Accounting Process: Unit - 1 Basic Accounting Procedures - Journal Entries
Accounting Process: Unit - 1 Basic Accounting Procedures - Journal Entries
Accounting Process: Unit - 1 Basic Accounting Procedures - Journal Entries
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
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 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.
CASH
Increase Decrease
(2) 14,00,000
CREDITORS
Decrease Increase
(2) 14,00,000
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.
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
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
` ` ` ` `
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.
(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;
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:
SOLUTION
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
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.
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
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
`
Capital ?
Loan 11,500
Trade payables 5,800
Fixed Assets 12,720
Inventory 22,900
Trade receivables 17,500
Cash at Bank 15,600
SOLUTION
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
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
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.
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)
(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:
(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:
(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:
(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:
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:
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
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.
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
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
ILLUSTRATION 7
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)
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.
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 ?
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
LEARNING OUTCOMES
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).
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.
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
SOLUTION
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.
SOLUTION
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
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.
SOLUTION
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.
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.
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).
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.
(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
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
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:
(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.
Principal Books
Ledger
For Credit
Purchase Book
Purchase
For Credit
Sales Book
Sales
For Bills
Bill Payable Book
Accepted
For record of
Journal Paper
transactions
not recorded
elsewhere
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.
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.
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 `
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
Note : Cash sale and sale of furniture are not entered in Sales Book.
6 Copies-Double Entry
Total 41.30
ILLUSTRATION 4
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
(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 :
SOLUTION
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.
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.
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
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)
LEARNING OUTCOMES
UNIT OVERVIEW
Subsidiary
book as
well as
Principal
book
Two
column
cash book
ILLUSTRATION 1
SOLUTION
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.
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.
(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
SOLUTION
Date Receipts L.F. Discount Cash Bank Date Payments L.F. Discount Cash Bank
` ` ` ` ` `
2020 2020
25 To Cash C 1,000
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.
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
SOLUTION
Wages 6.00
Repairs 15.00
General Expenses 5.00
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
LEARNING OUTCOMES
UNIT OVERVIEW
Errors of
Principal
Compensating
Errors
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.
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.
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
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.
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:
(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:
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)
ILLUSTRATION 3
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
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.
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.
(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
(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.”
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.
(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
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
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:
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)
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.
(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
Note : Entries No. (2) and (8) may even be omitted; but this is not advocated.
Profit and Loss Adjustment Account
(Prior Period Items)
` `
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
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.
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.
(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?
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.
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
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:
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
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
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)