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 in a specific period. Types of error in theRead more
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 in a specific period.
Types of error in the trial balance
Now let me explain to you that what are the errors of trail balance which are as follows :
• Error of principle
• Compensating error
• Transactions completely omitted
• Error of recording
• Error of posting
A trial balance is not conclusive proof of the accuracy of the books of accounts since certain types of errors remain even when it tallies. They are explained below :
Error of principle
This error arises due to the incorrect application of the principle of accounting is not disclosed by the trial balance.
Compensating error
It means the group of errors committed in such a way that one mistake is compensated by another and the trial balance still agrees.
Transaction completely omitted
When the transaction is entirely omitted from recording in the books of account cannot be detected.
Error of recording
When both aspects of recording a transaction twice in the books of account take place.
Error of posting
Posting the correct amount on the correct side but in the wrong account is not reflected in the trial balance.
Steps to locate errors
Differences in the trial balance, howsoever minor they may be, must be located and rectified. The following steps are useful in locating errors are :
• Two columns of the trial balance should be totaled again.
• The list of sundry debtors and creditors should be checked to find out whether all balances of debtors and creditors have been correctly written in the trial balance or not.
• It should be checked that the balances of every account including cash and bank balances ( from the cash book ) have been written in the correct column of the trial balance.
• If the errors remain undetected, try to locate the errors by trial and error techniques such as finding an account showing a balance difference from the trial balance.
• Ledger balances should be balanced again.
• Check the totals of subsidiary books.
• Check the posting of nominal accounts.
• And at last if not possible to locate the difference in the trial balance is temporarily transferred to a suspense account.
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 sheets or profit and loss.
Purpose of trial balance
• 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 facilitate 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.
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.
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Yes, the account receivable is a sub ledger account. It is an account that is used to record the payment history of each and every customer to whom the business has sold goods or provided services on credit. Accounts receivable represent the amount that the customers owe to the business with respectRead more
Yes, the account receivable is a sub ledger account. It is an account that is used to record the payment history of each and every customer to whom the business has sold goods or provided services on credit.
Accounts receivable represent the amount that the customers owe to the business with respect to the goods sold or services provided to them on credit. They are also known as trade receivable or debtors.
The accounts receivable subledger shows various details of every transaction like the invoice number, amount due, date of payment, discount allowed etc. The subledger accounts are also known as the subsidiary accounts.
Difference between general ledger and subledger accounts
Here is a list of the major differences between sub-ledgers and the general ledger:
Importance/ use of Subsidiary Account
The usefulness of an accounts receivable sub ledger account lies in the fact that it provides detailed information about the money different customers owe to the business.
For example, the general ledger account may show that the total balance of trade receivable is 1 lakh without indicating the individual amount that each customer owes to the business. The subsidiary account can help us by showing that customer A owes 50000 rupees, customer B owes 30000 rupees while customer C owes 20000 rupees.
In short, the subsidiary accounts provide detailed information about each and every transaction. They help us to find useful information quickly and easily. They help us analyze the business policies and take corrective actions.
Thus, we can conclude that accounts receivable is a subledger account that provides us detailed information about the various credit transactions and the amount that each customer owes to the business. It helps us analyze our credit policies and take corrective actions. It helps us identify and classify bad debts as such on
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