

Following are the transactions entered into by R after he started his business. Show how various accounts will
be affected by these transactions:

2020 April (` in 000)


1. R started business with 5,000
2. He purchased furniture for 1,200
3. Paid salary to his clerk 1,100
4. Paid rent 1,150
5. Received interest 2,000

SOLUTION

2020 Explanation Accounts Nature of How Debit Credit


April Involved Accounts affected (` in 000) (` in 000)
1. ` 5,000 cash Bank and R’s Asset Increased 5,000
invested in business Capital Capital Increased 5,000
2. Purchased furniture Furniture and Asset Increased 1,200
for ` 1,200 Bank Asset Decreased 1,200
3. Paid ` 1,100 to Salary & Bank Expense Increased 1,100
employee for salary Asset Decreased 1,100
4. Paid Rent ` 1,150 Rent & Bank Expense Increased 1,150
Asset Decreased 1,150
5. Received interest Cash & Interest Asset Increased 2,000
` 2,000 Income Increased 2,000

1.5 TRANSACTIONS
In the system of book-keeping, students can notice that transactions are recorded in the books of accounts. A
transaction is a type of event, which is generally external in nature and can be determined in terms of money. In
an accounting period, every business has huge number of transactions which are analysed in financial terms and
then recorded individually, followed by classification and summarisation process, to know their impact on the
financial statements. A transaction is a two way process in which value is transferred from one party to another.
In it either a party receives a value in terms of goods etc. and passes the value in terms of money or vice versa.
Therefore, one can easily make out that in a transaction, a party receives as well as passes the value to other

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.8 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

party. For recording transaction it is very important that they are supported by a substantial document like
purchasing invoices, bills, pay-slips, cash-memos, passbook etc.
Transactions analysed in terms of money and supported by proper documents are recorded in the books of
accounts under double entry system. To analyse the dual aspect of each transaction, two approaches can be
followed:
(1) Accounting Equation Approach.
(2) Traditional Approach.

1.6 ACCOUNTING EQUATION APPROACH


The relationship of assets with that of liabilities and owners’ equity in the equation form is known as ‘Accounting
Equation’. Basic accounting equation comes into picture when sum total of capital and liabilities equalises assets,
where assets are what the business owns and capital and liabilities are what the business owes. Under double
entry system, every business transaction has two-fold effect on the business enterprise where each transaction
affects changes in assets, liabilities or capital in such a way that an accounting equation is completed and
equated. This accounting equation holds good at all points of time and for any number of transactions and events
except when there are errors in accounting process.
Let us suppose that an individual started business by contributing ` 50,00,000 and taking loan of `10,00,000
from a bank to be repayable, after 5 years. He purchased furniture costing ` 10,00,000, and merchandise worth
` 50,00,000. For purchasing the merchandise he paid ` 40,00,000 to the suppliers and agreed to pay balance
after 3 months. Assume that all these transactions and events occurred at to, base point of time.
The contribution by the owner is termed as capital; the borrowings are termed as loans or liabilities. Whenever
the loan is repayable in the short-run, say within one year, it is called short-term loan or liability. On the other
hand, if the loan is repayable within say 4 or 5 years or more, it would be termed as long term loan or liability.
Some other short-term liabilities relating to credit purchase of merchandise are popularly called as trade
payables, and for other purchases and services received on credit as expense payables. These short-term
liabilities are also termed as current liabilities.
On the other hand, money raised has been invested in two types of assets–fixed assets and current assets.
Furniture is a fixed asset, if it lasts long, say more than one year, and has utility to the business, while inventory
and cash balance will not remain fixed for long as soon as the business starts to roll-these are current assets.
Often the owner’s claim or fund in the business is called equity. Owner’s claim implies capital invested plus any
profit earned minus any loss sustained.
Now at to we have an equation:
Equity + Liabilities = Assets
or, Equity + Long-Term Liabilities = Fixed Assets + Current Assets - Current Liabilities

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


9 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.9

Check : L.H.S. (` in ‘000)

Equity ` 5,000
Long–term Liabilities ` 1,000
Current Liabilities ` 1,000
` 7,000
R.H.S.
Fixed Assets:
Furniture ` 1,000
Current Assets:
Inventory ` 5,000
Cash ` 1,000
` 7,000

Cash = Capital + Loan - Furniture - Payment to Trade payables (`’ 000 )


= ` 5,000 + ` 1,000 - ` 1,000 - ` 4,000 = ` 1,000
Let us use E0, L0 and A0 to mean Equity, Liabilities and Assets respectively at t0. Thus the basic accounting
equation becomes
E0 + L0 = A0
or E0 = A0 - L0 ...(Eq. 1)
(`’ 000 )
Now, let us suppose that at the end of period inventory valuing ` 2,500 is in hand, cash
` 2,000; trade payables ` 500; bank loan ` 1,000 (interest was properly paid); furniture ` 800
(` 200 is taken as loss of value due to use). So at t1 -

Assets: (`’ 000)


Fixed assets/ Furniture ` 800
Current assets/ inventory ` 2,500
Cash ` 2,000
(A1) ` 5,300
Liabilities:
Long-term Liabilities ` 1,000
Current Liabilities ` 500
(L1) ` 1,500
Equity (A1 - L1) ` 3,800

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.10 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

Equity = Assets - Liabilities


i.e., E1 = A1 - L1
or E1 + L1 = A1 ...(Eq. 2)
Let us compare E1 with E0. Equity is reduced by ` 12,00,000 (50,00,000 - 38,00,000). Reduction in equity is
termed as loss.
Since the business sustained loss during the period, E1 becomes less than E0.
E1< E0 implies loss during t01
Similarly, E2< E1 implies loss during t12 and so on.
On the other hand, E1> E0 implies profit earned by business during t01, E2> E1 implies profit earned during t12 and
so on.
So if En> En-1, in general terms, equity has increased, while En< En-1 implies that equity has declined. Increase
in equity is termed as profit while decrease in equity is termed as loss.

ILLUSTRATION 2

Develop the accounting equation from following information available at the beginning of accounting period:
Particulars (` in ‘000)
Capital 51,000
Loan 11,500
Trade payables 5,700
Fixed Assets 12,800
Inventory 22,600
Trade receivables 17,500
Cash and Bank 15,300

At the end of the accounting period the balances appear as follows:

`
Capital ?
Loan 11,500
Trade payables 5,800
Fixed Assets 12,720
Inventory 22,900
Trade receivables 17,500
Cash at Bank 15,600

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


11 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.11

(a) Reset the equation and find out profit.


(b) Prepare Balance Sheet at the end of the accounting period.
(All the figures in solution are in ‘000)

SOLUTION

(a) Accounting equation is given by


Equity + Liabilities = Assets
Let us use E0, L0 and A0 to mean equity, liabilities and assets respectively at the beginning of the
accounting period.
E0 = ` 51,000
L0 = Loan + Trade payables
= ` 11,500 + ` 5,700
= ` 17,200
A0 = Fixed Assets + Inventories + Trade receivables + Cash at Bank
= ` 12,800 + ` 22,600 + ` 17,500 + ` 15,300
= ` 68,200
So, at the beginning of accounting period
E0 + L 0 = A0
i.e., ` 51,000 + ` 17,200 = ` 68,200
Let us use E1, L1, A1 to mean equity, liabilities and assets respectively at the end of the accounting
period.
L1 = Loan + Trade payables
= ` 11,500 + ` 5,800
= ` 17,300
A1 = Fixed Assets + Inventories + Trade receivables + Cash at Bank
= ` 12,720 + ` 22,900 + ` 17,500 + ` 15,600
= ` 68,720
E1 = A1 - L1 = ` 68,720 - ` 17,300 = ` 51,420
Profit = E1 - E0 = ` 51,420 - ` 51,000 = ` 420
(b) Balance Sheet
Liabilities ` ` Assets `
Capital Fixed Assets 12,720

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.12 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

Balance 51,000 Inventories 22,900


Add: Profit 420 51,420 Trade receivables 17,500
Loan 11,500 Cash at Bank 15,600
Trade payables 5,800
68,720 68,720

ILLUSTRATION 3

Mr. Dravid. has provided following details related to his financials. Find out the missing figures:

Particulars (` in’000)
Profits carved during the year 5,000
Assets at the beginning of year A
Liabilities at the beginning of year 12,000
Assets at the end of the year B
Liabilities at the end of the year C
Closing capital 35,000
Total liabilities including capital at the end of the year 50,000

SOLUTION

Computing opening capital: (All figure in `’ 000 )


Closing capital - profits earned during the year
= 35,000 - 5,000
= 30,000
We also know:
Assets = liabilities + capital
Therefore, opening assets (A) = 12,000 + 30,000
= 42,000
Computation of liabilities at the end of the year:
Total liabilities including capital = 50,000
Less: closing capital = (35,000)
Liabilities at the end of the year (C) = 15,000
Also assets at the end of the year (B) = closing capital + liabilities at the end of the year
= 35,000 + 15,000 = 50,000

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


13 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.13

1.7 TRADITIONAL APPROACH


Under traditional approach of recording transactions one should first understand the term debit and credit and
their rules. The term debit and credit have already been explained in para 1.4 of this Unit.
Transactions in the journal are recorded on the basis of the rules of debit and credit only. For the purpose of
recording, these transactions are classified in three groups:
(i) Personal transactions.
(ii) Transactions related to assets and properties.
(iii) Transactions related to expenses, losses, income and gains.

1.7.1 Classification of Accounts


(i) Personal Accounts: Personal accounts relate to persons, trade receivables or trade payables. Example
would be the account of Ram & Co., a credit customer or the account of Jhaveri & Co., a supplier of
goods. The capital account is the account of the proprietor and, therefore, it is also personal but
adjustment on account of profits and losses are made in it. This account is further classified into three
categories:
(a) Natural personal accounts: It relates to transactions of human beings like Ram, Rita, etc.
(b) Artificial (legal) personal accounts: For business purpose, business entities are treated to have
separate entity. They are recognised as persons in the eye of law for dealing with other persons.
For example: Government, Companies (private or limited), Clubs, Co-operative societies etc.
(c) Representative personal accounts: These are not in the name of any person or organisation but
are represented as personal accounts. For example: outstanding liability account or prepaid
account, capital account, drawings account.
(ii) Impersonal Accounts: Accounts which are not personal such as machinery account, cash account, rent
account etc. These can be further sub-divided as follows:
(a) Real Accounts: Accounts which relate to assets of the firm but not debt. For example, accounts
regarding land, building, investment, fixed deposits etc., are real accounts. Cash in hand and
Cash at the bank accounts are also real.
(b) Nominal Accounts: Accounts which relate to expenses, losses, gains, revenue, etc. like salary
account, interest paid account, commission received account. The net result of all the nominal
accounts is reflected as profit or loss which is transferred to the capital account. Nominal
accounts are, therefore, temporary.

1.7.2 Golden Rules of Accounting


All the above classified accounts have two rules each, one related to Debit and one related to Credit for recording
the transactions which are termed as golden rules of accounting, as transactions are recorded on the basis of
double entry system.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.14 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

Types of Account Account to be Debited Account to be Credited


Personal Account Receiver Giver
Real Account What comes in What goes out
Nominal Account Expense and losses Income and gains

Example:-
From the following information, state the nature of account and state which account will be debited and which will
be credited.
1. Started business with a capital of ` 50,00,000.
2. Wages and salaries paid ` 50,000
3. Rent received ` 2,00,000
4. Purchased goods on credit ` 9,00,000
5. Sold goods for ` 8,16,000 and received payment in cheque.

SOLUTION

Transaction ACCOUNTS NATURE DEBIT OR CREDIT Journal Entry


INVOLVED
Started business Bank account Personal Debit (Receiver) Bank A/c Dr.
with capital of Capital account Personal Credit (giver) To Capital A/c
` 50,00,000
Wages and Wages/salaries Nominal Debit (expense) Wages/ Salaries Dr.
salaries paid Bank Personal Credit (giver) To Bank A/c
Rent received Bank Personal Debit (Receiver) Bank A/c Dr.
Rent Nominal Credit (income) To Rent A/c
Purchases made Purchases Nominal Debit (expense) Purchases A/c Dr.
on credit Creditor Personal Credit (giver) To Creditor A/c
Goods sold and Bank Personal Debit (Receiver) Bank A/c Dr.
payment received Sales Nominal Credit (gains) To Sales A/c
in cheque

1.8 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF ACCOUNTS


Real, nominal and personal accounts is the traditional classification of accounts. Now, let us see the modern and
more acceptable classification of accounts:-

Types of account Normal balance of Account to be debited Account to be credited


account when there is: when there is:
Asset account Debit Increase Decrease

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


15 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.15

Liabilities account Credit Decrease Increase


Capital account Credit Decrease Increase
Revenue account Credit Decrease Increase
Expenditure account Debit Increase Decrease
Withdraw account Debit Increase Decrease

Let us solve the same example with the modern approach now:-
Accounts involved Nature Debit/Credit Reason
Cash Asset Debit Increase
Capital Liability Credit Increase
Wages/salaries Expense Debit Increase
Cash Asset Credit Decrease
Cash Asset Debit Credit
Rent Revenue Credit Increase
Purchase Expense Debit Increase
Creditor Liability Credit Debit
Cash Asset Debit Increase
Sales Revenue Credit Increase

1.9 JOURNAL
Transactions are first entered in this book to show which accounts should be debited and which credited. Journal
is also called subsidiary book. Recording of transactions in journal is termed as journalizing the entries. It is the
book of original entry in which transactions are entered on a daily basis in a chronological order.

1.9.1 Journalising Process


All transactions may be first recorded in the journal as and when they occur; the record is chronological; otherwise
it would be difficult to maintain the records in an orderly manner. Debits and credits are listed along with the
appropriate explanations. There are basically two types of journals:-
1. General journal
2. Specialized journal
The latter is used when there are many repetitive transactions of the same nature. The form of the journal
is given below:

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.16 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

JOURNAL

Dr. Cr.
Date Particulars L.F. Amount Amount
` ` ` `
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

The columns have been numbered only to make clear the following but otherwise they are not numbered. The
following points should be noted:
(i) In the first column the date of the transaction is entered-the year is written at the top, then the month
and in the narrow part of the column the particular date is entered.
(ii) In the second column, the names of the accounts involved are written; first the account to be debited,
with the word “Dr” written towards the end of the column. In the next line, after leaving a little space, the
name of the account to be credited is written preceded by the word “To” (the modern practice shows
inclination towards omitting “Dr.” and “To”). Then in the next line the explanation for the entry together
with necessary details is given-this is called narration.
(iii) In the third column the number of the page in the ledger on which the account is written up is entered.
(iv) In the fourth column the amounts to be debited to the various accounts concerned are entered.
(v) In the fifth column, the amount to be credited to various accounts is entered.

1.9.2 Points to be taken into care while recording a Transaction in the Journal
1. Journal entries can be single entry (i.e. one debit and one credit) or compound entry (i.e. one debit and
two or more credits or two or more debits and one credit or two or more debits and credits). In such
cases, it is important to check that the total of both debits and credits are equal.
2. If journal entries are recorded in several pages then both the amount column of each page should be
totalled and the balance should be written at the end of that page and also that the same total should be
carried forward at the beginning of the next page.
An entry in the journal may appear as follows:
` `
May 5 Bank Account Dr. 14,50,000
To Mohan 14,50,000
(Being the amount received from Mohan
in payment of the amount due from him)

We will now consider some individual transactions.


(i) Mohan commences business with ` 50,00,000 in his bank account. This means that the firm has
` 50,00,000 in bank. According to the rules given above, the increase in an asset has to be debited to
it. The firm also now owes ` 50,00,000 to the proprietor, Mohan as capital. The rule given above also
shows that the increase in capital should be credited to it. Therefore, the journal entry will be:

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


17 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.17

Bank Account Dr. ` 50,00,000


To Capital Account ` 50,00,000
(Being capital introduced by Shri Mohan)

(ii) Out of the above, ` 25,000 is withdrawn from the bank. By this transaction the bank balance is reduced
by ` 25,000 and another asset, cash account, comes into existence. Since increase in assets is debited
and decrease is credited, the journal entry will be:

Cash Account Dr. ` 25,000


To Bank Account ` 25,000
(Being cash deposited in Bank)
(iii) Furniture is purchased for ` 12,00,000. Applying the same reasoning as above the entry will be:

Furniture Account Dr. ` 12,00,000


To Bank Account ` 12,00,000
(Being Furniture purchased vide CM No....)
(iv) Purchased goods for cash ` 4,00,000. The student can see that the required entry is:

Purchases Account Dr. ` 4,00,000


To Bank Account ` 4,00,000
(Being goods purchased vide CM No....)

(v) Purchased goods for ` 10,00,000 on credit from M/s Ram Narain Bros. Purchase of merchandise is an
expense item so it is to be debited. ` 10,00,000 is now owing to the supplier; his account should therefore
be credited, since the amount of liabilities has increased. The entry will be:

Purchases Account Dr. ` 10,00,000


To M/s Ram Narain Bros. ` 10,00,000
(Being goods purchased vide Bill No.....)

(vi) Sold goods to M/s Ram & Co. for ` 6,00,000. Amount is received in cheque. The amount of bank
increases and therefore, the bank amount should be debited; sale of merchandise is revenue item so it
is to be credited. The entry will be:

Bank Account Dr. ` 6,00,000


To Sales Account ` 6,00,000
(Being goods sold vide CM No....)

(vii) Sold goods to Ramesh on credit for ` 13,00,000. The Inventories of goods has decreased and therefore,
the goods account has to be credited. Ramesh now owes ` 13,00,000; that is an asset and therefore,
Ramesh should be debited. The entry is:

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.18 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

Ramesh Dr. ` 13,00,000


To Sales Account ` 13,00,000
(Being goods sold vide Bill No....)
Note: There are two views on classification of “Purchase Account” and “Sales Account”. One view is
that they represents “flow of goods”, so they should be classified as ‘Real A/c’. However, others are of
the opinion that only nominal a/cs are closed by transferring to ‘Trading or Profit and Loss A/c’. Therefore,
purchases and sales shall be classified as Nominal A/cs. However, in both the views, there will be debit
balance of Purchase A/c and credit balance of Sales A/c.
(viii) Received cheque from Ramesh ` 13,00,000. The amount of bank increased therefore the bank account
has to be debited. Ramesh’s liability towards firm has decreased infact in this case he no longer owes
any amount to the firm, i.e., this particular form of assets has disappeared; therefore, the account of
Ramesh should be credited. The entry is:

Bank Account Dr. ` 13,00,000


To Ramesh ` 13,00,000
(Being cash received against Bill No....)
(x) Paid rent ` 1,00,000. The bank balance has decreased and therefore, the bank account should be
credited. No asset has come into existence because the payment is for services enjoyed and is an
expense. Expenses are debited. Therefore, the entry should be:

Rent Account Dr. ` 1,00,000


To Bank Account ` 1,00,000
(Being rent paid for the month of .......)
(xi) Paid ` 22,000 to the clerk as salary. Applying the reasons given in (x) above, the required entry is:
Salary Account Dr. ` 22,000
To Bank Account ` 22,000
(Being salary paid to Mr..... for the month of ...........)
(xii) Received ` 2,20,000 interest. The bank account should be debited since there is an increase in the bank
balance. There is no increase in any liability; since the amount is not returnable to any one, the amount
is an income, incomes are credited. The entry is :

Bank Account Dr. ` 2,20,000


To Interest Account ` 2,20,000
(Being interest received from………for the period ............)

When transactions of similar nature take place on the same date, they may be combined while they are
journalised. For example, entries (x) and (xi) may be combined as follows:

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


19 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.19

Rent Account Dr. ` 1,00,000


Salary Account Dr. ` 22,000
To Bank Account ` 1,22,000
(Being expenses done as per detail attached)

When journal entry for two or more transactions are combined, it is called composite journal entry.
Usually, the transactions in a firm are so numerous that to record the transactions for a month will require
many pages in the journal. At the bottom of one page the totals of the two columns are written together
with the words “Carried forward” in the particulars column. The next page is started with the respective
totals in the two columns with the words “Brought forward” in the particulars column.

ILLUSTRATION 4

Analyse transactions of M/s Sahil & Co. for the month of March, 2020 on the basis of double entry system by
adopting the following approaches:
(A) Accounting Equation Approach.
(B) Traditional Approach.
Transactions for the month of March, 2020 were as follows (figures are in ‘000):
1. Sahil introduced capital through bank of ` 4,000.
2. Cash withdrawn from the City Bank ` 200.
3. Loan of ` 500 taken from Mr. Y.
4. Salaries paid for the month of March, 2020, ` 300 and ` 100 is still payable for the month of
March, 2020.
5. Furniture purchased ` 500.
Required
What conclusions one can draw from the above analysis?

SOLUTION

(A) Analysis of Business Transaction: Accounting Equation Approach


The accounting equation is
Assets = Liabilities + Capital
(` in ‘000)

ASSETS = CAPITAL + LIABILITIES


CASH + BANK + FURNITURE = CAPITAL + LIABILITIES
(a) - + 4,000 + - = 4,000 + -
(b) +200 + -200 + - = - + -

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.20 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(c) - + 500 + - = - + 500


(d) - + -300 + - = -400 + 100
(e) - + -500 + 500 = - + -
Balance 200 + 3,500 + 500 = 3,600 + 600
4,200 4,200

(B) Analysis of Business Transactions: Traditional Approach


Transaction Analysis Account Rule Entry
Affected
and Nature of
Account
Introduction of Bank has received Bank–Personal Debit the receiver Debit Bank
` 4,000 through the money; Owner Capital–Personal Credit the giver Credit Capital
bank by the has given Bank
proprietor balance
Cash Withdrawn Cash comes into Cash–Real Debit what Debit Cash
from Bank Rs. business; Bank Bank–Personal comes in Credit Credit Bank
200 gives out cash the giver
Loan from Y Bank receives the Bank–Personal Debit the receiver Debit Bank
` 500 amount :Y pays Y’s Loan– Credit the giver Credit Y’s Loan
through bank Personal
Salary paid Cost of services Salary Nominal Debit all Debit Salary
` 300 and still used ` 400; Bank Bank–Personal expenses (` 400)
payable gives out `300; Salary Credit the giver Credit Bank
` 100 Still payable or Outstanding- Credit the giver (`3,00)
outstanding for Personal Credit Salary
services received outstanding
` 100 (` 100)
Furniture Furniture is Furniture Real Debit what Debit Furniture
purchased purchased; Bank–Personal comes in Credit Credit Bank
` 500 Bank gives out the giver
money

Conclusion:
It is evident from above analysis that procedure for analysis of transactions, classification of accounts and rules
for recording business transactions under accounting equation approach and traditional approach are different.
But the accounts affected and entries in affected accounts remain same under both approaches. Thus, the
recording of transactions in affected accounts on the basis of double entry system is independent of the method
of analysis followed by a business enterprise. In other words, accounts to be debited and credited to record the
dual aspect remain same under both the approaches.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


21 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.21

ILLUSTRATION 5

Journalise the following transactions. Also state the nature of each account involved in the Journal entry.
Following figures are given in (‘00)
1. December 1, 2020, Ajit started business with capital ` 4,00,000
2. December 3, he withdrew cash for business from the Bank ` 2,000.
3. December 5, he purchased goods making payment through bank` 15,000.
4. December 8, he sold goods` 16,000 and received payment through bank.
5. December 10, he purchased furniture and paid by cheque ` 2,500.
6. December 12, he sold goods to Arvind ` 2,400.
7. December 14, he purchased goods from Amrit ` 10,000.
8. December 15, he returned goods to Amrit ` 500.
9. December 16, he received from Arvind ` 2,300 in full settlement.
10. December 18, he withdrew goods for personal use ` 1,000.
11. December 20, he withdrew cash from business for personal use ` 2,000.
12. December 24, he paid telephone charges ` 110.
13. December 26, amount paid to Amrit in full settlement ` 9,450.
14. December 31, paid for stationery ` 200, rent `5,000 and salaries to staff ` 2,000.
15. December 31, goods distributed by way of free samples ` 2,000.

SOLUTION

JOURNAL (` in ‘00)
Dr. Cr.
Sl. Date Particulars Nature of L.F. Debit Credit
No Account (`) (`)
1. Dec. 1 Bank Account Dr. Personal A/c 4,00,000
To Capital Account Personal A/c 4,00,000
(Being commencement of
business)
2. Dec. 3 Cash Account Dr. Real A/c 2,000
To Bank Account Personal A/c 2,000
(Being cash withdrawn from
the Bank)
3. Dec. 5 Purchases Account Dr. Real A/c 15,000

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.22 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

To Bank Account Personal A/c 15,000


(Being purchase of goods
for cash)
4. Dec. 8 Bank Account Dr. Personal A/c 16,000
To Sales Account Real A/c 16,000
(Being goods sold for cash)
5. Dec. 10 Furniture Account Dr. Real A/c 2,500
To Bank Account Personal A/c 2,500
(Being purchase of
furniture, paid by cheque)
6. Dec. 12 Arvind Dr. Personal A/c 2,400
To Sales Account Real A/c 2,400
(Being sale of goods)
7. Dec. 14 Purchases Account Dr. Real A/c 10,000
To Amrit Personal A/c 10,000
(Being purchase of goods
from Amrit)
8. Dec. 15 Amrit Dr. Personal A/c 500
To Purchases Returns Real A/c 500
Account
(Being goods returned to
Amrit)
9. Dec. 16 Bank Account Dr. Personal A/c 2,300
Discount Account Dr. Nominal A/c 100
To Arvind Personal A/c 2,400
(Being cash received from
Arvind in full settlement and
allowed him ` 100 as
discount)
10. Dec. 18 Drawings Account Dr. Personal A/c 1,000
To Purchases Account Real A/c 1,000
(Being withdrawal of goods
for personal use)
11. Dec. 20 Drawings Account Dr. Personal A/c 2,000
To Cash Account Real A/c 2,000
(Being cash withdrawal
from the business for
personal use)

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


23 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.23

12. Dec. 24 Telephone Expenses Dr. Nominal A/c 110


Account
To Bank Account Personal A/c 110
(Being telephone expenses
paid)
13. Dec 26 Amrit Dr. Personal A/c 9,500
To Bank Account Personal A/c 9,450
To Discount Account Nominal A/c 50
(Being cash paid to Amrit
and he allowed ` 50 as
discount)
14. Dec. 31 Stationery Expenses Dr. Nominal A/c 200
Rent Account Dr. Nominal A/c 5,000
Salaries Account Dr. Nominal A/c 2,000
To Bank Account Personal A/c 7,200
(Being expenses paid)
15. Dec. 31 Advertisement Expenses Dr. Nominal A/c 2,000
Account
To Purchases Account Real A/c 2,000
(Being distribution of goods
by way of free samples)

ILLUSTRATION 6

Show the classification of the following Accounts under traditional and accounting equation approach:
(a) Building; (b) Purchases; (c) Sales; (d) Bank Fixed Deposit; (e) Rent; (f) Rent Outstanding; (g) Cash; (h)
Adjusted Purchases; (i) Closing Inventory; (j) Investments; (k) Trade receivables; (l) Sales Tax Payable, (m)
Discount Allowed; (n) Bad Debts; (o) Capital; (p) Drawings; (q) Interest Receivable account; (r) Rent received in
advance account; (s) Prepaid salary account; (t) Bad debts recovered account; (u) Depreciation account, (v)
Personal income-tax account.

SOLUTION

Nature of Account
Sl. Title of Account Traditional Approach Accounting Equation Approach
No.
(a) Building Real Asset
(b) Purchases Real* Asset
(c) Sales Real* Revenue
(d) Bank Fixed Deposit Personal Asset
(e) Rent Nominal (Expense) Expense

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.24 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(f) Rent Outstanding Personal Liability


(g) Cash Real Asset
(h) Adjusted Purchases Nominal (Expense) Expense
(i) Closing Inventory Real Asset
(j) Investment Real Asset
(k) Trade receivables Personal Asset
(l) Sales Tax Payable Personal Liability
(m) Discount Allowed Nominal (Expense) Temporary Capital (Expense)
(n) Bad Debts Nominal (Expense) Temporary Capital (Expense)
(o) Capital Personal Capital
(p) Drawings Personal Temporary Capital (Drawings)
(q) Interest receivable Personal Asset
(r) Rent received in advance Personal Liability
(s) Prepaid salary Personal Asset
(t) Bad debts recovered Nominal (Gain) Temporary Capital (Gain)
(u) Depreciation Nominal (Expense) Temporary Capital (Expense)
(v) Personal Income Tax Personal (Drawing) Temporary Capital (Drawings)

* In present senerio, purchases and sales are considered as nominal accounts.

ILLUSTRATION 7

Transactions of Ramesh for April are given below. Journalise them.


2020 `
April 1 Ramesh started business with 10,00,000
“ 3 Bought goods for cash 50,000
“ 5 Drew cash from bank 10,000
“ 13 Sold to Krishna- goods on credit 1,50,000
“ 20 Bought from Shyam goods on credit 2,25,000
“ 24 Received from Krishna 1,45,000
“ Allowed him discount 5,000
“ 28 Paid Shyam cash 2,15,000
“ Discount allowed 10,000
“ 30 Cash sales for the month 8,00,000
Paid Rent 50,000
Paid Salary 1,00,000

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


25 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.25

SOLUTION

JOURNAL
Date Particulars L.F. Amount Amount
2020 (Dr.) (Cr.)
April 1 Bank Account Dr. 1 10,00,000
To Capital Account 4 10,00,000
(Being the amount invested by Ramesh in
the business as capital)
“3 Purchases Account Dr. 7 50,000
To Bank Account 1 50,000
(Being goods purchased for cash)
“5 Cash Account Dr. 5 10,000
To Bank Account 1 10,000
(Being cash withdrawn from bank)
“ 13 Krishna Dr. 9 1,50,000
To Sales Account 11 1,50,000
(Being goods sold to Krishna on credit)
“ 20 Purchases Account Dr. 7 2,25,000
To Shyam 10 2,25,000
(Being goods bought from Shyam on credit)
“ 24 Bank Account Dr. 1 1,45,000
Discount Account Dr. 12 5,000
To Krishna 9 1,50,000
(Being cash received from Krishna and
discount allowed to him)
“ 28 Shyam Dr. 10 2,25,000
To Bank Account 1 2,15,000
To Discount Account 12 10,000
(Being cash paid to Shyam and discount
allowed by him)
“ 30 Bank Account Dr. 1 8,00,000
To Sales Account 11 8,00,000
(Being goods sold for cash)

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.26 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

“ 30 Rent Account Dr. 15 50,000


Salaries Account Dr. 14 1,00,000
To Bank Account 1 1,50,000
(Being the amount paid for rent and salary)
Total 27,60,000 27,60,000
(Ledger Folio imaginary)

1.10 ADVANTAGES OF JOURNAL


In journal, transactions recorded on the basis of double entry system, fetch following advantages:
1. As transactions are recorded on chronological order, one can get complete information about the
business transactions on time basis.
2. Entries recorded in the journal are supported by a note termed as narration, which is a precise
explanation of the transaction for the proper understanding of the entry. One can know the correctness
of the entry through these narrations.
3. Journal forms the basis for posting the entries in the ledger. This eases the accountant in their work and
reduces the chances of error.

SUMMARY
♦ The accounting process starts with the recording of transactions in the form of journal entries.
♦ The recording is based on double entry system. This book or register called journal is the book of first
or original entry.
♦ Next step is to post the entries in the ledger covered in the next unit.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE


True and False
1. In accounting equation approach, equity + Long-term liabilities = fixed asset + current assets – current
liabilities.
2. In the traditional approach a debtor becomes receiver.
3. The rule of nominal account states that all expenses & losses are recorded on credit side.
4. Journal proper is also called a subsidiary book.
5. Capital account has a debit balance.
6. Purchase account is a nominal account.
7. All the personal & real account are recorded in P&L A/c.
8. Asset side of balance sheet contains all the personal & nominal accounts.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


27 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.27

9. Capital account is a personal account.


10. Journal is also known as the book of original entry.

Multiple Choice Question


1. The rent paid to landlord is credited to
(a) Landlord’s account.
(b) Rent account.
(c) Cash account.
2. In case of a debt becoming bad, the amount should be credited to
(a) Trade receivables account.
(b) Bad debts account.
(c) Cash account.
3. A Ltd. has a ` 35,000 account receivable from Mohan. On January 20, Mohan makes a partial payment
of ` 21,000 to A Ltd. The journal entry made on January 20 by A Ltd. to record this transaction includes:
(a) A credit to the cash received account of ` 21,000.
(b) A credit to the Accounts receivable account of ` 21,000.
(c) A debit to the cash account of ` 14,000.
4. Which financial statement represents the accounting equation -
Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s equity:
(a) Income Statement
(b) Statement of Cash flows
(c) Balance Sheet.
5. Which account is the odd one out?
(a) Office furniture & Equipment.
(b) Freehold land and Buildings.
(c) Inventory of materials.
6. The debts written off as bad, if recovered subsequently are
(a) Credited to Bad Debts Recovered Account
(b) Credited to Trade receivables Account.
(c) Debited to Profit and Loss Account.
7. In Double Entry System of Book-keeping every business transaction affects:
(a) Two accounts

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2.28 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(b) Two sides of the same account.


(c) The same account on two different dates.
8. A sale of goods to Ram for cash should be debited to:
(a) Ram
(b) Cash
(c) Sales

Theory Questions
1. Write short note on classification of accounts.
2. Distinguish between Real account and nominal account.

Practical Questions
1. Show the classification of the following Accounts under traditional and accounting equation approach:
a Rent outstanding g Capital
b Closing Inventory h Sales Tax Payable
c Sales i Trade receivables
d Bank Fixed Deposit j Depreciation
e Cash k Drawings
f Bad Debts

2. Pass Journal Entries for the following transactions in the books of Gamma Bros.
(i) Employees had taken inventory worth ` 1,00,000 (Cost price ` 75,000) on the eve of Deepawali
and the same was deducted from their salaries in the subsequent month.
(ii) Wages paid for erection of Machinery ` 18,000.
(iii) Income tax liability of proprietor ` 1,17000 was paid out of petty cash.
(iv) Purchase of goods from Naveen of the list price of ` 2,00,000. He allowed 10% trade discount,
` 5,000 cash discount was also allowed for quick payment.
3. Calculate the missing amount for the following.
Assets Liabilities Capital
(a) 15,00,000 2,50,000 ?
(b) ? 1,50,000 75,000
(c) 14,50,000 ? 13,75,000
(d) 57,00,000 - 2,80,000 ?

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


29 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.29

4. Show the effect of increase = (+), decrease = (-) and no change=(0) on the assets of the following
transactions:
a. Purchased office furniture, payment to be made next month.
b. Collected cash for repair services
c. Goods sold on credit.
d. Withdrawal of cash by the owner for personal use.
e. Hired an employee as sales manager of the north wing.
f. Returned goods worth ` 50,000.
g. One of our debtor agreed to pay his dues to Mr. C who is a creditor of the company with the
same amount being due to him.
h. Entered into an agreement with Mehta & Co. to purchase all raw materials from their company
from next year.
Also give reasons for your answers.
5. Following is the information provided by Mr. Gopi pertaining to year ended 31st March 2019. Find the
unknowns, showing computation to support your answer:
Particulars ` Particulars `
Machinery 12,00,000 Trade Receivables B
Accounts Payable 1,00,000 Loans C
Inventory 60,000 Closing Capital D
Total Liabilities including capital 14,15,000 Opening Capital 10,00,000
Cash A Loss incurred during the year 35,000
Bank 80,000 Capital Introduced during the year 1,00,000
Additional Information: During the year sales of ` 15,55,000 was made of which ` 15,00,000 have
been received.

ANSWERS/HINTS
True and False
1. True: As per the modern accounting equation approach- it is the basic formula in the accounting process
2. False: In the traditional approach a debtor becomes giver.
3. False: The rule of nominal account states that all expenses & losses are recorded on debit side.
4. True: It is one of the book where in the transactions not entered in the other books are entered in this
book.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.30 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

5. False: Capital account has a credit balance.


6. True: As it is considered as an expense.
7. False: All the personal & real account are recorded in balance sheet.
8. False: Asset side of balance sheet contains all the personal & real accounts.
9. True: As it is in the name of the proprietor who is bringing in the capital to the business.
10. True: As the transactions are entered first in this book as a first hand record.

Multiple Choice Questions


1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (b) 4. (c) 5. (c) 6. (a) 7. (a) 8. (b)

Theoretical Questions
1 a. Accounts are broadly classified into assets, liabilities and capital. The basic accounting equation
specifies broad categories, which are as follows:
(i) Assets: These are resources controlled by the enterprise as a result of past events
and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the enterprise,
namely cash, stock of goods, land, buildings, machinery etc.
(ii) Liabilities: These are financial obligations of an enterprise other than owner’s equity
namely long term loans, creditors, outstanding expenses etc.
(iii) Capital: It generally refer to the amounts invested in an enterprise by its owner(s),
the accretion to it or a reduction in it. Since capital is affected by expenses and
incomes of revenue nature, there are two more categories of accounts, namely
expenses and incomes. The difference between incomes and expenses are taken
into capital account.
 Expenses: These represents those accounts which show the amount spent
or even lost in carrying on operations.
 Incomes: These represent those accounts which show the revenue amounts
earned by the enterprise.
However, traditionally accounts are classified as follows:
(i) Personal Accounts: These accounts relate to persons, institutions, debtors or
creditors.
(ii) Impersonal Accounts: These represent accounts which are not personal. These can
be further sub-divided as follows:
 Real Accounts: These accounts relate to assets of the firm but not debt e.g.
accounts relating to land, buildings, cash in hand etc.
 Nominal accounts: These accounts relate to expenses, losses, gains,
revenues etc.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


31 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.31

2. A real account is an account relating to properties and assets, other than personal accounts of the firm.
Examples are land, buildings, machinery, cash, investments etc. Nominal accounts relate to expenses
or losses, incomes and gains. Examples are: wages, salaries, rent, depreciation etc. The net result of
all the nominal accounts is reflected as profit or loss which is transferred to the capital account. Nominal
accounts are therefore, temporary. The real accounts are shown in the balance sheet along with personal
accounts.

Practical Problems
Answer 1
Nature of Account

Sl. No. Title of Account Traditional Approach Accounting Equation Approach


a Rent Outstanding Personal Liability
b Closing Inventory Real Asset
c Sales Nominal Revenue
d Bank Fixed Deposit Personal Asset
e Cash Real Asset
f Bad Debts Nominal (Expense) Temporary Capital (Expense)
g Capital Personal Capital
h Sales Tax Payable Personal Liability
i Trade receivables Personal Asset
j Depreciation Nominal (Expense) Temporary Capital (Expense)
k Drawings Personal Temporary Capital (Drawings)

Answer 2
Journal Entries in the books of Gamma Bros.
Particulars Dr. Cr.
Amount Amount
` `
(i) Salaries A/c Dr. 75,000
To Purchase A/c 75,000
(Being entry made for inventory taken by employees)
(ii) Machinery A/c Dr. 18,000
To Bank/Cash A/c 18,000
(Being wages paid for erection of machinery)
(iii) Drawings A/c Dr. 1,17,000

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.32 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

To Petty Cash A/c 1,17,000


(Being the income tax of proprietor paid out of
business money)
(iv) Purchase A/c Dr. 1,80,000
To Naveen A/c 1,80,000
(Being goods purchased from Naveen)
Naveen A/c Dr. 1,80,000
To Cash 1,75,000
To Discount Received A/c 5,000
(Being cash received from the goods purchased from
Naveen for ` 2,00,000. 10% trade discount and cash
discount of ` 5,000 allowed to him)
Note:
i. Here wages paid on erection of machinery have been capitalised therefore machinery account has been
debited directly instead of wages being recorded as an expenditure.
ii. The students may also note that trade discount is allowed on the list price of goods. It is deducted to find
out the invoice amount of the goods to be recorded in the books. Cash discount is a discount allowed in
case of early payments to the seller. The entry is made in the books of accounts for cash discount.
Answer 3
(a) 12,50,000
(b) 2,25,000
(c) 75,000
(d) 59,80,000
These have been solved using the Accounting Equation:
Assets = Capital + Liabilities
Answer 4
S.No. Increase (+) / Reasons
Decrease (-) /
No Change (0)
in Assets
(a) Furniture has been purchased making it an increase in assets and also it being
+ purchased on credit it increases liability and there is no outflow of assets like
cash or bank.
(b) + Cash has flowed in for services provided making it an increase in assets.
(c) + Here with goods sold there is a decrease in inventory (assets) but given there
is an increase in debtors there will be a net increase in assets.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


33 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.33

Though if goods are sold at cost it will result in no change whereas sale at
below cost will result in decrease in assets.
(d) - Here cash has been withdrawn from business resulting in decrease in assets
and capital.
(e) 0 Only hiring of employee has been done resulting in no change in assets.
(f) - Outflow of goods has resulted in decrease in assets while money owed to
creditors reduce on the liability side.
(g) - Here both assets and liabilities reduce by same amounts meaning a decrease
in assets.
(h) 0 Only a purchase agreement has been entered into with no transaction taking
place yet.
Answer 5
Trade Receivable Balance (B) = Sales- Amount received during the year
= ` (15,55,000 - 15,00,000)
= ` 55,000.
Since, we know Assets = Capital + Liabilities
Therefore, balance of assets is also ` 14,15,000
So, total assets:

Particulars `
Total Assets 14,15,000
Less: Machinery (12,00,000)
Less: Inventory (60,000)
Less: Bank (80,000)
Less: Receivables (55,000)
Cash (A) 20,000

Computation of Closing Capital (D):

Particulars `
Opening Capital 10,00,000
Add: Introduced during the year 1,00,000
Less: Loss incurred during the year (35,000)
Closing Capital 10,65,000

So, Loan amount (C) = Total Liabilities and capital - Closing Capital - Trade Payables
= ` (14,15,000 - 10,65,000 - 1,00,000)
= ` 2,50,000

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.46 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

UNIT 3 : TRIAL BALANCE

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After studying this unit, you will be able to:


♦ Learn the technique of taking balances from ledger accounts to prepare trial balance.
♦ Understand what is trial balance and what purposes it can serve.

UNIT OVERVIEW

Trial balance contains various ledger balances on a particular date. It forms the basis for preparing final statement
i.e. profit and loss statement and balance sheet. If it tallies, it means that the accounts are arithmetically accurate
but certain errors may still remain undetected. Therefore, it is very important to carefully journalise and post the
entries, following the rules of accounting.

3.1 INTRODUCTION
Preparation of trial balance is the third phase in the accounting process. After posting the accounts in the ledger,
a statement is prepared to show separately the debit and credit balances. Such a statement is known as the trial
balance. It may also be prepared by listing each and every account and entering in separate columns the totals
of the debit and credit sides. Whichever way it is prepared, the totals of the two columns should agree. An
agreement indicates reasonable accuracy of the accounting work; if the two sides do not agree, then there is
simply an arithmetic error(s).

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


47 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.47

This follows from the fact that under the Double Entry System, the amount written on the debit sides of various
accounts is always equal to the amounts entered on the credit sides of other accounts and vice versa. Hence the
totals of the debit sides must be equal to the totals of the credit sides. Also total of the debit balances will be
equal to the total of the credit balances. Once this agreement is established, there is reasonable confidence that
the accounting work is free from clerical errors, though it is not proof of cent per cent accuracy, because some
errors of principle and compensating errors may still remain. Generally, to check the arithmetic accuracy of
accounts, trial balance is prepared at monthly intervals. But because double entry system is followed, one can
prepare a trial balance any time. Though a trial balance can be prepared any time but it is preferable to prepare
it at the end of the accounting year to ensure the arithmetic accuracy of all the accounts before the preparation
of the financial statements. It may be noted that trial balance is a statement and not an account.

3.2. OBJECTIVES OF PREPARING THE TRIAL BALANCE


The preparation of trial balance has the following objectives:
(i) Trial balance enables one to establish whether the posting and other accounting processes have been
carried out without committing arithmetical errors. In other words, the trial balance helps to establish
arithmetical accuracy of the books.
(ii) Financial statements are normally prepared on the basis of agreed trial balance; otherwise the work may
be cumbersome. Preparation of financial statements, therefore, is the second objective.
(iii) The trial balance serves as a summary of what is contained in the ledger; the ledger may have to be
seen only when details are required in respect of an account.
The form of the trial balance is simple as shown below:
Trial Balance
as at.......................

S.No Ledger Accounts L.F. Dr. Amount Cr. Amount


(Total or Balance) (Total or Balance)
` `

The under mentioned points may be noted:


(i) A trial balance is prepared as on a particular date which should be mentioned at the top.
(ii) In the second column the name of the account is written.
(iii) In the fourth column the total of the debit side of the account concerned or the debit balance, if any is
entered.
(iv) In the next column, the total of the credit side or the credit balance is written.
(v) The two columns are totalled at the end.
(vi) The first and third column needs no explanation.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.48 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

3.3 LIMITATIONS OF TRIAL BALANCE


One should note that the agreement of Trial Balance is not a conclusive proof of accuracy. In other words, in
spite of the agreement of the trial balance some errors may remain. These may be of the following types:
(i) Transaction has not been entered at all in the journal.
(ii) A wrong amount has been written in both columns of the journal.
(iii) A wrong account has been mentioned in the journal.
(iv) An entry has not at all been posted in the ledger.
(v) Entry is posted twice in the ledger.
Still, the preparation of the trial balance is very useful; without it, the preparation of financial statement, the profit
and loss account and the balance sheet, would be difficult.

3.4 METHODS OF PREPARATION OF TRIAL BALANCE


1. TOTAL METHOD
Under this method, every ledger account is totalled and that total amount (both of debit side and credit side) is
transferred to trial balance. In this method, trial balance can be prepared as soon as ledger account is totalled.
Time taken to balance the ledger accounts is saved under this method as balance can be found out in the trial
balance itself. The difference of totals of each ledger account is the balance of that particular account. This
method is not commonly used as it cannot help in the preparation of the financial statements.

ILLUSTRATION 1

Given below is a ledger extract relating to the business of X and Co. as on March, 31, 2020. You are required to
prepare the Trial Balance by the Total Amount Method.
Dr. Cash Account Cr.
Particulars ` Particulars `
To Capital A/c 10,000 By Furniture A/c 3,000
To Ram’s A/c 25,000 By Salaries A/c 2,500
To Cash Sales 500 By Shyam’s A/c 21,000
By Cash Purchases 1,000
By Capital A/c 500
By Balance c/d 7,500
35,500 35,500

Dr. Furniture Account Cr.


Particulars ` Particulars `
To Cash A/c 3,000 By Balance c/d 3,000
3,000 3,000

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


49 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.49

Dr. Salaries Account Cr.


Particulars ` Particulars `
To Cash A/c 2,500 By Balance c/d 2,500
2,500 2,500

Dr. Shyam’s Account Cr.


Particulars ` Particulars `
To Cash A/c 21,000 By Purchases A/c 25,000
To Purchase Returns A/c 500 (Credit Purchases)
To Balance c/d 3,500 –
25,000 25,000

Dr. Purchases Account Cr.


Particulars ` Particulars `
To Cash A/c (Cash Purchases) 1,000 By Balance c/d 26,000
To Sundries as per Purchases Book
(Credit Purchases) 25,000 –
26,000 26,000

Dr. Purchases Returns Account Cr.


Particulars ` Particulars `
To Balance c/d 500 By Sundries as per Purchases 500
Return Book
500 500

Dr. Ram’s Account Cr.


Particulars ` Particulars `
To Sales A/c (Credit Sales) 30,000 By Sales Returns A/c 100
By Cash A/c 25,000
By Balance c/d 4,900
30,000 30,000

Dr. Sales Account Cr.


Particulars ` Particulars `
To Balance c/d 30,500 By Cash A/c (Cash Sales) 500
By Sundries as per Sales Book
(Credit sales) 30,000
30,500 30,500

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.50 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

Dr. Sales Returns Account Cr.


Particulars ` Particulars `
To Sundries as per Sales
Returns Book 100 By Balance c/d 100
100 100

Dr. Capital Account Cr.


Particulars ` Particulars `
To Cash A/c 500 By Cash A/c 10,000
To Balance c/d 9,500
10,000 10,000

SOLUTION

Trial Balance of X and Co. as at 31.03.2020


Sl. No. Name of Account Total Debit Total
Items Credit Items
` `
1. Cash A/c 35,500 28,000
2. Furniture A/c 3,000
3. Salaries A/c 2,500
4. Shyam’s A/c 21,500 25,000
5. Purchases A/c 26,000
6. Purchases Returns A/c 500
7. Ram’s A/c 30,000 25,100
8. Sales A/c 30,500
9. Sales Returns A/c 100
10. Capital A/c 500 10,000
1,19,100 1,19,100

2. BALANCE METHOD
Under this method, every ledger account is balanced and those balances only are carried forward to the trial
balance. This method is used commonly by the accountants and helps in the preparation of the financial
statements. Financial statements are prepared on the basis of the balances of the ledger accounts.

ILLUSTRATION 2

Taking the same information as given in Illustration 1, prepare the Trial Balance by Balance Method.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


51 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.51

SOLUTION

Trial Balance of X and Co. as at 31.03.2020


Sl. Name of Account Debit Credit
No. Balance Balance
` `
1. Cash A/c 7,500
2. Furniture A/c 3,000
3. Salaries A/c 2,500
4. Shyam’s A/c 3,500
5. Purchases A/c 26,000
6. Purchases Returns A/c 500
7. Ram’s A/c 4,900
8. Sales A/c 30,500
9. Sales Returns A/c 100
10. Capital A/c 9,500
44,000 44,000

3. TOTAL AND BALANCE METHOD


Under this method, the above two explained methods are combined. Under this method statement of trial balance
contains seven columns instead of five columns. This has been explained with the help of the following example:
Trial Balance of X as at 31.03.2020
Sl. Heads of Account L.F. Debit Credit Debit Credit
No. Balance Balance Total Total
(`) (`) (`) (`)
1. Cash Account 7,500 35,500 28,000
2. Furniture Account 3,000 3,000
3. Salaries Account 2,500 2,500
4. Shyam’s Account 3,500 21,500 25,000
5. Purchases Account 26,000 26,000
6. Purchase Returns Account 500 500
7. Ram’s Account 4,900 30,000 25,100
8. Sales Account 30,500 30,500
9. Sale Returns Account 100 100
10. Capital Account 9,500 500 10,000
Total 44,000 44,000 1,19,100 1,19,100

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.52 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

3.5 ADJUSTED TRIAL BALANCE (THROUGH SUSPENSE ACCOUNT)


If the trial balance does not agree after transferring the balance of all ledger accounts including cash and bank
balance and also errors are not located timely, then the trial balance is tallied by transferring the difference of
debit and credit side to an account known as suspense account. This is a temporary account opened to proceed
further and to prepare the financial statements timely.

3.6 RULES OF PREPARING THE TRIAL BALANCE


While preparing the trial balance from the given list of ledger balances, following rules should be taken into care:
1. The balances of all (i) assets accounts (ii) expenses accounts (iii) losses (iv) drawings (v) cash and bank
balances are placed in the debit column of the trial balance.
2. The balances of all (i) liabilities accounts (ii) income accounts (iii) profits (iv) capital are placed in the
credit column of the trial balance.

ILLUSTRATION 3

From the following ledger balances, prepare a trial balance of Anuradha Traders as on 31st March, 2020:
Account Head `
Capital 1,00,000
Sales 1,66,000
Purchases 1,50,000
Sales return 1,000
Discount allowed 2,000
Expenses 10,000
Trade receivables 75,000
Trade payables 25,000
Investments 15,000
Cash at bank and in hand 37,000
Interest received on investments 1,500
Insurance paid 2,500

SOLUTION

Trial Balance of Anuradha Traders as on 31.03.2020


Dr. balance ` Cr. balance `
Purchases 1,50,000 Capital 1,00,000
Sales return 1,000 Sales 1,66,000
Discount allowed 2,000 Trade payables 25,000
Expenses 10,000 Interest received on investments 1,500

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


53 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.53

Trade receivables 75,000


Investments 15,000
Cash at bank and in hand 37,000
Insurance paid 2,500
Total 2,92,500 2,92,500

ILLUSTRATION 4

One of your clients, Mr. Singhania has asked you to finalise his accounts for the year ended 31st March, 2020.
Till date, he himself has recorded the transactions in books of accounts. As a basis for audit, Mr. Singhania
furnished you with the following statement.
Dr. Balance (`) Cr. Balance (`)
Singhania’s Capital 1,556
Singhania’s Drawings 564
Leasehold premises 750
Sales 2,750
Due from customers 530
Purchases 1,259
Purchases return 264
Loan from bank 256
Trade payables 528
Trade expenses 700
Cash at bank 226
Bills payable 100
Salaries and wages 600
Inventories (1.4.2019) 264
Rent and rates 463
Sales return 98
5,454 5,454

The closing inventory on 31st March, 2020 was valued at ` 574. Mr. Singhania claims that he has recorded every
transaction correctly as the trial balance is tallied. Check the accuracy of the above trial balance.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.54 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

SOLUTION

Corrected Trial Balance of Mr. Singhania as on 31st March, 2020


Particulars Dr. Amount ` Cr.Amount `
Singhania’s Capital 1,556
Singhania’s Drawings 564
Leasehold premises 750
Sales 2,750
Due from customers 530
Purchases 1,259
Purchases returns 264
Loan from Bank 256
Creditor/Suppliers 528
Trade expenses 700
Cash at Bank 226
Bills payable 100
Salaries and Wages 600
Inventory (1.4.2019) 264
Rent and rates 463
Sales return 98
5,454 5,454
Reasons:
1. Due from customers is an asset, so its balance will be a debit balance.
2. Purchases return account always shows a credit balance because assets go out.
3. Balance in Creditors Account is a liability, so its balance will be a credit balance.
4. Bills payable is a liability, so its balance will be a credit balance.
5. Inventory (opening) represents assets, so it will have a debit balance.
6. Sales return account always shows a debit balance because assets come.

SUMMARY
♦ Trial balance contains various ledger balances on a particular date.
♦ It forms the basis for preparing final statement i.e. profit and loss statement and balance sheet.
♦ If it tallies, it means that the accounts are arithmetically accurate but certain errors may still remain
undetected.
♦ It is very important to carefully journalize and post the entries, following the rules of accounting.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


55 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.55

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE


True and False
1. Preparing trial balance is the third phase of accounting process.
2. Trial balance froms a base for the preparation of Financial statement.
3. Agreement of Trial balance is a conclusive proof of accuracy.
4. A trial balance will tally in case of compensating errors.
5. A Trial balance can find the missing entry from the journal.
6. Suspense account opened in a trial balance is a permanent account.
7. The balance of purchase returns account has a credit balance.

Multiple Choice Questions


1. A trial balance will not balance if _____________________________
(a) Correct journal entry is posted twice.
(b) The purchase on credit basis is debited to purchases and credited to cash.
(c) ` 500 cash payment to creditor is debited to Trade payables for ` 50 and credited to cash as
` 500.
2. ` 1, 500 received from sub-tenant for rent and entered correctly in the cash book is posted to the debit
of the rent account. In the trial balance _____________________________
(a) The debit total will be greater by ` 3,000 than the credit total.
(b) The debit total will be greater by ` 1,500 than the credit total.
(c) Subject to other entries being correct the total will agree.
3. After the preparation of ledgers, the next step is the preparation of _____________________________
(a) Trading accounts
(b) Trial balance
(c) Profit and loss account
4. After preparing the trial balance the accountant finds that the total of debit side is short by ` 1,500. This
difference will be _____________________________
(a) Credited to suspense account
(b) Debited to suspense account
(c) Adjusted to any of the debit balance account
5. S.No. Account heads Debit (`) Credit (`)
1. Sales 15,000
2. Purchases 10,000

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.56 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

3. Miscellaneous expenses 2,500


4. Salaries 2,500
Total 12,500 17,500
The difference in trial balance is due to _____________________________
(a) Wrong placing of sales account
(b) Wrong placing of salaries account
(c) Wrong placing of miscellaneous expenses account

Theory Questions
1. What is the trial balance? And how it is prepared?
2. Explain objectives of preparation of trial balance.
3. Even if the trial balance agrees, some errors may remain. Do you agree? Explain.

Practical Question
1. An inexperienced bookkeeper has drawn up a Trial Balance for the year ended 30th June, 2020.
Debit (`) Credit (` )
Provision for Doubtful Debts 200 –
Bank Overdraft 1,654 –
Capital – 4,591
Trade payables – 1,637
Trade receivables 2,983 –
Discount Received 252 –
Discount Allowed – 733
Drawings 1,200 –
Office Furniture 2,155 –
General Expenses – 829
Purchases 10,923 –
Returns Inward – 330
Rent & Rates 314 –
Salaries 2,520 –
Sales – 16,882
Inventory 2,418 –
Provision for Depreciation on Furniture 364 –
Total 24,983 25,002

Required:
Draw up a ‘Corrected’ Trial Balance, debiting or crediting any residual errors to a Suspense Account.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


57 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.57

ANSWERS/HINTS
True and False
1. True: Preparing trial balance is the third phase of accounting process which forms the base for the
preparation of the final accounts.
2. True: Based on trial balance only, we can prepare financial statement.
3. False: Agreement of Trial balance gives only arithmetical accuracy, there can still be errors in preparing
the trail balance.
4. True: Since compensating errors cancel out due to their compensating nature of the amounts, hence the
Trial balance tallies.
5. False: A Trial balance cannot find the missing entry from the journal.
6. False: Suspense account opened in a trial balance is a temporary account
7. True: As purchases is debited, any returns shall be credited (treated in opposite way).

Multiple Choice Questions

1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (b) 4. (b) 5. (b)

Theoretical Questions
1. Preparation of trial balance is the third phase in the accounting process. After posting the accounts in
the ledger, a statement is prepared to show separately the debit and credit balances. Such a statement
is known as the trial balance.
Trial balance contains various ledger balances on a particular date. It forms the basis for preparing final
statement i.e. profit and loss statement and balance sheet. It is tallies, it means that the accounts are
arithmetically accurate but certain errors may still remain undetected. Therefore, it is very important to
carefully journalise and post the entries, following are rules of accounting.
2. The preparation of trial balance has the following objectives:
(i) Trial balance enables one to establish whether the posting and other accounting processes
have been carried out without committing arithmetical errors. In other words, the trial balance
helps to establish arithmetical accuracy of the books.
(ii) Financial statements are normally prepared on the basis of agreed trial balance; otherwise the
work may be cumbersome. Preparation of financial statements, therefore, is the second
objective.
(iii) The trial balance serves as a summary of what is contained in the ledger; the ledger may have
to be seen only when details are required in respect of an account.
3. In spite of the agreement of the trial balance some errors may remain. These may be of the following
types:
(i) Transaction has not been entered at all in the journal.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.58 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(ii) A wrong amount has been written in both columns of the journal.
(iii) A wrong account has been mentioned in the journal.
(iv) An entry has not at all been posted in the ledger.
(v) Entry is posted twice in the ledger.

Practical Question
Answer 1
Trial Balance as on 30th June, 2020
Heads of Accounts Debit ` Credit `
Provision for Doubtful Debts – 200
Bank overdraft – 1,654
Capital – 4,591
Trade payables – 1,637
Trade receivables 2,983 –
Discount Received – 252
Discount allowed 733 –
Drawings 1,200 –
Office furniture 2,155 –
General Expenses 829 –
Purchases 10,923 –
Returns Inward 330 –
Rent & Rates 314 –
Salaries 2,520 –
Inventory 2,418 –
Provision for Depreciation on Furniture – 364
Sales – 16,882
Suspense Account (Balancing figure) 1,175 –
Total 25,580 25,580

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


59 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.59

UNIT – 4 SUBSIDIARY BOOKS

LEARNING OUTCOMES
After studying this unit, you would be able to:
♦ Understand the techniques of recording transactions in Purchase Book, Sales Book; Returns
Inward Book and Returns Outward Book; Bills Receivable and Bills Payable Book.
♦ Learn the technique of posting from Subsidiary Books to Ledger.
♦ Understand that even if subsidiary books are maintained, journalisation is required for many
other transactions and events.
♦ Learn the difference between the subsidiary books and principal books.

• Ledger
Principle books
• Cash books

UNIT OVERVIEW

• Purchases and Sales book, Purchase


and Sales return books
Subsidiary books • Bill payable and Bills receivable books
• Journal Proper

4.1 INTRODUCTION
In a business, most of the transactions generally relate to receipts and payments of cash, sale of goods and their
purchase. It is convenient to keep a separate register for each such class of transactions one for receipts and
payments of cash, one for purchase of goods and one for sale of goods. A register of this type is called a book
of original entry or of prime entry. For transactions recorded in such books there will be no journal entry. The
system by which transactions of a class are first recorded in the book, specially meant for it and on the basis of
which ledger accounts are then prepared is known as the Practical System of Book keeping or even the English
System. It should be noted that in this system, there is no departure from the rules of the double entry system.
These books of original or prime entry are also called subsidiary books since ledger accounts are prepared on
their basis and, without the further process of ledger posting, a trial balance cannot be taken out. Normally, the
following subsidiary books are used in a business:

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.60 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(i) Cash book to record receipts and payments of cash, including receipts into and payments out of the
bank.
(ii) Purchases book to record credit purchases of goods dealt in or of the materials and stores required in
the factory.
(iii) Purchase Returns Books to record the returns of goods and materials previously purchased.
(iv) Sales Book to record the sales of the goods dealt in by the firm.
(v) Sale Returns Book to record the returns made by the customers.
(vi) Bills Receivable Books to record the receipts of promissory notes or hundies from various parties.
(vii) Bills Payable Book to record the issue of the promissory notes or hundies to other parties.
(viii) Journal (proper) to record the transactions which cannot be recorded in any of the seven books
mentioned above.
It may be noted that in all the above cases the word “Journal” may be used for the word “book”
Advantages of Subsidiary Books
The use of subsidiary books affords the undermentioned advantages:
(i) Division of work: Since in the place of one journal there will be so many subsidiary books, the
accounting work may be divided amongst a number of clerks.
(ii) Specialization and efficiency: When the same work is allotted to a particular person over a period of
time, he acquires full knowledge of it and becomes efficient in handling it. Thus the accounting work will
be done efficiently.
(iii) Saving of the time: Various accounting processes can be undertaken simultaneously because of the
use of a number of books. This will lead to the work being completed quickly.
(iv) Availability of information: Since a separate register or book is kept for each class of transactions, the
information relating to each transactions will be available at one place.
(v) Facility in checking: When the trial balance does not agree, the location of the error or errors is
facilitated by the existence of separate books. Even the commission of errors and frauds will be checked
by the use of various subsidiary books.

4.2 DISTINCTION BETWEEN SUBSIDIARY BOOKS AND PRINCIPAL


BOOKS
The books in which transactions are first recorded to enable processing are called subsidiary books. The ledger
and the cash book are the principle books since they furnish information for preparation of the trial balance and
financial statements. The following table will help you in understanding the difference between Subsidiary Books
and Principal Books.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


61 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.61

Principal Books
Ledger

Simple Cash Book

Cash books with


Cash
Discount. Column
Books

Cash books with


Bank & Disc
Financial Discount. Column
Books
Petty Cash Book

For Credit
Purchase Book
Purchase
For Credit
Sales Book
Sales

For Credit Purchase Return


Purchase Book
Returns
For Credit

Sales Returns Sales Return Book


Subsidiary
For Bills
Books Bill Receivable Book
Receivable
Received

For Bills
Bill Payable Book
Accepted

For record of
Journal Paper
transactions
not recorded
elsewhere

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.62 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

4.3 PURCHASES BOOK


To record the credit purchases of goods dealt in or materials and stores used in the factory, a separate register
called the Purchases Book or the Purchases Journal, is usually maintained by firms. The ruling is given below:
Date Particulars L.F. Details Amount
` `

It should be remembered that :


(i) Cash purchases are not entered in this book since these will be entered in the cash book; and
(ii) Credit purchases of things other than goods or materials, such as office furniture or typewriters are
journalised - they also are not entered in the Purchases Book.
The particulars column is meant to record the name of the supplier and name of the articles purchased and the
respective quantities. The amount in respect of each article is entered in the details column. After totaling the
various amounts included in a single purchase, the amount for packing, or other charges is added and the amount
for trade discount is deducted. The net amount is entered in the extreme right-hand column. The total in this
column shows the total purchase made in a period.

ILLUSTRATION 1

The Rough Book of M/s. Narain & Co. contains the following :
2020
Feb. 1. Purchased from Brown & Co. on credit :
5 gross pencils @ `100 per gross,
1 gross register @ ` 240 per doz.
Less : Trade Discount @ 10%
2. Purchased for cash from the Stationery Mart;
10 gross exercise books @ ` 300 per doz.
3. Purchased computer for office use from M/s. office
Goods Co. on credit for ` 30,000.
4. Purchased on credit from The Paper Co.
5 reams of white paper @ `100 per ream.
10 reams of ruled paper @ `150 per ream.
Less : Trade Discount @ 10%
5. Purchased one dozen gel pens @ `15 each from
M/s. Verma Bros. on credit.
Make out the Purchase Book of M/s. Narain & Co.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


63 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.63

SOLUTION

Purchases Book
Date Particulars L.F. Amount
2020 ` `
Feb. 1 M/s. Brown & Co.
5 gross pencils @ ` 100 per gross 500.00
1 gross register @ ` 240 per doz. 2880.00
3380.00
Less : 10% trade discount (338) 3,042
“4 The Paper Co.
5 reams white paper @ ` 100 per ream 500.00
10 reams ruled paper @ ` 150 per ream 1500.00
2,000.00
Less : 10% trade discount (200.00) 1,800
5 M/s. Verma Bros.
1 doz. gel pens @ ` 15 each 180 180
Total 5022

Note : Purchases of cash and purchase of computer cannot be entered in the Purchase Book.


ILLUSTRATION 2

Enter the following transactions in Purchase Book and post them into ledger.
2020
April 4 Purchased from Ajay Enterprises, Delhi
100 Doz. Rexona Hawai Chappal @ ` 120 per doz.
200 Doz. Palki Leather Chappal @ ` 300 per Doz.
Less : Trade discount @ 10%
Freight charged ` 150.
April 15 Purchased from Balaji Traders, Delhi
50 doz. Max Shoes @ ` 400 per doz.
100 pair Sports Shoes @ ` 140 per pair.
Less : Trade discount @ 10%.
Freight charged ` 200.

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2.64 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

April 28 Purchased from Tripti Industries, Bahadurgarh


40 pair leather shoes @ ` 400 per pair
100 doz. Rosy Hawai Chappal @ ` 180 per doz.
Less : Trade discount @ 10%.
Freight charged ` 100.

SOLUTION

Purchase Book
Date Particulars Gross Trade Net Freight Total
2020 Amount Discount Price Amount
April 4 Ajay Enterprises
100 doz chappal @ ` 120 per doz -
` 12,000
200 doz Palki Leather Chappal
@ ` 300 per doz - ` 60,000
Less: trade discount @ 10% 72,000 7,200 64,800 150 64,950
April 15 Balaji Traders, Delhi
50 doz max Shoes @ ` 400 per doz
- ` 20,000
100 pair Sports shoes @ ` 140 per
pair - ` 14,000
Less: Trade discount @ 10% 34,000 3,400 30,600 200 30,800
April 28 Tripti Industries, Bahadurgarh
40 pair Leather shoes @ ` 400 per
pair - ` 16,000
100 doz Rosy Hawai Chappal:
@ ` 180 per doz - ` 18,000
Less: Trade discount @ 10% 34,000 3,400 30,600 100 30,700
1,40,000 14,000 1,26,000 450 1,26,450

Ledgers
Dr. Purchases A/c Cr.

2020 ` 2020 `

April 30 To amount as per purchase book 1,26,000

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


65 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.65

Dr. Freight A/c Cr.


2020 ` 2020 `
April 30 To amount as per purchase book 450
Dr. Ajay Enterprises Cr.
2020 ` 2020 `
April 4 By Purchase A/c 64,800
By Freight A/c 150

Dr. Balaji Traders Cr.


2020 ` 2020 `
April 15 By Purchase A/c 30,600
By Freight A/c 200

Dr. Tripati Industries Cr.


2020 ` 2020 `
April 28 By Purchase A/c 30,600
By Freight A/c 100

POSTING THE PURCHASES BOOK


The Purchases Book shows the names of the parties from whom goods have been purchased on credit. These
parties are now trade payables. Their accounts have to be credited for the respective amounts shown in the
purchase book. The total of the amounts column shows the total purchases made in a period. The amount is
debited to the Purchase Account to indicate receipt of goods. In Illustration 1, the Purchases Account is debited
by ` 5,022, M/s. Brown & Co. is credited by ` 3,042, The Paper Company by `1,800 and M/s. Verma Bros. by
`180. The total of the amounts put on the credit side equals the debit. Thus the double entry is completed.

4.4 SALES BOOK


The Sales Book is a register specially kept to record credit sales of goods dealt in by the firm, cash sales are
entered in the Cash Book and not in the Sales Book. Credit sales of things, other than the goods dealt in by the
firm are not entered in the Sales Book; they are journalised. The ruling is the same as for the Purchases Book.
Entries in the Sales Book are also made in the same manner as in the Purchase Book. The particulars column
will record the name of the customers concerned together with particulars and quantities of the goods sold. For
each item, the amount is entered in the details column; after totalling the amounts for one sale, charges for
packing etc; are added and the trade discount, if any is deducted: the net amount is put in the outer column. The
total of this column will show the total credit sales for a period.

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2.66 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

ILLUSTRATION 3

The following are some of the transaction of M/s Kishore & Sons of the year 2020 as per their Waste Book. Make
out their Sales Book.
Sold to M/s. Gupta & Verma on credit:
30 shirts @ ` 800 per shirt.
20 trousers @ `1,000 per trouser.
Less : Trade Discount @ 10%
Sold furniture to M/s. Sehgal & Co. on credit `8,000.
Sold 50 shirts of M/s. Jain & Sons @ `800 per shirt.
Sold 13 shirts to Cheap Stores @ `750 each for cash.
Sold on credit to M/s. Mathur & Jain.
100 shirts @ `750 per shirt
10 overcoats @ `5,000 per overcoat.
Less: Trade Discount @ 10%

SOLUTION

Sales Book
Date Particulars Details L.F. Amount
` `
2020 M/s. Gupta & Verma
30 shirts @ `800 24,000
20 Trousers @ `1,000 20,000
44,000
Less : 10% (4,400)
Sales as per invoice no. dated ..... 39,600
M/s. Jain & Sons 50 shirts @ `800
Sale as per invoice no. dated ...... 40,000
M/s Mathur & Jain
100 shirts @ `750 75,000
10 overcoats @ `5,000 50,000
1,25,000

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


67 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.67

Less : 10% (12,500)


Sales as per invoice no. dated...... 1,12,500
Total 1,92,100

Note : Cash sale and sale of furniture are not entered in Sales Book.

POSTING THE SALES BOOK


The names appearing in the Sales Book are of those parties which have received the goods. The accounts of the
parties have to be debited with the respective amounts. The total of the Sales Book shows the credit sales made
during the period concerned; the amount is credited to the Sales Account. In the Illustration 3, ` 1,92,100 is
credited to the Sales Account; `39,600 is debited to M/s. Gupta and Verma `40,000 to M/s Jain and Sons and
`1,12,500 to M/s Mathur & Jain. The amount put on the credit side is equal to the total of the amount put on the
debit side. Thus, the double entry principle is followed correctly.

4.5 SALES RETURNS BOOK OR RETURNS INWARD BOOK


If customers frequently return the goods sold to them, it would be convenient to record the returns in a separate
book, which is named as the Sales Returns Book or the Returns Inward Book. The ruling of the book is similar to
the Purchases or the Sales Book and entries are also made in the same manner. The following, assumed figures,
will illustrate this:
Returns Inward Book
Date Particulars Details L.F. Amount
2020 `

June 7 Sunil Bank & Co.

6 Copies-Double Entry

Bookkeeping by T.S. Grewal @ ` 7 42.00

Less : Trade Discount 10% (4.20) 37.80

Kailash & Co.

1 Copy-Business Methods by R.K. Gupta 3.50

Total 41.30

4.6 PURCHASE RETURNS OR RETURNS OUTWARD BOOK


Such a book conveniently records return of goods or material purchased to the suppliers if however, the returns
are not frequent, it may be sufficient to record the transaction in the journal. The ruling of the Purchase Returns
or Returns Outward Book is similar to that of the Purchase Book; entries are also similarly made, as the illustration
given below shows:

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2.68 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

Returns Outward Book


Date Particulars ` Amount
2020 `
June 2 Premier Electric Co. 175.00
One 36” Usha Ceiling Fan
“ 28 Mohan Electric Co.
Ten Iron Heaters 150.00
Less : Discount (15.00) 135.00
Total 310.00

POSTING OF THE RETURN BOOKS


The Sales Return Book will show the total of the returns made by customers. Really, the total of the returns is in
reduction of the sales. Properly, therefore, the amount may be debited to the Sales Account but, usually, a
separate account called Returns Inward Account is opened and the total of the sales returns is debited to this
accounts. The customers who have returned the goods are credited with the respective amounts.
It should be noted that on goods being received and accepted back from the customers, a credit note is issued
to the customers concerned. This shows the amount to be credited to the customer’s account.
Similarly, when goods are returned to suppliers they will issue the necessary credit note; also the firm returning
the goods will issue a debit note to the supplier, indicating the amount for which the supplier is liable on account
of the return.
The total of Returns Outwards Book shows the total returns made. The amount can be credited to the Purchase
Account, but in practice, is credited to a separate account called Purchase Returns or Returns Outward Account.
The suppliers whose names appear in the Book have received the goods, so their accounts have to be debited.
This is shown in the illustration given below :

ILLUSTRATION 4

Post the following into the ledger


Returns Outward Book
Date Particulars L.F. Details Amount
2020 ` `
Nov. 20 Rajindra Prakash & Sons
One 36” Usha Ceiling Fan 200.00
Less : Trade Discount @ 10% (20.00) 180.00
“ 30 Modern Electric Company 100.00
Total 280.00

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


69 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.69

SOLUTION

Ledger
Dr. Rajindra Parkash & Sons Cr.
Date Particulars Folio Amount Date Particulars Folio Amount
2020
Nov. 20 To Returns Outward A/c 180.00

Dr. Modern Electric Co. Cr.


Date Particulars Folio Amount Date Particulars Folio Amount
2020
Nov. 30 To Returns Outward A/c 100.00
Dr. Returns Outward Account Cr.
Date Particulars Folio Amount Date Particulars Folio Amount
2020
Nov. By Sundries as per 280.00
30 Returns Outward
A/c

BILLS RECEIVABLE BOOKS AND BILLS PAYABLE BOOKS


If the firm usually receives a number of promissory notes or hundies, it would be convenient to record the
transaction in a separate book called the Bills Receivable Book. Similarly, if promissory notes or hundies are
frequently issued, the Bills Payable Book will be convenient. This will be discussed later.

4.7 IMPORTANCE OF JOURNAL


Students are now familiar with the journal. They also know that :
(i) Cash transactions are recorded in the cash book;
(ii) Credit purchases of goods or materials are recorded in the purchases book;
(iii) Credit sales of goods are recorded in the sales book;
(iv) Returns from customers are recorded in the sale returns book; and
(v) Returns to suppliers are entered in the purchase returns book.
Bill transactions are entered in the bills receivable books or the bills payable books, if these are maintained. Apart
from the transactions mentioned above, there are some entries also which have to be recorded. For them the
proper place is the journal. In fact, if there is no special book meant to record a transaction, it is recorded in the
journal (proper). The role of the journal is thus restricted to the following types of entries :
(i) Opening entries : When books are started for the new year, the opening balance of assets and liabilities
are journalised.

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2.70 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(ii) Closing entries : At the end of the year the profit and loss account has to be prepared. For this purpose,
the nominal accounts are transferred to this account. This is done through journal entries called closing
entries.
(iii) Rectification entries : If an error has been committed, it is rectified through a journal entry.
(iv) Transfer entries : If some amount is to be transferred from one account to another, the transfer will be
made through a journal entry.
(v) Adjusting entries : At the end of the year the amount of expenses or income may have to be adjusted
for amounts received in advance or for amounts not yet settled in cash. Such an adjustment is also made
through journal entries. Usually, the entries pertain to the following:
(a) Outstanding expenses, i.e., expenses incurred but not yet paid;
(b) Prepared expenses, i.e., expenses paid in advance for some period in the future;
(c) Interest on capital, i.e., the interest on proprietor’s investment in the business entity investment;
and
(d) Depreciation, i.e., fall in the value of the assets used on account of wear and tear.
For all these, journal entries are necessary.
(vi) Entries on dishonour of Bills : If someone who accepted a promissory note (or bill) is not able to pay
in on the due date, a journal entry will be necessary to record the non-payment or dishonour.
(vii) Miscellaneous entries : The following entries will also require journalising:
(a) Credit purchase of things other than goods dealt in or materials required for production of goods
e.g. credit purchase of furniture or machinery will be journalised.
(b) An allowance to be given to the customers or a charge to be made to them after the issue of
the invoice.
(c) Receipt of promissory notes or issue to them if separate bill books have not been maintained.
(d) On an amount becoming irrecoverable, say, because, of the customer becoming insolvent.
(e) Effects of accidents such as loss of property by fire.
(f) Transfer of net profit to capital account.

ILLUSTRATION 5

From the following transactions, prepare the Purchases Returns Book of Alpha & Co., a saree dealer :

Date Debit Note No. Particulars


04.01.2020 101 Returned to Goyal Mills, Surat - 5 polyester sarees @ ` 1,000.
09.01.2020 Garg Mills, Kota - accepted the return of goods (which were purchased
for cash) from us - 5 Kota sarees @ ` 400.
16.01.2020 102 Returned to Mittal Mills, Bangalore - 5 silk sarees @ `2,600.
30.01.2020 Returned one computer (being defective) @ `35,000 to B & Co.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


71 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.71

SOLUTION

Purchase Returns Book


Date Debit Note No. Name of supplier L.F. Amount
2020
Jan. 4 101 Goyal Mills, Surat 5,000
Jan. 16 102 Mittal Mills, Bangalore 13,000
Jan. 31 Purchases Returns Account (Cr.) 18,000

SUMMARY
 Instead of recording all journal entries in one register, it is better to categorize the entries on the basis
of type of transactions.
 Various subsidiary books are maintained so as to record transactions of one type in each register. These
are also called books of original entry or prime entry.
 Example of subsidiary books are purchases book, sales book, purchase returns books, sales returns
book, bills receivable book etc. On the basis of these subsidiary books, the ledger accounts are prepared.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE


True and False
1. Transactions recorded in the purchase book include only purchases of goods on credit transactions.
2. Transactions regarding the purchase of fixed asset are recorded in the purchase book.
3. Cash sales are recorded in the sales book.
4. Subsidiary books are also known as the books of original entry.
5. Bills receivable book is a subsidiary book.
6. Return inward book is also known as purchase return book.
7. Purchase of a second hand machinery will be recorded in purchase book.
8. Total of sales return book is posted to the debit side of sales account.
9. If the sales are on a frequent basis, the transactions are recorded in the sales book.

Multiple Choice Questions


1. In Purchases Book the record is in respect of ___________________________
(a) Cash purchase of goods.
(b) Credit purchase of goods dealt in.
(c) All purchases of goods.

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2.72 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

2. The Sales Returns Book records ___________________________


(a) The return of goods purchased.
(b) Return of anything purchased.
(c) Return of goods sold.
3. The Sales Book ___________________________
(a) Is a part of journal.
(b) Is a part of the ledger.
(c) Is a part of the balance sheet.
4. The weekly or monthly total of the Purchase Book is ___________________________
(a) Posted to the debit of the Purchases Account.
(b) Posted to the debit of the Sales Account.
(c) Posted to the credit of the Purchases Account.
5. The total of the Sales Book is posted to ___________________________
(a) Credit of the Sales Account.
(b) Credit of the Purchases Account.
(c) Credit of the Capital Account.
6. In which book of original entry, will you record an allowance of `50 was offered for an early payment of
cash of `1,050 ___________________________.
(a) Sales Book
(b) Cash Book
(c) Journal Proper (General Journal)
7. A second hand motor car was purchased on credit from B Brothers for `10,000 will be recorded in
___________________________.
(a) Journal Proper (General Journal)
(b) Sales Book
(c) Cash Book
(d) Purchase Book
8. In which book of original entry, will you record a bills receivable of `1,000, which was received from a
debtor in full settlement for a claim of `1,100, is dishonoured ____________________.
(a) Purchases Return Book
(b) Bills Receivable Book
(c) Journal Proper (General Journal)

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73 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.73

Theory Questions
1 Which subsidiary books are normally used in a business?
2. What are the advantages of subsidiary books?

Practical Questions
1. Enter the following transactions in Sales Book of M/s. Pranat Engineers Ltd., Delhi.
2020
Jan. 2. Sold to M/s. Ajanta Electricals, Delhi 5 pieces of Ovens @ `6,000/- each less Trade discount
@ 10%.
8 Sold to M/s. Ajanta Electricals Plaza, 10 pieces of Tablets @ ` 8,000/- each less trade discount
5%.
15 Sold to M/s. Haryana Traders, 5 pieces of Juicers @ `3,500/- each less trade discount @ 10%.
2. Post into the ledger the entries of Sales Book prepared in Question1.

ANSWERS/HINTS
True and False
1. True: Since cash purchases are taken to the cash book , it is only credit transactions that are recorded
in the purchases book.
2. False: Transactions regarding the purchase of fixed asset are not recorded in the purchase book, only
the credit purchases of goods are recorded in it.
3. False: Credit sales are recorded in the sales book.
4. True: Subsidiary books are maintained as an alternate to the journal.
5. True: Bills receivable is one of the subsidiary book.
6. False: Return inward book is also known as sales return book.
7. False: Purchase of a second hand machinery will not be recorded in purchase book.
8. True: Since sales return is reduction from the total sales value, it is debited in the sales account.
9. True: When there are numerous transactions then there are subsidiary books like the sales book where
there are recorded instead of regular journal entries.

Multiple Choice Questions


1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (a) 5. (a) 6. (b) 7. (a) 8. (c)

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2.74 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

Theoretical Questions
1. Normally, the following subsidiary books are used in a business:
(i) Cash Book to record receipts and payments of cash, including receipts into and payments out
of the bank.
(ii) Purchases Book to record credit purchases of goods dealt in or of the materials and stores
required in the factory.
(iii) Purchase Returns Books to record the returns of goods and materials previously purchased.
(iv) Sales Book to record the sales of the goods dealt in by the firm.
(v) Sale Returns Book to record the returns made by the customers.
(vi) Bills Receivable Books to record the receipts of promissory notes or hundies from various
parties.
(vii) Bills Payable Book to record the issue of the promissory notes or hundies to other parties.
(viii) Journal (proper) to record the transactions which cannot be recorded in any of the seven books
mentioned above.
2. For advantages of Subsidiary Books, refer para 4.1.

Practical Problems
Answers 1
Sales Book
Date Particulars Gross Amount Trade Discount Net Price
(`) (`) (`)
2020
Jan. 2 Ajanta Electricals 5 pieces of
Ovens @ ` 6,000 each
Less: 10% discount 30,000 3,000 27,000
8 Electronics Plaza 10 pieces of
Tablets @ ` 8,000 each,
less 5% trade discount 80,000 4,000 76,000
15 Haryana Traders 5 pieces of
Juicers @ ` 3,500 each,
less 10% trade discount 17,500 1,750 15,750
1,27,500 8,750 1,18,750

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75 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.75

Answers 2
Ledger
Ajanta Electricals
Date Particulars L.F. Amount Date Particulars L.F. Amount
2020 (`) 2020 (` )
Jan. 2 To Sales A/c 27,000

Electronics Plaza
Date Particulars L.F. Amount Date Particulars L.F. Amount
2020 (` ) 2020 (` )
Jan. 8 To Sales A/c 76,000

Haryana Traders
Date Particulars L.F. Amount Date Particulars L.F. Amount
2020 (`)
2020 (`)
Jan. To Sales A/c 15,750
15

Sales Account
Date Particulars L.F Amount Date Particulars L.F. Amount
2020 . (` ) 2020 (`)
Jan. By Sundries (As per 1,18,750
31 Sales Book)

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.76 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

UNIT 5 : CASH BOOK

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After studying this unit, you would be able to:


♦ Understand that a Cash Book is a type of subsidiary book but treated as a principal book.
♦ Be familiar with various kinds of Cash Books, viz., Simple Cash Book, Two-column Cash Book
and Three-column Cash Book.
♦ Learn the technique of preparation of Simple Cash Book and how to balance it.
♦ See how Double-Column Cash Book is a prepared adding discount column alongwith cash
column.
♦ Understand the techniques of preparing Three-column Cash Book.
♦ Understand what is a Petty Cash Book and the Imprest System of Petty Cash.
♦ Note the advantages of the Petty Cash Book.
♦ Learn how to maintain a Petty Cash Book and how to post the entries of the Petty Cash Book in
the ledger.
♦ Understand the accounting of credit/debit sales transactions.

UNIT OVERVIEW

Subsidiary
book as
well as
Principal
book

Simple Cash Three


column
cash book Book cash book

Two
column
cash book

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77 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.77

5.1 CASH BOOK - A SUBSIDIARY BOOK AND A PRINCIPAL BOOK


Cash transactions are straightaway recorded in the Cash Book and on the basis of such a record, ledger accounts
are prepared. Therefore, the Cash Book is a subsidiary book. But the Cash Book itself serves as the cash account
and the bank account; the balances are entered in the trial balance directly. The Cash Book, therefore, is part of
the ledger also. Hence, it has also to be treated as the principal book. The Cash Book is thus both a subsidiary
book and a principal book.

5.2 KINDS OF CASH BOOK


The main Cash Book may be of the three types:
(i) Simple Cash Book;
(ii) Two-column Cash Book;
(iii) Three-column Cash Book.
In addition to the main Cash Book, firms also generally maintain a petty cash book but that is purely a subsidiary
book.
SIMPLE CASH BOOK
Such a cash book appears like an ordinary account, with one amount column on each side. The left-hand side
records receipts of cash and the right-hand side the payments.
Balancing of the Cash Book: The cash book is balanced like other accounts. The total of receipts column is
always greater than total of payments column. The difference is written on the credit side as ‘By balance c/d’.
The totals are then entered in the two columns opposite one another and then on the debit side the balance is
written as “To Balance b/d”, to show cash balance in hand in the beginning of next period.

ILLUSTRATION 1

Enter the following transactions in a Simple Cash Book:


2020 `
Jan.1 Cash in hand 1,200
“5 Received from Ram 300
“7 Paid Rent 30
“8 Sold goods for cash 300
“10 Paid to Shyam 700
“27 Purchased Furniture 200
“31 Paid Salaries 100
“31 Rent due, not yet paid, for January 30

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.78 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

SOLUTION

Dr. Cash Book Cr.


Date Receipts L.F. Amount Date Payments L.F. Amount
2020 ` 2020 `
Jan. 1 To Balance b/d 1,200 Jan. 07 By Rent A/c 30
“5 To Ram A/c 300 “ 10 By Shyam A/c 700
“8 To Sales A/c 300 “ 27 By Furniture A/c 200
“ 31 By Salaries A/c 100
“ 31 By Balance c/d 770
1,800 1,800
2020
Feb. 1 To Balance b/d 770

Note: One can see the following:


(i) In the simple cash book only the cash receipts and cash payments are recorded.
(ii) The total of debit side is always greater than the total of credit side since the payment cannot exceed
the available cash.
(iii) The simple cash book is like an ordinary account.
DOUBLE-COLUMN CASH BOOK
If along with columns for amounts to record cash receipts and cash payments another column is added on each
side to record the cash discount allowed or the discount received, or a column on the debit side showing bank
receipts and another column on the credit side showing payments through bank. It is a double-column cash book.
Cash discount is an allowance which often accompanies cash payments. For example, if a customer owes
` 500 but is promised that 2% will be deducted if payment is made within a certain period, the customer can clear
his account by paying promptly ` 490. Cash received will be ` 490 and ` 10 will be the discount for the firm
receiving the payment discount is a loss; for the person making the payment it is a gain. Since cash discount is
allowed only if cash is paid, it is convenient to add a column for discount allowed on the receipt side of the cash
book and a column for discount received on the payment side of the cash book.
In the cash column on the debit side, actual cash received is entered; the amount of the discount allowed, if any,
to the customer concerned is entered in the discount column. Similarly, actual cash paid is entered in the cash
column on the payments side and discount received in the discount column. Also the bank column on the debit
side records all receipts through bank and the same column on the credit side shows payment through bank.
Balancing: It should be noted that the discount columns are not balanced. They are merely totalled. The total of
the discount column on the receipts side shows total discount allowed to customers and is debited to the Discount
Account. The total of the column on the payments side shows total discount received and is credited to the
Discount Account. The Cash columns are balanced, as already shown. The bank columns are also balanced and
the balancing figure is called bank balance. Thus a double column cash book should have two columns on each
side comprising of either cash and discount transaction or cash and bank transactions.

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79 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.79

ILLUSTRATION 2

Ganesh commenced business on 1st April, 2020 with ` 2,000 as capital. He had the following cash transactions
in the month of April 2020:
` `
April 1 Purchased furniture April 7 Paid for petty expenses 15
and paid cash 250 “ 8 Cash purchases 150
“2 Purchased goods 500
“4 Sold goods for cash 950
13 Paid for labour 1,000
“5 Paid cash to Ram Mohan 560
“6 He allowed discount 10 “” Paid Ali & Sons 400
“6 Received cash from They allowed discount 8
Krishna & Co. 600 “”
Allowed discount 20

Make out the two-column Cash Book (Cash and discount column) for the month of April, 2020.

SOLUTION

Cash Book
Dr. Receipts L.F. Discount Amount Date Payments L.F. Discount Cr.
Date ` ` 2020 ` Amount
2020 `
April 1 To Capital A/c 2,000 April 1 By Furniture A/c 250
“4 To Sales A/c 950 “ 2 By Purchases A/c 500
“6 To Krishna A/c 20 600
“5 By Ram Mohan 10 560
“7 By Petty
Expenses A/c 15
“8 By Purchases A/c 150
“ 13 By wages A/c 1,000
“ 13 By Ali & Sons 8 400
“ 30 By Balance c/d 675
20 3,550 18 3,550
May 1 To Balance b/d 675

To summarise:
(i) the discount columns in the cash book are totalled;
(ii) they are not balanced; and
(iii) their totals are entered in the discount received/paid account in the ledger.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.80 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

Note: The person who pays, is credited by both the cash paid by him and the discount allowed to him. Similarly,
the person to whom payment is made, is debited with both the amount paid and the discount allowed by him.
THREE-COLUMN CASH BOOK
A firm normally keeps the bulk of its funds at a bank; money can be deposited and withdrawn at will if it is current
account. Probably payments into and out of the bank are more numerous than strict cash transactions. There is
only a little difference between cash in hand and money at bank. Therefore, it is very convenient if, on each side
in the cash book, another column is added to record cash deposited at bank (on the receipt side of the cash
book) and payments out of the bank (on the payment side of the cash book).
For writing up the three-column cash book the under mentioned points should be noted:
1. While commencing a new business, the amount is written in the cash column if cash is introduced and
in the bank column if it is directly put into the bank with the description “To Capital Account”. If a new
cash book is being started for an existing business, the opening balances are written as : “To Balance
b/d”.
2. All receipts are written on the receipts side, cash in the cash column and cheques in the bank column.
If any discount is allowed to the party paying the amount, the discount is entered in the discount column.
In the particulars column the name of the account in respect of which payment has been received is
written.
3. All payments are written on the payments side, cash payment in the cash column and payments by
cheques in the bank column. If some discount has been received from the party receiving the payment,
it is entered in the discount column.
4. Contra Entries: Often cash is withdrawn from bank for use in the office. In such a case the amount is
entered in the bank column on the payments side and also in the cash column on the receipts side. In
the reverse case of cash being sent to the bank, the amount is recorded in the bank column on the
receipts side and in cash column on payment side. Against such entries, the letter “C” should be written
in the LF. column, to indicate that these are contra transaction and no further posting is required for
them.
Note: If initially cheques received are entered in the cash column and then sent to the bank, the entry is
as if cash has been sent to the bank.
While recording contra entries, the basic but important rules should be followed -
(a) The Receiver Dr.
The Giver Cr.
(b) All what comes in Dr.
All what goes out Cr.
e.g. where a Cash Book with separate columns for Bank Account is maintained.
(a) If cash is deposited in Bank Account, the Bank will be the Receiver, hence it will be Debited and
as the cash is going out, cash will be credited.

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81 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.81

(b) If cash is withdrawn from the Bank Account, the Bank will be the Giver, hence it will be Credited
and, as the cash is coming in, cash will be Debited.
5. If some cheque sent to the bank is dishonoured, i.e., the bank is not able to collect the amount, it is
entered in the bank column on the credit side with the name of the related party in the particulars column.
6. If some cheque issued by the firm is not paid on presentation, it is entered in the Bank column on the
debit side with the name of the party to whom the cheque was given.
7. In a rare case, a cheque received may be given to some other party, i.e., endorsed. On receipt, it must
have been entered in the bank column on the debit side; on endorsement the amount will be written in
the bank column on the credit side.
The advantages of such type of Cash Book are that -
(a) the Cash Account and the Bank Account are prepared simultaneously, therefore the double
entry is completed in the Cash Book itself. Thus the contra entries can be easily cross-checked
in Cash column in one side and the Bank column in the other side of the Cash Book. Also the
chances of error are reduced.
(b) the information regarding Cash in Hand and the Bank Balance can be obtained very easily and
quickly as there is no need to prepare Ledger of the Bank Account.
In case of maintaining more than one Bank Account, separate column can be add for each Bank Account.
Transactions between these two or more Bank Accounts can be recorded and tallied with a much less
effort.
Suppose, there are two Bank Accounts namely PNB Current Account and SBI-Cash Credit Account.
Now, if a cheque is deposited from PNB cheque Book to SBI Account, the receiver - i.e., PNB Account
will be debited and the giver i.e. the SBI Account shall be credited.
Balancing: The discount columns are totalled but not balanced. The cash columns are balanced exactly
in the same manner as indicated for the simple cash book. The process is similar for balancing the bank
columns also. It is possible, however, that the bank may allow the firm to withdraw more than the amount
deposited i.e., to have an overdraft, In such a case, the total of the bank column on the credit side is
bigger than the one on the debit side. The difference is written on the debit side as “To Balance c/d.”
Then the totals are written on the two sides opposite one another, the balance is then entered on the
credit side as “By Balance b/d.”
However, the usual case is that payments into the bank will exceed the withdrawals or payments out of
the bank. Then the bank columns are balanced just like the cash columns.

ILLUSTRATION 3

Enter the following transactions in Cash Book with Discount and Bank Columns. Cheques are first treated as
cash receipt.
2020 `
Jan.1 Chandrika commences business with Cash 20,000
“ 3 He paid into Current A/c 19,000

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2.82 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

“ 4 He received cheque from Kirti & Co. on account 600


“ 7 He pays in bank Kirty & Co.’s cheque 600
“ 10 He pays Rattan & Co. by cheque and is allowed discount ` 20 330
“ 12 Tripathi & Co. pays into his Bank A/c 475
“ 15 He receives cheque from Warshi and allows him discount ` 35 450
“ 20 He receives cash ` 75 and cheque ` 100 for cash sale
“ 25 He pays into Bank, including cheques received on 15th and 20th 1,000
“ 27 He pays for cash purchase 275
“ 30 He pays sundry expenses in cash 50

SOLUTION

Dr. Cash Book Cr.

Date Receipts L.F. Discount Cash Bank Date Payments L.F. Discount Cash Bank

` ` ` ` ` `

2020 2020

Jan. To Capital A/c 20,000 Jan. 3 By Bank A/c C 19,000


1

3 To Cash C 19,000 7 By Bank A/c C 600

4 To Kirti & Co. 600 10 By Ratan & Co. 20 330

7 To Cash C 600 25 By Bank A/c C 1,000

12 To Tripathi & Co. 475 27 By Purchases 275


A/c

15 To Warshi 35 450 30 By S. Exp. A/c 50

20 To Sales A/c 175

25 To Cash C 1,000

31 By Balance c/d 300 20,745

35 21,225 21,075 20 21,225 21,075

Feb. To Balance b/d 300 20,745


1

5.3 POSTING THE CASH BOOK ENTRIES


Students would have seen that the cash columns in the cash book is actually the cash account and the bank
column is actually bank account. Also, the discount columns are memorandum columns, meant only to provide
information about the total discount allowed and total discount received.

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83 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.83

The debit side columns for cash and bank indicate receipts. Therefore, the amounts debited in the cash book
should be put to the credit of the account in respect of which cash or cheque has been received. For instance, in
the cash book given above we see that `175 have been received for sale of goods. For posting, the amount is
credited to the Sales Account as “By Cash `175.” We also see M/s. Warsi have paid `450 and also they have
been allowed ` 35 as discount; thus they have discharged a debt of `485. In the account of M/s. Warsi, the
posting is on the credit side as
By Cash ` 450
By Discount ` 35
or as:
By Sundries ` 485
All payments are recorded on the credit side. The particulars columns show on what account payments have
been made. In the ledger accounts concerned the amount is put on the debit side. For example, the cash book
shows that a cheque for ` 330 has been issued to M/s. Ratan & Co. and also that they have allowed a discount
of ` 20; thus an obligation of ` 350 has been met. In the account of M/s. Ratan & Co. the posting is:
To Bank ` 330
To Discount ` 20
Or
To Sundries ` 350
The rule thus develops: From the debit side of the cash book credit the various accounts with their respective
amounts (including any discount that may have been allowed); from the credit side of cash book the posting will
be to the debit of the accounts mentioned in the particular column with their respective amounts (including the
discount which may have been received).
As has been shown already, the total of the discount columns on the debit side is debited to the discount account;
the total of the column on the credit side is credited to the discount account. From the cash book given on the
previous page ` 35 is debited and ` 20 be credited to the discount account.

5.4 PETTY CASH BOOK


In a business house a number of small payments, such as for telegrams, taxi fare, cartage, etc., have to be made.
If all these payments are recorded in the cash book, it will become unnecessarily heavy. Also, the main cashier
will be overburdened with work. Therefore, it is usual for firms to appoint a person as ‘Petty Cashier’ and to
entrust the task of making small payments say below ` 200, to him. Of course he will be reimbursed for the
payments made. Later, on an analysis, the respective account may be debited.
IMPREST SYSTEM OF PETTY CASH
It is convenient to entrust a definite sum of money to the petty cashier in the beginning of a period and to
reimburse him for payments made at the end of the period. Thus, he will have again the fixed amount in the
beginning of the new period. Such a system is known as the imprest system of petty cash.

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2.84 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

The system is very useful specially if an analytical Petty Cash Book is used. The book has one column to record
receipt of cash (which is only from the main cashier) and other columns to record payments of various types. The
total of the various columns show why payments have been made and then the relevant accounts can be debited.
(i) The amount fixed for petty cash should be sufficient for the likely small payments for a relatively short
period, say for a week or a fortnight.
(ii) The reimbursement should be made only when petty cashier prepares a statement showing total
payments supported by vouchers, i.e., documentary evidence and should be limited to the amount of
actual disbursements.
(iii) The vouchers should be filed in order.
(iv) No payment should be made without proper authorization. Also, payments above a certain specified limit
should be made only by the main cashier.
(v) The petty cashier should not be allowed to receive any cash except for reimbursement.
In the petty cash book the extreme left-hand column records receipts of cash. The money column towards the
right hand shows total payments for various purposes; a column is usually provided for sundries to record
infrequent payments. The sundries column is analysed. At the end of the week or the fortnight the petty cash
book is balanced. The method of balancing is the same as for the simple cash book.

ILLUSTRATION 4

Prepare a Petty Cash Book on the imprest System from the following:
2020 `
Jan. 1 Received `100 for petty cash
“ 2 Paid bus fare .50
“ 2 Paid cartage 2.50
“ 3 Paid for Postage & Telegrams 5.00
“ 3 Paid wages for casual labourers 6.00
“ 4 Paid for stationery 4.00
“ 4 Paid tonga charges 2.00
“ 5 Paid for the repairs to chairs 15.00
“ 5 Bus fare 1.00
“ 5 Cartage 4.00
“ 6 Postage and Telegrams 7.00
“ 6 Tonga charges 3.00
“ 6 Cartage 3.00
“ 6 Stationery 2.00
“ 6 Refreshments to customers 5.00

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85 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.85

SOLUTION

Petty Cash Book


Receipts Date V. Particulars Total Con- Cartage Statio- Postage & Wages Sundries
` 2020 No. ` veyance ` nery Telegrams ` `
` ` `
100 Jan.1 To Cash
2 1 By Conveyance .50 .50
2 By Cartage 2.50 2.50
3 3 By Postage and 5.00 5.00
Telegrams
4 By Wages 6.00 6.00
4 5 By Stationery 4.00 4.00
6 By Conveyance 2.00 2.00
5 7 By Repairs to 15.00 15.00
Furniture
8 By Conveyance 1.00 1.00
9 By Cartage 4.00 4.00
6 10 By Postage and 7.00 7.00
Telegrams
“ 11 By Conveyance 3.00 3.00
“ 12 By Cartage 3.00 3.00
“ 13 By Stationery 2.00 2.00
“ 14 By General 5.00 5.00
Expenses
60.00 6.50 9.50 6.00 12.00 6.00 20.00
By Balance c/d 40.00
100 100.00
40.00 To Balance b/d
60.00 8 To Cash

ADVANTAGES OF PETTY CASH BOOK


There are mainly three advantages:
(i) Saving of time of the chief cashier;
(ii) Saving in labour in writing up the cash book and posting into the ledger; and
(iii) Control over small payments.

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2.86 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

POSTING THE PETTY CASH BOOK


In the ledger, a petty cash account is maintained; when an amount is given to the petty cashier, the petty cash
account is debited. Each week or forthnight, the total of the payments made is credited to this account. The petty
cash account will then show the balance in the hand of the cashier; on demand he should be able to produce it
for counting. At the end of the year, the balance is shown in the balance sheet as part of cash balance.
Of course, the payments must be debited to their respective amounts as shown by the petty cash book. For this
two methods may be used:
(i) From the petty cash book the total of the various columns may be directly debited to the concerned
accounts; or
(ii) A journal entry may first be prepared on the basis of the petty cash book, debiting the accounts shown
by the various analysis columns, and crediting the total of the payment of the petty cash accounts.
For Illustration 4 the journal entry and relevant accounts are as follows:
2020 ` `
Jan. 6 Conveyance Account Dr. 6.50
Cartage account Dr. 9.50
Stationery account Dr. 6.00
Postage and Telegrams account Dr. 12.00
Wages Account Dr. 6.00
Repairs Account Dr. 15.00
General Expenses Account Dr. 5.00
To Petty Cash Account 60.00
(Being the analysis of the Petty Cash Book for the week ending Jan. 6)
Entry for cash handed over to the Petty Cashier
Petty Cash Account Dr. 60
To Cash Account 60
(Being Cash received)

Petty Cash Account


Date Particulars Folio Amount Date Particulars Folio Amount
2020 ` 2020 `
Jan.1 To Cash 100.00 Jan. 6 By Sundries:
“8 To Cash 60.00 Conveyance 6.50
Cartage 9.50
Stationery 6.00
Postage and Telegrams 12.00

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87 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.87

Wages 6.00
Repairs 15.00
General Expenses 5.00

5.5 ENTRIES FOR SALE THROUGH CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS


Now-a-days sales through Credit/Debit Cards are issued by almost every Bank in India either directly or with
collaboration of some other agencies. HSBC Card, SBI Card, BOB Card, ICICI Bank Card, HDFC Card and
Andhra Bank Card are some of the popular Cards.
The procedure for issuing Credit/Debit Cards are as follows -
1. A small Plastic Card, called Credit Card is issued by bank to a prospective customer, after verifying his
credibility, which is generally measured by his income sources. Debit Card is issued by bank to a
customer who has an account with the bank, maintaining a minimum balance. Now a days ATM Card
issued by the bank can also be used as Debit Card. This card would contain an embossed 16 digit
number and also the name of the cardholder.
2. Generally Bank charges annual subscription fees from the credit card holder. No fee is charged in case
of Debit Card, though some banks charge a nominal fee on Debit Card.
3. When the Card holder intends to buy some goods or services through Credit or Debit Card, the seller
fills in a form, generally in triplicate, the details of the goods a with the amount of sales and uses the
embossed card with the help of the Credit Card machine to print the data on that form. Also the customer
has to countersign the form. One carbon copy of the form is given to the customer for the record.
4. The seller sums up the different amounts sold like this and submits, generally everyday, to his bank all
the forms. The amount is credited by the bank to the seller’s account and debited to the account of the
Bank or the company issuing the Credit/Debit Card.
5. The bank issuing the Card, charges commission for each such transaction, which varies between 1% to
4% and is immediately debited to seller’s bank account.
6. The bank sends a monthly statement to the card holder. In case of Debit Card the account is immediately
debited to the card holder’s account, whereas in case of Credit Card, card holder has to pay the amount
in full or part. However, if not paid in full, the interest is charged.
ACCOUNTING FOR CREDIT/DEBIT CARD SALE
From the seller’s point of view, this type of sale is equivalent to a cash sale. Commission charged by the bank
will be treated as selling expenses. The following journal entries will be made in the seller’s books of accounts.
1. Bank A/c Dr.
To Sales Account
(Sales made through Credit/Debit Card)
2. Commission Account Dr.
To Bank Account
(Commission charged by bank)

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2.88 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

ILLUSTRATION 5

Enter the following transaction in Cash Bank with Discount and Bank columns. Cheques are first treated as cash
receipts -
2020 `
March 1 Cash in Hand 15,000
Overdraft in Bank 500
2 Cash Sales 3,000
3 Paid to Sushil Bros. by cheque 3,400
Discount received 100
5 Sales through credit card 2,800
6 Received cheque from Srijan 6,200
7 Endorsed Srijan’s cheque in favour of Adit
9 Deposit into Bank 6,800
10 Received cheque from Aviral and deposited the same into Bank by allowing discount 3,600
of ` 50
12 Adit informed that Srijan’s cheque is dishonoured. Now cash is received from Srijan
and amount is paid to Adit through own cheque
15 Sales through Debit Card 3,200
24 Withdrawn from Bank 1,800
28 Paid to Sanchit by cheque 3,000
30 Bank charged 1% commission on sales through
Debit/Credit Cards

SOLUTION

Dr. Cash Book Cr.


Date Particulars L.F. Discount Cash Bank Date Particulars L.F. Discount Cash Bank
` ` ` ` ` `

2020 2020
March 1 To Balance b/d 15,000 March 1 By Balance b/d 500
2 To Sales 3,000 3 By Sushil Bros. 100 3,400
5 To Sales 2,800 7 By Adit 6,200
6 To Srijan 6,200 9 By Bank C 6,800
9 To Cash A/c C 6,800 12 By Adit 6,200
10 To Aviral 50 3,600 24 By Cash A/c C 1,800
12 To Srijan 6,200 28 By Sanchit 3,000

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89 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.89

15 To Sales A/c 3,200 30 By Commission 60


24 To Bank A/c C 1,800 31 By Balance c/d 19,200 1,440
50 32,200 16.400 100 32,200 16,400

Note: If the received cheque is endorsed to the other party on the same day, then no entry is required.
However, in the above case posting has been done through cash column as the endorsement is done on next
day.

SUMMARY
 Cash book contains cash transactions and also bank transactions, if it has a separate book column. It is
both a subsidiary book and a principal book.
 Cash book can be prepared adding discount column also.
 For small payments, petty cash book is maintained separately recording the particulars of payment and
its amount. The fixed amount is given to the petty cashier for making small payments in the beginning
of the period. The amount spent is replenished so that he will have again the fixed sum in the beginning
of the next period. This system is known as imprest system of petty cash book.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE


True and False
1. Cash book is a subsidiary book as well as a principal book.
2. Two column cash book consists of two columns cash column & bank column.
3. Discount column of cash book is never balanced.
4. Contra entry is passed in a two column cash book.
5. If the bank column is showing the opening balance on credit side, it is an overdraft.
6. A cash book records cash transactions as well as credit transactions.
7. Discount column of cash book records the trade discount.

Multiple Choice Questions


1. The total of discounts column on the debit side of the cash book, recording cash discount deducted by
customers when paying their accounts, is posted to the __________________________
(a) Credit of the discount allowed account.
(b) Debit of the discount allowed account
(c) Credit of the discount received account.
2. Cash book is a type of __________ but treated as a ____________ of accounts.
(a) Subsidiary book, principal book
(b) Principal book, subsidiary book
(c) Subsidiary book, subsidiary book

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2.90 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

3. Which of the following is not a column of a three-column cash book?


(a) Cash column
(b) Bank column
(c) Petty cash column
4. Contra entries are passed only when __________________________
(a) Double-column cash book is prepared
(b) Three-column cash book is prepared
(c) Simple cash book is prepared
5. The Cash Book records __________________________
(a) All cash receipts
(b) All cash payments
(c) All cash receipts and payments
6. The balance in the petty cash book is __________________________
(a) An expense
(b) A profit
(c) An asset
7. If Ram has sold goods for cash, the entry will be recorded __________________________
(a) In the Cash Book
(b) In the Sales Book
(c) In the Journal

Theory Questions
1. Is cash book a subsidiary book or a principal book? Explain.
2. What are the various kinds of cash book?
3. What are the advantages of a three column cash book?

Practical Questions
1. Shri Ramaswamy maintains a Columnar Petty Cash Book on the Imprest System. The imprest amount
is ` 500. From the following information, show how his Petty Cash Book would appear for the week
ended 12th September, 2020:
`
7-9-2020 Balance in hand 134.90
Received Cash reimbursement to make up the imprest 365.10

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91 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.91

Stationery 49.80
8-9-2020 Miscellaneous Expenses 20.90
9-9-2020 Repairs 156.70
10-9-2020 Travelling 68.50
11-9-2020 Stationery 71.40
12-9-2020 Miscellaneous Expenses 6.30
Repairs 48.30

ANSWERS/HINTS
True and False
1. True: Since the balance is taken to the Trial balance cash book is a subsiadiary book as wellas principal
book.
2. False: Two column cash book consists of two columns cash column & discount column.
3. True: Discount column is totaled and transferred to the discount allowed or received account.
4. False: Contra entry is passed in a three column cash book which includes bank and cash columns.
5. True: Usually the debit side of opening balance shows a favorable balance, where there is unfavorable-
overdraft then it should be shown on the credit side
6. False: A cash book records only cash transactions.
7. False: Discount column of cash book records the cash discount. Trade discount is not shown in the
books of accounts.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (b) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (a)

Theoretical Questions
1. Cash transactions are straightaway recorded in the Cash Book and on the basis of such a record, ledger
accounts are prepared. Therefore, the Cash Book is a subsidiary book. But the Cash Book itself serves
as the cash account and the bank account; the balances are entered in the trial balance directly. The
Cash Book, therefore, is part of the ledger also. Hence, it has also to be treated as the principal book.
The Cash Book is thus both a subsidiary book and a principal book.
2. The main Cash Book may be of the three types:
(i) Simple Cash Book;
(ii) Two-column Cash Book;
(iii) Three-column Cash Book.

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2.92 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

In addition to the main Cash Book, firms also generally maintain a petty cash book but that is purely a
subsidiary book.
3. The advantages of three column Cash Book are that -
(a) the Cash Account and the Bank Account are prepared simultaneously, therefore the double
entry is completed in the Cash Book itself. Thus the contra entries can be easily cross-checked
in Cash column in one side and the Bank column in the other side of the Cash Book. Also the
chances of error are reduced.
(b) the information regarding Cash in Hand and the Bank Balance can be obtained very easily and
quickly as there is no need to prepare Ledger of the Bank Account.

Practical Problems
Answer 1
Petty Cash Book
Date Receipts Amount Date Payments Total Stationery Travelling Misc Repairs
2020 ` 2020 Amount ` ` Exps. `
` `
Sept. 7 To Balance b/d 134.90 7 By Stationery 49.80 49.80
To Reimbursement 365.10 8 By Misc. Expenses 20.90 20.90
9 By Repairs 156.70 156.70
10 By Travelling 68.50 68.50
11 By Stationery 71.40 71.40
12 By Misc. Expenses 6.30 6.30
By Repairs 48.30 48.30
421.90 121.20 68.50 27.20 205.00
By Balance c/d 78.10
500.00 500.00
13 To Balance b/d 78.10

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93 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.93

UNIT 6 : RECTIFICATION OF ERRORS

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After studying this unit, you would be able to


 Understand different types of errors which may occur in course of recording transactions and
events.
 Be familiar with the steps involved in locating errors.
 Learn the nature of one-sided errors and two-sided errors.
 Understand why suspense account is opened for rectification of errors.
 Understand the technique of correcting errors of one period in the next accounting period.

UNIT OVERVIEW

Errors of
Principal

Errors of Types of Erros of


Omissions Errors Commission

Compensating
Errors

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2.94 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

6.1 INTRODUCTION
Unintentional omission or commission of amounts and accounts in the process of recording the transactions are
commonly known as errors. These various unintentional errors can be committed at the stage of collecting
financial information/data on the basis of which financial statements are drawn or at the stage of recording this
information. Also errors may occur as a result of mathematical mistakes, mistakes in applying accounting policies,
misinterpretation of facts, or oversight. To check the arithmetic accuracy of the journal and ledger accounts, trial
balance is prepared. If the trial balance does not tally, then it can be said that there are errors in the accounts
which require rectification thereof. Some of these errors may affect the Trial Balance and some of these do not
have any impact on the Trial Balance although such errors may affect the determination of profit or loss, assets
and liabilities of the business.
Illustrative Case of Errors and their Nature
We have seen that after preparing ledger accounts a trial balance is taken out where debit and credit balances
are separately listed and totalled. If the two totals do not agree, it is definite that there have been some errors
We shall now study the types of errors which may be committed and how they may be rectified. For this purpose,
the working of the following illustrative cases should be carefully seen.
Illustrative Cases of Errors
(a) Wrong Entry: Let us start from the first phase in the accounting process. Wrong entry of the value of
transactions and events in the subsidiary books, Journal Proper and Cash Book may occur.
Example 1: Credit purchases `17,270 are entered in the Purchases Day Book as `17,720. Credit sales
of `15,000 gross less 1% trade discount are wrongly entered in Sales Day Book at `15,000. Cheque
issued `19,920 are wrongly entered in the credit of bank column in the Cash Book as `19,290.
(b) Wrong casting of subsidiary books: Subsidiary books are totalled periodically and posted to the
appropriate ledger accounts. There may arise totalling errors. Totalling errors may arise due to wrong
entry or simply these may be independent errors.
Example 2: For the month of January, 2020 total of credit sales are `1,75,700, this is wrongly totalled
as `1,76,700 and posted to sales account as `1,76,700.
(c) In case of cash book, wrong castings result in wrong calculation of the balance c/d.
Example 3: The following cash transactions of M/s. Tularam & Co. occurred:
2021
Jan. 1 Balance - cash `1,200 bank `16,000;
Jan. 2 Cheque issued to M/s. Bholaram & Co., a supplier, for `22,500;
Jan. 6 Cheque collected from M/s. Scindia & Bros. `42,240 and deposited for clearance;
Jan. 7 Cash sales `27,200 paid wages `12,400;
Jan. 8 Cash sales ` 37,730 cash deposited to bank ` 35,000.

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95 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.95

The following Cash Book entries are passed:


Dr. Cash Book Cr.
Date Particulars Cash Bank Date Particulars Cash Bank
2021 ` ` 2021 ` `
Jan. 1 To Balance b/d 1,200 16,000 Jan. 2 By M/s Bholaram & Co. A/c 22,500
Jan. 6 To M/s. Scindia & Bros. A/c 42,420 By Wages A/c 12,200
Jan. 7 To Sales A/c 27,200 By Bank A/c 34,500
Jan. 8 To Sales A/c 37,370 By Balance c/d 19,070 71,420

Jan. 8 To Cash A/c 34,500


65,770 93,920 65,770 93,920

Wrong entries and wrong casting are shown in bold prints. However, errors of cash entries generally are
not carried. Usually cash balances are tallied daily. So errors are identified at an early stage. But bank
balance cannot be checked daily and thus errors may be carried until bank reconciliation is made. In the
above example, there are four wrong entries and one wrong casting. Bank and cash balances are
affected by these errors.
(d) Wrong posting from subsidiary books: In this case, the wrong amount may be posted to the ledger
account or the amount may posted to the wrong side or to the wrong account. For example, purchases
from A may be posted to B’s account.
(e) Wrong casting of ledger balances: Likewise Cash Book, any ledger account balance may be cast
wrongly. Obviously wrong postings make the balance wrong; but that is not wrong casting of balances.
Whenever there arises independent casting error as in the case of bank column in the Cash Book of
example (4), that is called wrong casting of ledger balances.
Example 4: The following are the credit purchases of M/s. Ballav Bros.:
2021
Jan. 1 Purchases from M/s. Saurabh & Co.- gross `1,00,000 less 1% trade discount.
Jan. 3 Purchases from M/s. Netai & Co.- gross ` 70,000 less 1% trade discount.
Jan. 6 Purchases from M/s. Saurabh & Co.- gross ` 60,000 less 1% trade discount
Let us cast M/s. Saurabh & Co.’s Account:
Dr. M/s Saurabh & Co. Account Cr.
Date Particulars Amount ` Date Particulars Amount `
2021 2021
Jan. 1 To Balance c/d 1,55,400 Jan. 1 By Purchases A/c 99,000
Jan. 6 By Purchases A/c 59,400
1,55,400 *1,55,400
*While casting the credit side an error has been committed and so the account is wrongly balanced.

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2.96 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

Example 5: Goods are purchased on credit from M/s. Saurabh & Co. for ` 27,030 and from
M/s. Karnataka Suppliers for ` 28,050. The following Day Book is prepared:
Purchases Day Book
Date Particulars Amount
`
M/s. Saurabh & Co. 27,050
M/s. Karnataka Suppliers 28,030
55,080

In the Day Book both the transactions are entered wrongly but the first error has been compensated by
the second. Even if these errors are not rectified Trial Balance would tally.
Trial Balance
Particulars Dr. Cr.
` `
M/s. Saurabh & Co. 27,050
M/s. Karnataka Suppliers 28,030
Purchases Account 55,080
55,080 55,080

6.2 STAGES OF ERRORS


Errors may occur at any of the following stages of the accounting process:
AT THE STAGE OF RECORDING THE TRANSACTIONS IN JOURNAL
Following types of errors may happen at this stage:
(i) Errors of principle,
(ii) Errors of omission,
(iii) Errors of commission.
AT THE STAGE OF POSTING THE ENTRIES IN LEDGER
(i) Errors of omission:
(a) Partial omission,
(b) Complete omission.
(ii) Errors of commission:
(a) Posting to wrong account,
(b) Posting on the wrong side,
(c) Posting of wrong amount.

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97 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.97

AT THE STAGE OF BALANCING THE LEDGER ACCOUNTS


(a) Wrong Totalling of accounts,
(b) Wrong Balancing of accounts.
AT THE STAGE OF PREPARING THE TRIAL BALANCE
(a) Errors of omission,
(b) Errors of commission:
1. Taking wrong account,
2. Taking wrong amount,
3. Taking to the wrong side.
On the above basis, we can classify the errors in four broad categories:
1. Errors of Principle,
2. Errors of Omission,
3. Errors of Commission,
4. Compensating Errors.

6.3 TYPES OF ERRORS


Basically errors are of two types:
(a) Errors of principle: When a transaction is recorded in contravention of accounting principles, like
treating the purchase of an asset as an expense, it is an error of principle. In this case there is no effect
on the trial balance since the amounts are placed on the correct side, though in a wrong account.
Suppose on the purchase of a computer, the office expenses account is debited; the trial balance will
still agree.
(b) Clerical errors: These errors arise because of mistake committed in the ordinary course of the
accounting work. These are of three types:
(i) Errors of Omission: If a transaction is completely or partially omitted from the books of account,
it will be a case of omission. Examples would be: not recording a credit purchase of furniture or
not posting an entry into the ledger.
(ii) Errors of Commission: If an amount is posted in the wrong account or it is written on the wrong
side or the totals are wrong or a wrong balance is struck, it will be a case of “errors of
commission.”
(iii) Compensating Errors: If the effect of errors committed cancel out, the errors will be called
compensating errors. The trial balance will agree. Suppose an amount of `10 received from A
is not credited to his account and the total of the sales book is `10 in excess. The omission of
credit to A’s account will be made up by the increased credit to the Sales Account.

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2.98 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

From another point of view, error may be divided into two categories:
(a) Those that affect the trial balance - because of these errors, trial balance does not agree; these
are the following:
(i) Wrong casting of the subsidiary books.
(ii) Wrong balancing of an account.
(iii) Posting an amount on the wrong side.
(iv) Posting the wrong amount.
(v) Omitting to post an amount from a subsidiary book.
(vi) Omitting to post the totals of subsidiary book.
(vii) Omitting to write the cash book balances in the trial balance.
(viii) Omitting to write the balance of an account in the trial balance.
(ix) Writing a balance in wrong column of the trial balance.
(x) Totalling the trial balance wrongly.
(b) The errors that do not affect the trial balance are the following:
(i) Omitting an entry altogether from the subsidiary book.
(ii) Making an entry with the wrong amount in the subsidiary book.
(iii) Posting an amount in a wrong account but on the correct side, e.g., an amount to be
debited to A is debited to B, the trial balance will still agree.

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99 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.99

6.4 STEPS TO LOCATE ERRORS


Even if there is only a very small difference in the trial balance, the errors leading to it must be located and
rectified. A small difference may be the result of a number of errors. The following steps will be useful in locating
errors :
(i) The two columns of the trial balance should be totalled again. If in place of a number of accounts, only
one amount has been written in the trial balance the list of such accounts should be checked and totalled
again. List of Trade receivables is the example from which Trade receivable balance is derived.
(ii) It should be seen that the cash and bank balances have been written in the trial balance.
(iii) The exact difference in the trial balance should be established. The ledger should be gone through; it is
possible that a balance equal to the difference has been omitted from the trial balance. The difference
should also be halved; it is possible that balance equal to half the difference has been written in the
wrong column.
(iv) The ledger accounts should be balanced again.
(v) The casting of subsidiary books should be checked again, especially if the difference is
` 1, ` 100 etc.
(vi) If the difference is very big, the balance in various accounts should be compared with the corresponding
accounts in the previous period. If the figures differ materially the cases should be seen; it is possible
that an error has been committed. Suppose the sales account for the current year shows a balance of
` 32,53,000 whereas it was ` 36,45,000 last year; it is possible that there is an error in the Sales
Account.
(vii) Postings of the amounts equal to the difference or half the difference should be checked. It is possible
that an amount has been omitted to be posted or has been posted on the wrong side.
(viii) If there is still a difference in the trial balance, a complete checking will be necessary. The posting of all
the entries including the opening entry should be checked. It may be better to begin with the nominal
accounts.

6.5 RECTIFICATION OF ERRORS


Errors should never be corrected by overwriting. If immediately after making an entry it is clear that an error has
been committed, it may be corrected by neatly crossing out the wrong entry and making the correct entry. If
however the errors are located after some time, the correction should be made by making another suitable entry,
called rectification entry. In fact the rectification of an error depends on at which stage it is detected. An error can
be detected at any one of the following stages:
(a) Before preparation of Trial Balance.
(b) After Trial Balance but before the final accounts are drawn.
(c) After final accounts, i.e., in the next accounting period.

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2.100 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

6.5.1 Before preparation of Trial Balance


There are some errors which affect one side of an account or which affect more than one account in such a way
that it is not possible to pass a complete rectification entry. In other words, there are some errors which can be
corrected, if detected at this stage, by making rectification statement in the appropriate side(s) of concerned
account(s). It is important to note here that such errors may involve only one account or more than one account.
Read the following illustrations:
(i) The sales book for November is undercast by ` 200. The effect of this error is that the Sales Account
has been credited short by ` 200. Since the account is posted by the total of the sales book, there is no
error in the accounts of the customers since they are posted with amounts of individual sales. Hence
only the Sales Accounts is to be corrected. This will be done by making an entry for ` 200 on the credit
side: “By undercasting of Sales Book for November ` 200”.
(ii) While posting the discount column on the debit side of the cash book the discount of
` 10 allowed to Ramesh has not been posted. There is no error in the cash book, the total of discount
column presumably has been posted to the discount account on the debit side. The error is in not
crediting Ramesh by ` 10. This should now be done by the entry “By omission of posting of discount on
----- `10”.
(iii) ` 200 received from Ram has been entered by mistake on the debit side of his account. Since the cash
book seems to have been correctly written, the error is only in the account of Ram - he should have been
credited and not debited by ` 200. Not only is the wrong debit to be removed but also a credit of ` 200
is to be given. This can be done now by entering ` 400 on the credit side of his account. The entry will
be “By Posting on the wrong side - ` 400”.
(iv) ` 50 was received from Mahesh and entered on the debit side of the cash book but was not posted to
his account. By the error, which affects only the account of Mahesh, ` 50 has been omitted from the
credit side of his account. The rectification will be by the entry. “By Omission of posting on the ` 50.”
(v) ` 51 paid to Mohan has been posted as `15 to the debit of his account. Mohan has been debited short
by ` 36. The rectifying entry is “To mistake in posting on ` 36”.
(vi) Goods sold to Ram for `1,000 was wrongly posted from sales day book to the debit of purchase account.
Ram has however been correctly debited. Here the error affects two accounts, viz., purchases account
and sales account but we cannot pass a journal entry for its rectification because both the accounts need
to be credited. The rectification will be by the entry “By wrong posting on ` 1,000” in the credit of
purchases account and also “By omission of posting on - ` 1,000” in the credit sales account.
(vii) Bills receivable from Mr. A of ` 500 was posted to the credit of Bills payable Account and also credited
to A account. Here also although two accounts are involved we cannot pass a complete journal entry for
rectification. The rectification will be by the entry “To wrong posting on ` 500” in debit of Bills payable
Account and also “To omission of posting on ` 500” in the debit of Bills Receivable Account.
(viii) Goods purchased from Vinod for ` 1,000 was wrongly credited to Vimal account by ` 100. Again we
cannot pass a complete journal entry for rectification even though two accounts are involved. The
rectification will be done by the entry “To wrong posting on `100” in the debit of Vimal account and “By
omission of posting on ` 1,000” in the credit of Vinod account.

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101 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.101

Thus, from the above illustrations we are convinced that the general rule that errors affecting two accounts can
always be corrected by a journal entry is not always valid.

ILLUSTRATION 1

How would you rectify the following errors in the book of Rama & Co.?
1. The total to the Purchases Book has been undercast by ` 100.
2. The Returns Inward Book has been undercast by ` 50.
3. A sum of ` 250 written off as depreciation on Machinery has not been debited to Depreciation Account.
4. A payment of ` 75 for salaries (to Mohan) has been posted twice to Salaries Account.
5. The total of Bills Receivable Book ` 1,500 has been posted to the credit of Bills Receivable Account.
6. An amount of `151 for a credit sale to Hari, although correctly entered in the Sales Book, has been
posted as ` 115.
7. Discount allowed to Satish ` 25 has not been entered in the Discount Column of the Cash Book. the
amount has been posted correctly to the credit of his personal account.

SOLUTION

1. The Purchases Account should receive another debit of `100 since it was debited short previously:
“To Undercasting of Purchases Book for the month of --- `100.”
2. Due to this error the Returns Inward Account has been posted short by ` 50 : the correct entry will be:
“To Undercasting of Returns Inward Book for the month of --- `50.”
3. The omission of the debit to the Depreciation Account will be rectified by the entry:
“To Omission of posting on ` 250”.
4. The excess debit will be removed by a credit in the Salaries Account by the entry:
“By double posting on ` 75”.
5. `1,500 should have been debited to the Bills Receivable Account and not credited. To correct the
mistake, the Bills Receivable Account should be debited by ` 3,000 by the entry:
“To Wrong posting of B/R received on ` 3,000”
6. Hari’s personal A/c is debited ` 36 short. The rectification entry will be:
“To Wrong posting ` 36”.
7. Due to this error, the discount account has been debited short by ` 25. The required entry is :
“To Omission of discount allowed to Satish on ` 25.”
So far we have discussed the correction of errors which affected only one Account or more than one account but
for which rectifying entries were not complete journal entries. We shall now take up the correction of errors which
affect more than one account in such a way that complete journal entries are possible for their rectification. Read
the following illustrations:

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2.102 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(i) The purchase of machinery for ` 2,000 has been entered in the purchases book. The effect of the entry
is that the account of the supplier Ram & Co. has been credited by ` 2,000 which is quite correct. But
the debit to the Purchases Account is wrong : the debit should be to Machinery Account. To rectify the
error, the debit in the purchases Account has to be transferred to the Machinery Account. The correcting
entry will be to Credit Purchases Account and debit the Machinery Account. Please see the three entries
made below: the last entry rectifies the error:
Wrong Entry: ` `
Purchases Account Dr. 2,000
To Ram & Co. 2,000
Correct Entry:
Machinery Account Dr. 2,000
To Ram & Co. 2,000
Rectifying Entry:
Machinery Account Dr. 2,000
To Purchases Account 2,000

(ii) `100 received from Kamal Kishore has been credited in the account of Krishan Kishore. The error is that
there is a wrong credit in the account of Krishan Kishore and omission of credit in the account of Kamal
Kishore; Krishan Kishore should be debited and Kamal Kishore be credited. The following three entries
make this clear:
Wrong Entry: ` `
Cash Account Dr. 100
To Krishan Kishore 100
Correct Entry:
Cash Account Dr. 100
To Kamal Kishore 100
Rectifying Entry:
Krishan Kishore Dr. 100
To Kamal Kishore 100

(iii) The sale of old machinery, `1,000 has been entered in the sales book. By this entry the account of the
buyer has been correctly debited by `1,000. But instead of crediting the Machinery Account. Sales
Account has been credited. To rectify the error this account should be debited and the Machinery
Account credited. See the three entries given below:
Wrong Entry: ` `
Buyer’s Account Dr. 1,000
To Sales Account 1,000
Correct Entry:

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


103 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.103

Buyer’s Account Dr. 1,000


To Machinery Account 1,000
Rectifying Entry:
Sales Account Dr. 1,000
To Machinery Account 1,000

ILLUSTRATION 2

The following errors were found in the book of Ram Prasad & Sons. Give the necessary entries to correct them.
(1) ` 500 paid for furniture purchased has been charged to ordinary Purchases Account.
(2) Repairs made were debited to Building Account for ` 50.
(3) An amount of `100 withdrawn by the proprietor for his personal use has been debited to Trade Expenses
Account.
(4) `100 paid for rent debited to Landlord’s Account.
(5) Salary ` 125 paid to a clerk due to him has been debited to his personal account.
(6) ` 100 received from Shah & Co. has been wrongly entered as from Shaw & Co.
(7) ` 700 paid in cash for a typewriter was charged to Office Expenses Account.

SOLUTION

Journal
Particulars L.F. Dr. Cr.
` `
(1) Furniture A/c Dr. 500
To Purchases A/c 500
(Correction of wrong debit to Purchases A/c for furniture purchased)
(2) Repairs A/c Dr. 50
To Building A/c 50
(Correction of wrong debit to building A/c for repairs made)
(3) Drawings A/c. Dr. 100
To Trade Expenses A/c 100
(Correction of wrong debit to Trade Expenses A/c for cash withdrawn
by the proprietor for his personal use)
(4) Rent A/c Dr. 100
To Landlord’s Personal A/c 100
(Correction of wrong debit to landlord’s A/c for rent paid)
(5) Salaries A/c Dr. 125
To Clerk’s (Personal) A/c 125
(Correction of wrong debit to Clerk’s personal A/c for salaries paid)

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.104 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(6) Shaw & Co. Dr. 100


To Shah & Co. 100
(Correction of wrong credit to Shaw & Co. Instead of Shah & Co.)
(7) Typewriter A/c Dr. 700
To Office Expenses A/c 700
(Correction of wrong debit to Office Expenses A/c for purchase of
typewriter)

ILLUSTRATION 3

Give journal entries to rectify the following:


(1) A purchase of goods from Ram amounting to `150 has been wrongly entered through the Sales Book.
(2) A Credit sale of goods amounting `120 to Ramesh has been wrongly passed through the Purchase
Book.
(3) On 31st December, 2020 goods of the value of ` 300 were returned by Hari Saran and were taken
inventory on the same date but no entry was passed in the books.
(4) An amount of ` 200 due from Mahesh Chand, which had been written off as a Bad Debt in a previous
year, was unexpectedly recovered, and had been posted to the personal account of Mahesh Chand.
(5) A Cheque for ` 100 received from Man Mohan was dishonoured and had been posted to the debit of
Sales Returns Account.

SOLUTION

Journal
Particulars L.F. Dr. Cr.
` `
(1) Purchases A/c Dr. 150
Sales A/c Dr. 150
To Ram 300
(Correction of wrong entry in the sales Book for a purchases of goods from Ram)
(2) Ramesh Dr. 240
To Purchases A/c 120
To Sales A/c 120
(Correction of wrong entry in the Purchases Book of a credit sale of goods to
Ram)
(3) Returns Inwards A/c Dr. 300
To Hari Saran 300
(Entry of goods returned by him and taken in inventory omitted from records)
(4) Mahesh Chand Dr. 200

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


105 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.105

To Bad Debts Recovered A/c 200


(Correction of wrong credit to Personal A/c in respect of recovery of previously
written off bad debts)
(5) Man Mohan Dr. 100
To Sales Return A/c 100
(Correction of wrong debit to Sales Returns A/c for dishonour of cheque
received from Man Mohan)

Thus, it can be said that errors detected before the preparation of trial balance can be rectified either through
rectification statements (not entries) or through rectification entries.

6.5.2 After Trial Balance but before Final Accounts


The method of correction of error indicated so far is appropriate when the errors have been located before the
end of the accounting period. After the corrections the trial balance will agree. Sometimes the trial balance is
artificially made to agree inspire of errors by opening a suspense account and putting the difference in the trial
balance to the account - the suspense account will be debited if the total of the credit column in the trial balance
exceeds the total of the debit column; it will be credited in the other case.
One must note that such agreement of the trial balance will not be real. Effort must be made to locate the errors.
The rule of rectifying errors detected at this stage is simple. Those errors for which complete journal entries were
not possible in the earlier stage of rectification (i.e., before trial balance) can now be rectified by way of journal
entry(s) with the help of suspense account, for it these errors which gave rise to the suspense account in the trial
balance. The rectification entry for other type of error i.e. error affecting more than one account in such a way
that a complete journal entry is possible for its rectification, can be rectified in the same way as in the earlier
stage (i.e. before trial balance).
In a nutshell, it can be said that each and every error detected at this stage can only be corrected by a complete
journal entry. Those errors for which journal entries were not possible at the earlier stage will now be rectified by
a journal entry(s), the difference or the unknown side is being taken care of by suspense account. Those errors
for which entries were possible even at the first stage will now be rectified in the same way.
Suppose, the sales book for November, 2019 is cast `100 short; as a consequence the trial balance will not
agree. The credit column of the trial balance will be `100 short and a Suspense Account will be credited by `100.
To rectify the error the Sales Account will be credited (to increase the credit to the right figure. Since now one
error remains, the Suspense Account must be closed- it will be debiting the Suspense Account. The entry will be:
Suspense Account Dr. `100
To Sales Account `100
(Correction of error of undercasting the sales Book for November 2019)

ILLUSTRATION 4

Correct the following errors (i) without opening a Suspense Account and (ii) opening a Suspense Account:
(a) The Sales Book has been totalled `100 short.

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2.106 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(b) Goods worth `150 returned by Green & Co. have not been recorded anywhere.
(c) Goods purchased `250 have been posted to the debit of the supplier Gupta & Co.
(d) Furniture purchased from Gulab & Bros, `1,000 has been entered in Purchases Day Book.
(e) Discount received from Red & Black `15 has not been entered in the Discount Column of the Cash Book.
(f) Discount allowed to G. Mohan & Co. `18 has not been entered in the Discount Column of the Cash
Book. The account of G. Mohan & Co. has, however, been correctly posted.

SOLUTION

If a Suspense Account is not opened.


(a) Since sales book has been cast `100 short, the Sales Account has been similarly credited `100 short.
The correcting entry is to credit the Sales Account by `100 as “By wrong totalling of the Sales Book
`100”.
(b) To rectify the omission, the Returns Inwards Account has to be debited and the account of Green & Co.
credited. The entry:
Returns Inward Account Dr. `150
To Green & Co. `150
(Goods returned by the firm, previously omitted from the Returns Inward Book)

(c) Gupta & Co. have been debited `250 instead of being credited. This account should now be credited by
500 to remove the wrong debit and to give the correct debit. The entry will be on the credit side... “By
errors in posting `500”.
(d) By this error Purchases Account has to be debited by `1,000 whereas the debit should have been to the
Furniture Account. The correcting entry will be:
Furniture Account Dr. `1,000
To Purchases Account `1,000
(Correction of the mistake by which of the Furniture Account)

(e) The discount of `15 received from Red & Black should have been entered on the credit side of the cash
book. Had this been done, the Discount Account would have been credited (through the total of the
discount column) and Red & Black would have been debited. This entry should not be made:
Red & Black Dr. `15
To Discount Account `15
(Rectification of the error by which the discount allowed by the firm was not
entered in Cash Book)

(f) In this case the account of the customer has been correctly posted; the Discount Account has been
debited `18 short since it has been omitted from the discount column on the debit side of the cash book.
The discount account should now be debited by the entry; “To Omission of entry in the Cash Book `18.”

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


107 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.107

If a Suspense Account is opened :


Particulars L.F. Dr. Cr.
` `
(a) Suspense Account Dr. 100
To Sales Account 100
(Being the correction arising from under- casting of Sales Day
Book)
(b) Return Inward Account Dr. 150
To Green & Co . 150
(Being the recording of unrecorded returns)
(c) Suspense Account Dr. 500
To Gupta & Co. 500
(Being the correction of the error by which Gupta & Co. was
debited instead of being credited by ` 250).
(d) Furniture Account Dr. 1,000
To Purchases Account 1,000
(Being the correction of recording purchase of furniture as
ordinary purchases)
(e) Red & black Dr. 15
To Discount Account 15
(Being the recording of discount omitted to be recorded)
(f) Discount Account Dr. 18
To Suspense Account 18
(Being the correction of omission of the discount allowed from
Cash Book customer’s account already posted correctly).

Suspense Account
Dr. Particulars Amount Date Particulars Cr.
Date ` Amount`
To Sales A/c 100 By Difference in
To Gupta & Co. 500 Trial Balance 582
By Discount A/c 18
600 600

Notes:
(i) One should note that the opening balance in the Suspense Account will be equal to the
difference in the trial balance.

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2.108 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(ii) If the question is silent as to whether a Suspense Account has been opened, the student should
make his assumption, state it clearly and then proceed.

ILLUSTRATION 5

Correct the following errors found in the books of Mr. Dutt. The Trial Balance was out by ` 493 excess credit.
The difference thus has been posted to a Suspense Account.
(a) An amount of `100 was received from D. Das on 31st December, 2020 but has been omitted to enter in
the Cash Book.
(b) The total of Returns Inward Book for December has been cast `100 short.
(c) The purchase of an office table costing ` 300 has been passed through the Purchases Day Book.
(d) ` 375 paid for Wages to workmen for making show-cases had been charged to “Wages Account”.
(e) A purchase of ` 67 had been posted to the trade payables’ account as ` 60.
(f) A cheque for ` 200 received from P. C. Joshi had been dishonoured and was passed to the debit of
“Allowances Account”.
(g) ` 1,000 paid for the purchase of a motor cycle for Mr. Dutt had been charged to “Miscellaneous Expenses
Account”.
(h) Goods amounting to `100 had been returned by customer and were taken in to inventory, but no entry
in respect there of, was made into the books.
(i) A sale of ` 200 to Singh & Co. was wrongly credited to their account. Entry was made correctly made
in sales book.

SOLUTION

(a) Journal Entries


Particulars L.F. ` `
(a) Cash Account Dr. 100
To D. Das 100
(Being the amount received)
(b) Returns Inward Account Dr. 100
To Suspense Account 100
(Being the mistake in totalling the Returns Inward Book
corrected)
(c) Furniture Account Dr. 300
To Purchases Account 300
(Being the rectification of mistake by which purchase of
furniture was entered in Purchases book and hence debited to
Purchases Account)

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


109 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.109

(d) Furniture Account Dr. 375


To Wages Account 375
(Being the wages paid to workmen for making show-cases
which should be capitalised and not to be charged to Wages
Account)
(e) Suspense Account Dr. 7
To Creditors (personal) Account 7
(Being the mistake in crediting the Trade payables Account less
by ` 7, now corrected)
(f) P.C. Joshi Dr. 200
To Allowances Account 200
(Being the cheque of P.C. Joshi dishonoured, previously
debited to Allowances Account)
(g) Drawings Account Dr. 1,000
To Miscellaneous Expenses 1,000
(Being the motor cycle purchased for Mr. Dutt debited to his
Drawings Account instead of Miscellaneous Expenses Account
as previously done by mistake)
(h) Returns Inward Account Dr. 100
To Debtors (Personal) Account 100
(Correction of the omission to record return of goods by
customers)
(i) Singh & Co. Dr. 400
To Suspense Account 400
(Being the correction of mistake by which the account of Singh
& Co. was credited by ` 200 instead of being debited)

Suspense Account
Dr. Cr.
Date Particulars Amount Date Particulars Amount
2020 ` 2020 `
Dec.31 To Difference in Dec. 31 By Returns
Trial Balance 493 Inwards A/c 100
““ To Trade Payables A/c 7 ““ By Singh & Co. 400
500 500

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.110 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

ILLUSTRATION 6

The following errors, affecting the account for the year 2020 were detected in the books of Jain Brothers, Delhi:
(1) Sale of old Furniture ` 150 treated as sale of goods.
(2) Receipt of ` 500 from Ram Mohan credited to Shyam Sunder.
(3) Goods worth ` 100 brought from Mohan Narain have remained unrecorded so far.
(4) A return of ` 120 from Mukesh posted to his debit.
(5) A return of ` 90 to Shyam Sunder posted as ` 9 in his account.
(6) Rent of proprietor’s residence, ` 600 debited to rent A/c.
(7) A payment of ` 215 to Mohammad Sadiq posted to his credit as `125.
(8) Sales Book added ` 900 short.
(9) The total of Bills Receivable Book ` 1,500 left unposted.
You are required to pass the necessary rectifying entries and show how the trial balance would be affected by
the errors.

SOLUTION

Journal
Particulars L.F. Dr. Cr.
Amount Amount
` `
(1) Sales Account Dr. 150
To Furniture Account 150
(Rectification of sales of furniture treated as sales of goods)
(2) Shyam Sunder Dr. 500
To Rama Mohan 500
(Rectification of a receipt from Ram Mohan credited to Shyam
Sunder)
(3) Purchases Account Dr. 100
To Mohan Narain 100
(Purchases of goods from Mohan Narain unrecorded)
(6) Drawing Account Dr. 600
To Rent Account 600
(Rectification of Payment of rent of proprietor’s residence
treated as payment of office rent)

N.B. : For 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 no journal entry can be passed as they affect a single account. The correction will be as
under:

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111 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.111

(4) Credit Mukesh’s Account with ` 240.


(5) Debit the account of Shyam Sunder by ` 81.
(7) Debit the account of Mohammad Sadiq by ` 340.
(8) Credit Sales Account by ` 900.
(9) Debit Bills Receivable Account with `1,500.
Effect of the Errors on Trial Balance
1. No effect
2. No effect
3. No effect
4. Trial Balance credit total short by ` 240.
5. Trial Balance debit total short by ` 81.
6. No effect
7. Trial Balance debit total short by ` 340.
8. Trial Balance credit total short by ` 900.
9. Trial Balance debit total short by ` 1,500.

ILLUSTRATION 7

Write out the Journal Entries to rectify the following errors, using a Suspense Account.
(1) Goods of the value of ` 100 returned by Mr. Sharma were entered in the Sales Day Book and posted
therefrom to the credit of his account;
(2) An amount of `150 entered in the Sales Returns Book, has been posted to the debit of Mr. Philip, who
returned the goods;
(3) A sale of ` 200 made to Mr. Ghanshyam was correctly entered in the Sales Day Book but wrongly posted
to the debit of Mr. Radheshyam as ` 20; and
(4) The total of “Discount Allowed” column in the Cash Book for the month of September, 2020 amounting
to ` 250 was not posted.

SOLUTION

Journal
Particulars L.F. Dr. Cr.
` `
(1) Sales Account Dr. 100
Sales Returns Account Dr. 100
To Suspense Account 200
(The value of goods returned by Mr. Sharma wrongly
posted to Sales and omission of debit to Sales Returns
Account, now rectified)

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.112 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(2) Suspense Account Dr. 300


To Mr. Philip 300
(Wrong debit to Mr. Philip for goods returned by him, now
rectified)
(3) Mr. Ghanshyam Dr. 200
To Mr. Radheshyam 20
To Suspense Account 180
(Omission of debit to Mr. Ghanshyam and wrong credit
to Mr. Radhesham for sale of ` 200, now rectified)
(4) Discount Account Dr. 250
To Suspense Account 250
(The total of Discount allowed during September, 2020
not posted from the Cash Book; error now rectified)

6.5.3 Correction in the next Accounting Period


Rectification of errors discussed so far assumes that it was carried out before the books were closed for the
concerned year. However, sometimes, the rectification is carried out in the next year, carrying forward the balance
in the Suspense Account or even transferring it to the Capital Account. Suppose, the Purchase Book was cast
short by `1,000 in December, 2020 and a Suspense Account was opened with the difference in the trial balance.
If the error is rectified next year and the entry passed is to debit Purchase Account (and credit Suspense Account),
it will mean that the Purchases Account for year 2021 will be `1,000 more than the amount relating to year 2021
and thus the profit that year 2021 will be less than the actual for that year. Thus, correction of errors in this
manner will ‘falsify’ the Profit and Loss Account.
To avoid this, correction of all amounts concerning nominal accounts, i.e., expenses and incomes should be
through a special account styled as “Prior Period Items” or “Profit and Loss Adjustment Account”. The balance in
the account should be transferred to the Profit and Loss Account. However, these Prior Period Items should be
charged after deriving net profit of the current year. ‘Prior Period items’ are material income or expenses which
arise in the current period as a result of errors or omissions in the preparation of the financial statements of one
or more periods. Prior Period Items should be separately disclosed in the current statement of profit and loss
together with their nature and amount in a manner that their impact on current profit or loss can be perceived.

ILLUSTRATION 8

Mr. Roy was unable to agree the Trial Balance last year and wrote off the difference to the Profit and Loss Account
of that year. Next Year, he appointed a Chartered Accountant who examined the old books and found the
following mistakes:
(1) Purchase of a scooter was debited to conveyance account `3,000.
(2) Purchase account was over-cast by `10,000.
(3) A credit purchase of goods from Mr. P for ` 2,000 was entered as a sale.

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113 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.113

(4) Receipt of cash from Mr. A was posted to the account of Mr. B ` 1,000.
(5) Receipt of cash from Mr. C was posted to the debit of his account, ` 500.
(6) ` 500 due by Mr. Q was omitted to be taken to the trial balance.
(7) Sale of goods to Mr. R for ` 2,000 was omitted to be recorded.
(8) Amount of ` 2,395 of purchase was wrongly posted as ` 2,593.
Mr. Roy used 10% depreciation on vehicles. Suggest the necessary rectification entries.

SOLUTION

Journal Entries in the books of Mr. Roy

Date Particulars Dr. Cr.


` `
(1) Motor Vehicles Account Dr. 2,700
To Profit and Loss Adjustment A/c 2,700
(Purchase of scooter wrongly debited to conveyance
account now rectified-capitalisation of ` 2,700, i.e.,
` 3,000 less 10% depreciation)
(2) Suspense Account Dr. 10,000
To Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c 10,000
(Purchase Account overcast in the previous year;
error now rectified).
(3) Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c Dr. 4,000
To P’s Account 4,000
(Credit purchase from P ` 2,000, entered as sales
last year; now rectified)
(4) B’s Account Dr. 1,000
To A’s Account 1,000
(Amount received from A wrongly posted to the
account of B; now rectified)
(5) Suspense Account Dr. 1,000
To C’s Account 1,000
(` 500 received from C wrongly debited to his
account; now rectified)
(6) Trade receivables Dr. 500
To Suspense Account 500
(` 500 due by Q not taken into trial balance; now
rectified)

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.114 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(7) R’s Account Dr. 2,000


To Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c 2,000
(Sales to R omitted last year; now adjusted)
(8) Suspense Account Dr. 198
To Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c 198
(Excess posting to purchase account last year,
` 2,593, instead of ` 2,395, now adjusted)
(9) Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c Dr. 10,898
To Roy’s Capital Account 10,898
(Balance of Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c transferred
to Capital Account)
(10) Roy’s Capital Account Dr. 10,698
To Suspense Account 10,698
(Balance of Suspense Account transferred to the
Capital Account)

Note : Entries No. (2) and (8) may even be omitted; but this is not advocated.
Profit and Loss Adjustment Account
(Prior Period Items)
` `

To P 4,000 By Motor Vehicles A/c 2,700


To Roy’s Capital (transfer) 10,898 By Suspense A/c 10,000
By R 2,000
By Suspense Account 198

14,898 14,898
Suspense Account
` `

To Profit & Loss Adjustment Account 10,000 By Trade Receivables (Q) 500
To C 1,000 By Roy’s Capital Account (Transfer) 10,698
To Profit & Loss Adjustment Account 198

11,198 11,198

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115 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.115

SUMMARY
 Unintentional omission or commission of amounts and accounts in the process of recording the
transactions are commonly known as errors.
 Accounting errors are generally of four types-
(a) Errors of Principle;
(b) Errors of Omission;
(c) Errors of Commission;
(d) Compensating Errors.
 Some errors may affect the Trial Balance and some of these do not.
 The method of rectification of errors depends on the stage at which the errors are detected. If the error
is detected before the preparation of trial balance, rectification is carried out by making the statement in
the appropriate side of the concerned account.
 In case of the errors detected after the preparation of the trial balance, we open a suspense account
with the amount of difference in the trial balance. Then complete journal entries can be passed for
rectifying the errors.
 For rectifying the errors detected in the next accounting period, a special account ‘Profit and Loss
Adjustment Account’ is opened for correction of amounts relating to expenses and incomes.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE


True and False
1. The method of rectification of errors depends on the stage at which the errors are detected.
2. In case of error of complete omission, the trial balance does not tally.
3. When errors are detected after preparation of trial balance, suspense account is opened.
4. When purchase of an asset is treated as an expense, it is known as error of principle.
5. Trial balance agrees in case of compensating errors.
6. When amount is written on wrong side, it is known as an error of principle.
7. On purchase of furniture, the amount spent on repairs should be debited to repairs account.
8. ‘Profit & Loss adjustment account’ is opened to rectify the errors detected in the current accounting
period.
9. Rent paid to land lord of the proprietors house, must be debited to ‘Rent account’.
10. If the errors are detected after preparing trial balance, then all the errors are rectified through suspense
account.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.116 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

Multiple Choice Questions


1. Goods purchased from A for `10,000 passed through the sales book. The error will result in
(a) Increase in gross profit.
(b) Decrease in gross profit.
(c) No effect on gross profit.
2. If a purchase return of `1,000 has been wrongly posted to the debit of the sales returns account, but
has been correctly entered in the suppliers’ account, the total of the
(a) Trial balance would show the debit side to be `1,000 more than the credit.
(b) Trial balance would show the credit side to be ` 1,000 more than the debit.
(c) The debit side of the trial balance will be ` 2,000 more than the credit side.
3. If the amount is posted in the wrong account or it is written on the wrong side of the account, it is called
(a) Error of omission.
(b) Error of commission.
(c) Error of principle.
4. ` 200 paid as wages for erecting a machine should be debited to
(a) Repair account.
(b) Machine account.
(c) Capital account.
5. On purchase of old furniture, the amount of `1,000 spent on its repair should be debited to
(a) Repair account.
(b) Furniture account.
(c) Cash account.
6. Goods worth `50 given as charity should be credited to
(a) Charity account.
(b) Sales account.
(c) Purchase account.
7. Goods worth `100 taken by proprietor for domestic use should be credited to
(a) Sales account.
(b) Proprietor’s personal expenses.
(c) Purchases account.

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117 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.117

8. Sales of office furniture should be credited to


(a) Sales Account.
(b) Furniture Account.
(c) Purchase Account.
9. The preparation of a trial balance is for:
(a) Locating errors of commission.
(b) Locating errors of principle.
(c) Locating clerical errors.
10. ` 200 received from Smith whose account, was written off as a bad debt should be credited to:
(a) Bad Debts Recovered account.
(b) Smith’s account.
(c) Cash account.
11. Purchase of office furniture `1,200 has been debited to General Expense Account. It is:
(a) A clerical error.
(b) An error of principle.
(c) An error of omission.

Theory Questions
1. How does errors of omission differ from errors of commission?
2. What is error of principle and how does it affect Trial Balance?
3. When and how is Suspense account used to rectify errors?

Practical Questions
1. The trial balance of Mr. W & H failed to agree and the difference `20,570 was put into suspense pending
investigation which disclosed that:
(i) Purchase returns day book had been correctly entered and totalled at `6,160, but had not been
posted to the ledger.
(ii) Discounts received `1,320 had been debited to discounts allowed.
(iii) The Sales account had been under added by `10,000.
(iv) A credit sale of `1,470 had been debited to a customer account at `1,740.
(v) A vehicle bought originally for `7,000 four years ago and depreciated to `1,200 had been sold
for `1,500 in the beginning of the year but no entries, other than in the bank account had been
passed through the books.
(vi) An accrual of `560 for telephone charges had been completely omitted.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.118 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(vii) A bad debt of `1,560 had not been written off and provision for doubtful debts should have been
maintained at 10% of Trade receivables which are shown in the trial balance at `23,390 with a
credit provision for bad debts at `2,320.
(viii) Tools bought for `1,200 had been inadvertently debited to purchases.
(ix) The proprietor had withdrawn, for personal use, goods worth `1,960. No entries had been made
in the books.
You are required to give rectification entries without narration to correct the above errors before
preparing annual accounts.
2. On going through the Trial balance of Ball Bearings Co. Ltd. you find that the debit is in excess by `150.
This was credited to “Suspense Account”. On a close scrutiny of the books the following mistakes were
noticed:
(1) The totals of debit side of “Expenses Account” have beeen cast in excess by ` 50.
(2) The “Sales Account” has been totalled in short by `100.
(3) Supplier account has been overcast by 225.
(4) The sale return of `100 from a party has not been posted to that account though the Party’s
account has been credited.
(5) A cheque of `500 issued to the Suppliers’ account (shown under Trade payables) towards his
dues has been wrongly debited to the purchases.
(6) A credit sale of `50 has been credited to the Sales and also to the Trade receivables Account.
You are required to
(i) Pass necessary journal entries for correcting the above;
(ii) Show how they affect the Profits; and
(iii) Prepare the “Suspense Account” as it would appear in the ledger.
3. Mr. A closed his books of account on September 30, 2020 in spite of a difference in the trial balance.
The difference was `830 the credits being short; it was carried forward in a Suspense Account. In 2021
following errors were located:
(i) A sale of `2,300 to Mr. Lala was posted to the credit of Mrs. Mala.
(ii) The total of the Returns Inward Book for July, 2020 `1,240 was not posted in the ledger.
(iii) Freight paid on a machine `5,600 was posted to the Freight Account as `6,500. 10%
Depreciation is charge on this machines.
(iv) White carrying forward the total in the Purchases Account to the next page, `65,590 was written
instead of `56,950.
(v) A sale of machine on credit to Mr. Mehta for `9,000 on 30th sept. 2020 was not entered in the
books at all. The book value of the machine was `6,750.
Pass journal entries to rectify the errors. Have you any comments to make?

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


119 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.119

4. A merchant’s trial balance as on June 30, 2020 did not agree. The difference was put to a Suspense
Account. During the next trading period, the following errors were discovered:
(i) The total of the Purchases Book of one page, `4,539 was carried forward to the next page as
`4,593.
(ii) A sale of `573 was entered in the Sales Book as `753 and posted to the credit of the customer.
(iii) A return to a creditor, `510 was entered in the Returns Inward Book; however, the creditor’s
account was correctly posted.
(iv) Cash received from C. Dass, `620 was posted to the debit of G. Dass.
(v) Goods worth `840 were despatched to a customer before the close of the year but no invoice
was made out.
(vi) Goods worth `1,000 were sent on sale or return basis to a customer and entered in the Sales
Book. At the close of the year, the customer still had the option to return the goods. The sale
price was 25% above cost.
You are required to give journal entries to rectify the errors in a way so as to show the current year’s
profit or loss correctly.

ANSWERS/HINTS
True and False
1. True: There are 3 different stages when the mistakes are identified and then the rectification depends
on the stage of identification of errors.
2. False: In case of error of complete omission, the trial balance tallies.
3. True: In order to balance the difference of balances in the trial balance suspense account is opened.
4. True: Where the accounts being debited is principally incorrect it is termed as error of principle.
5. True: Compensating errors cancel out each other when Trial balance is prepared as the mistake pertains
to the same amount being credited and later debited on account of two different mistakes.
6. False: When amount is written on wrong side, it is known as an error of commission.
7. False: On purchase of furniture, the amount spent on repairs should be debited to furniture account as
it is a capital expense.
8. False: ‘Profit & Loss adjustment account’ is opened to rectify the errors detected in the next accounting
period.
9. False: Rent paid to land lord of the proprietors house, must be debited to ‘Drawings account’.
10. False: If the errors are detected after preparing trial balance, then all the errors are not rectified through
suspense account. There may be principal errors, which can be rectified without opening a suspense
account.

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.120 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

Multiple Choice Questions


1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (b) 4. (b) 5. (b) 6. (c)

7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (c) 10. (a) 11. (b)

Theoretical Questions
1. (i) Errors of Omission: If a transaction is completely or partially omitted from the books of account,
it will be a case of omission. Examples would be: not recording a credit purchase of furniture or
not posting an entry into the ledger.
(ii) Errors of Commission: If an amount is posted in the wrong account or it is written on the wrong
side or the totals are wrong or a wrong balance is struck, it will be a case of “errors of
commission.”
2. Errors of principle: When a transaction is recorded in contravention of accounting principles, like
treating the purchase of an asset as an expense, it is an error of principle. In this case there is no effect
on the trial balance since the amounts are placed on the correct side, though in a wrong account.
Suppose on the purchase of a typewriter, the office expenses account is debited; the trial balance will
still agree.
The method of correction of error indicated so far is appropriate when the errors have been located
before the end of the accounting period. After the corrections the trial balance will agree. Sometimes the
trial balance is artificially made to agree inspite of errors by opening a suspense account and putting
the difference in the trial balance to the account - the suspense account will be debited if the total of the
credit column in the trial balance exceeds the total of the debit column; it will be credited in the other
case. Each and every error detected can only be corrected by a complete journal entry. Those errors for
which journal entries were not possible at the earlier stage will now be rectified by a journal entry(s), the
difference or the unknown side is being taken care of by suspense account. Those errors for which
entries were possible even at the first stage will now be rectified in the same way.

Practical Questions
Answer 1
Particulars Dr. Cr.
(i) Suspense Account Dr. 6,160
To Return Outward A/c 6,160
(ii) Suspense Account Dr. 2,640
To Discount Allowed Account 1,320
To Discount Received Account 1,320
(iii) Suspense Account Dr. 10,000
To Sales Account 10,000

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121 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.121

(iv) Suspense Account Dr. 270


To Customer Account 270
(v) Suspense Account Dr. 1,500
To Vehicle Account 1,200
To Profit on Sale of Vehicle Account 300
(vi) Telephone Charges Account Dr. 560
To Outstanding Expenses Account 560
(vii) Bad Debts Account Dr. 1,560
To Trade receivables Account 1,560
Provision for Doubtful Debts Account Dr. 164
To Profit and Loss Account 164
(viii) Loose Tools Account Dr. 1,200
To Purchases Account 1,200
(ix) Drawings Account Dr. 1,960
To Purchases Account 1,960

1. Bad debts will be debited in the profit and loss account.


2. Provision @ 10% of `21,560 i.e. 2,156; Excess provision `164 (2320 - 2156 = 164).
Working Notes :
(i) Trade receivables as per books 23,390
Deduction vide item (iv) 270 270
Bad Debts 1,560 1,830
21,560
(ii) Suspense Account
` `
To Return outward Account 6,160 By balance b/d 20,570
To Discount allowed Account 1,320
To Discount Received Account 1,320
To Sales Account 10,000
To Customers Account 270
To Vehicles Account 1,200
To Profit on Sale of Vehicle 300
20,570 20,570

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


2.122 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

Answer 2
Journal Entries
Particulars L.F. Dr. Cr.
` `
Suspense Account Dr. 50
To Expenses Account 50
(Being the mistake in totalling of Expenses Account,
rectified)
Suspense Account Dr. 100
To Sales Account 100
(Being the mistake in totalling of Sales Accounts rectified)
Supplier* Dr. 225
To Suspense Account 225
(Being the mistake in posting from Day Book to Ledger
rectified)
Sales Returns Account Dr. 100
To Suspense Account 100
(Being the sales return from a party not posted to “Sales
Returns” now rectified)
Trade payables Account Dr. 500
To Purchases Account 500
(Being the payments made to supplier wrongly posted to
purchases now rectified)
Trade receivables Account Dr. 100
To Suspense Account 100
(Being the sales wrongly credited to Customer’s Account
now rectified)
Suspense Account
Dr. ` Cr. `
To Expenses Account 50 By Difference in Trial Balance 150
To Sales Account 100 By Trade payables 225
To Balance c/d 425 By Sales Returns Account 100
By Trade receivables 100
575 575
By Balance b/d 425

Since the Suspense Account does not balance, it is clear that all the errors have not been traced. As a result of
the above corrections the Net Profit will be:

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


123 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.123

Increased by Decreased by
` `
Mistake in totalling in “Expenses” 50
Mistake in totalling in “Sales” 100
Mistake in posting from day book to Ledger under
“Purchases” 500
Omission in posting under “Sales Returns” 100
650 100
Net Increase 550

As a result of these adjustments, the Profits will be increased by `550.


Answer 3
Journal of Mr. A
Date Particulars L.F. Dr. Cr.
` `
2021 (i) Mrs. Mala Dr. 2,300
Mr. Lala Dr. 2,300
To Suspense A/c 4,600
(Correction of error by which a sale of ` 2,300
to Mr. Lala was posted to the Credit of Mrs. Mala)
(ii) Profit and Loss Adjustment A/c Dr. 1,240
To Suspense A/c 1,240
(Rectification of omission to post the total of
Returns Inward Book for July, 2020)
(iii) (a) Machinery A/c Dr. 5,600
Suspense A/c Dr. 900
To Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c 6,500
(Correction of error by which freight paid for
a machine ` 5,600 was posted to Freight
Account at ` 6,500 instead of capitalising it)
(b) Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c Dr. 560 560
To Plant and Machinery A/c
(Depreciation @ 10% charged on freight paid on
a machine capitalised)

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2.124 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING

(iv) Suspense A/c Dr. 8,640


To Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c 8,640
(Correction of wrong carry forward of total in the
purchase Account to the next page ` 65,590
instead of ` 56,950)
(v) Mr. Mehta Dr. 9,000
To Plant & Machinery A/c 6,750
To Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c 2,250
(Correction of omission of a sale of machine on
credit to Mr. Mehta for ` 9,000 )

Comments
The Suspense Account will now appear as shown below:
Suspense Account
Dr. Cr.
Date Particulars Amount Date Particulars Amount
` `
2021 To Profit and Loss 2020 By Balance b/d 830
Adjustment A/c 900 Oct. 1 By Sundries
To Profit and Loss Mrs. Mala 2,300
Adjustment A/c 8,640 Mr. Lala 2,300
By Profit and Loss
Adjustment A/c 1,240
By balance c/d 2,870
9,540 9,540

Since the Suspense Account still shows a balance, it is obvious that there are still some errors left in the books.
Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c
(For Prior Period Items)
Dr. Cr.
Date Particulars Amount Date Particulars Amount
2021 ` 2021 `
To Suspense A/c 1,240 By Machinery A/c 5,600
To Plant and Machinery A/c 560 By Suspense A/c 900
To Balance c/d 15,590 By Suspense A/c 8,640
By Mr. Mehta 2,250
17,390 17,390

© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India


125 ACCOUNTING PROCESS 2.125

Answer 4
Journal Entries
Particulars L.F. Dr. Cr.
` `
(i) Suspense Account Dr. 54
To Profit and Loss Adjustment A/c 54
(Correction of error by which Purchase Account was over debited
last year- `4,593 carried forward instead of `4,539)
(ii) Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c Dr. 180
Customer’s Account Dr. 1,326
To Suspense Account 1,506
(Correction of the entry by which (a) Sales A/c was over credited
by `180 (b) customer was credited by `753 instead of being
debited by `573)
(iii) Suspense Account Dr. 1,020
To Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c 1,020
(Correction of error by which Returns Inward Account was
debited by `510 instead of Returns Outwards Account being
credited by ` 510)
(iv) Suspense Account Dr. 1,240
To C. Dass 620
To G. Dass 620
(Removal or wrong debit to G. Dass and giving credit to C. Dass
from whom cash was received).
(v) Customer’s Account Dr. 840
To Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c 840
(Rectification of the error arising from non- preparation of invoice
for goods delivered)
(vi) Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c Dr. 200
Inventory Account Dr. 800
To Customer’s Account 1,000
(The Customer’s A/c credited with `1,000 for goods not yet
purchased by him; cost of the goods debited to inventory and
“Profit” debited to Profit & Loss Adjustment Account)
(vii) Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c Dr. 1,534
To Capital Account 1,534
(Transfer of Profit & Loss Adjustment A/c balance to the Capital
Account)

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