Debit And Credit Accounts
In accounting, debits and credits are entries used to record transactions and track the flow of money within a business or organization. Debits generally increase asset and expense accounts, while credits generally increase liability, equity, and revenue accounts.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Debits:
- Increase: Debits increase asset, expense, and dividend accounts.
- Decrease: Debits decrease liability, equity, and revenue accounts.
- Recording: Debits are typically recorded on the left side of a T-account or ledger.
- Example: When a company receives cash from a sale, the Cash account (an asset) is debited to reflect the increase in cash.
Credits:
- Increase: Credits increase liability, equity, and revenue accounts.
- Decrease: Credits decrease asset, expense, and dividend accounts.
- Recording: Credits are typically recorded on the right side of a T-account or ledger.
- Example: If a company pays a bill, the Cash account (an asset) is credited to reflect the decrease in cash.
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Double-Entry Bookkeeping:
Debits and credits are fundamental to double-entry bookkeeping, where every transaction is recorded with at least one debit and one credit.
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Balance Sheet:
Debits and credits ensure that the balance sheet (Assets = Liabilities + Equity) remains balanced.
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Income Statement:
Debits and credits also ensure that the income statement (Revenues - Expenses = Net Income) is accurate.
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Equal Debits and Credits:
The total debits in a transaction must equal the total credits.
In essence, debits and credits are the two sides of every financial transaction, ensuring that the accounting equation remains balanced and that the flow of money within a business is accurately tracked.