Definition

The trial balance is a list of all the closing balances of the general ledger at the end of the year. Or in other words, I can say that it is a statement showing debit and credit balances.

A trial balance is prepared on a particular date and not on a particular period.

Importance

As the trial balance is prepared at the end of the year so it is important for the preparation of financial statements like balance sheet or profit and loss

Purpose of trial balance which are as follows:

• • To verify the arithmetical accuracy of the ledger accounts
  • This means trial balance indicates that equal debits and credits have been recorded in the ledger accounts.
  • It enables one to establish whether the posting and other accounting processes have been carried out without any arithmetical errors.

• • To help in locating errors
  • There can be some errors if the trial balance is untallied therefore to get error-free financial statements trial balance is prepared.

• • To facilitates the preparation of financial statements
  • A trial balance helps us to directly prepare the financial statements and then which gives us the right to not look or no need to refer to the ledger accounts.

Preparation of trial balance

• • To verify the correctness of the posting of ledger accounts in the terms of debit credit amounts periodically, a periodic trial balance may be prepared ( say ) at the end of the month or quarter, or half year.
• • There is no point in denying that a trial balance can be prepared at any time.
• • But it should at least be prepared at the end of the accounting period to verify the arithmetical accuracy of the ledger accounts before the preparation of financial statements.

Methods of preparation

• Balance method
• Total amount methods

These are two methods that you can use to prepare trail balance, now let me explain to you in detail about these methods which are as follows:-

Balance method

• The balances of all the accounts ( including cash and bank account ) are incorporated in the trial balance.
• When ledger accounts are balanced only this method can be used.
• This method is generally used by accountants for preparation of the financial statements.

Total amount method

• Under this method, the total amount of debit and credit items in each ledger account is incorporated into the trial balance.
• This method can be used immediately after the completion of posting from the books of the original entry ledger.

Steps to prepare a trial balance

• First, we need to decide the method to opt for the preparation of the trial balance which is mentioned above.
• Then once opted, collect all the balances as per the method adopted and prepare accordingly by posting the debit and credit side of the trial balance.
• After this process arrange all the accounts in order of their nature (assets, liabilities, equity, income, and expenses ).
• Then you have to total debit and credit balances separately.
• After the above steps if there is any difference between the total debit and credit side balances then that is adjusted through the suspense account.

A suspense account is generated when the above case arises that is trial balance did not agree after transferring the balance of all ledger accounts including cash and bank balance.

And also errors are not located in  timely, then the trial balance is tallied by transferring the difference between the debit and credit side to an account known as a suspense account.

Rules of trial balance

When we prepare a trial balance from the given list of ledger balances, the following rules to be kept in mind that are as follows :

• The balance of all
• Assets accounts
• Expenses accounts
• Losses
• Drawings
• Cash and bank balances

Are placed in the debit column of the trial balance.

• The balances of
• liabilities accounts
• income accounts
• profits
• capital

Are placed in the credit column of the trial balance.