The Book-keepers Forum (BKF)

Post Info TOPIC: errors-accounts with debit balances


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 396
Date:
errors-accounts with debit balances
Permalink Closed


Hi guys Let's say I took 1000 pounds loan. My entries should be : Bank Dr 1000 Loan Cr 1000 Unfortunately error was made and my entries are : Bank Dr 1000 Loan Cr 100 Trial balance will disclose this error immediately cause there is difference on credit side of equation when compared to debit side of equation. What if transaction is entered on accounts with debit balances only ? I bought office equipment for 500 pounds and paid with debit card. I have an increase on assets account for 500 pounds ( account with debit balance ) and decrease on bank account for the same amount ( account with debit balance ). Both accounts have alwys debit balances. Unfortunately error was made and transaction was entered like this : Office equipment Dr 500 Bank Cr 50 I only have entries on debit side of accounting equation here. How trial balance can disclose this error if I don't have any entries on credit side of accounting equation ? ( when I say 'credit side of equation' I mean accounts with credit balances-liabilities, income, capital )

__________________


Master Book-keeper

Status: Offline
Posts: 8646
Date:
Permalink Closed

Just to check - are you back on the manual bookkeeping course?

First off - be very careful with your 'credit side of the equation' definition. EG income is mostly a credit entry - that much is true. BUT there are cicrumstances when a debit entry is required and the adjustments needed is just one example.

If you enter ONLY the debit balances then the TB will show an imbalance. So you would enter a suspense balance to make it balance and then you can then go off and hunt for the reason why.

If two things are entered on the debit side instead of one debit and one credit - you will get an imbalance.

Re your example (1)

I bought office equipment for 500 pounds and paid with debit card. I have an increase on assets account for 500 pounds ( account with debit balance ) and decrease on bank account for the same amount ( account with debit balance ).

The debit card entry will be a credit balance. But if you debited it in error then you would have to correct the original wrong entry (so 1 x £500 credit entry to the Bank) and then enter the correct credit entry (so a secoond £500 credit entry via the Bank). Your balancing entry will be the suspense account, the opposite of where you would have posted to get the TB to balance in the first place.

Re your example (2)
Office equipment Dr 500 Bank Cr 50

So here you will have an imblanace of £450 on the TB. So you would have to move that to suspense so your TB balances (credit suspense £450). Then to correct it - credit bank with the difference £450 and debit suspense £450.

Always either draw it up as a mini TB. Or better still - write it down in three ways via a T account:-

1) What you did (the wrong oway)
2) What entries you should have done
then
3) What you need to do to put it right.

As you work through this T account process it becomes plainer how to correct it.

__________________

 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position



Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 396
Date:
Permalink Closed

Cheshire wrote:

Just to check - are you back on the manual bookkeeping course?

First off - be very careful with your 'credit side of the equation' definition. EG income is mostly a credit entry - that much is true. BUT there are cicrumstances when a debit entry is required and the adjustments needed is just one example.

If you enter ONLY the debit balances then the TB will show an imbalance. So you would enter a suspense balance to make it balance and then you can then go off and hunt for the reason why.

If two things are entered on the debit side instead of one debit and one credit - you will get an imbalance.

Re your example (1)

I bought office equipment for 500 pounds and paid with debit card. I have an increase on assets account for 500 pounds ( account with debit balance ) and decrease on bank account for the same amount ( account with debit balance ).

The debit card entry will be a credit balance. But if you debited it in error then you would have to correct the original wrong entry (so 1 x £500 credit entry to the Bank) and then enter the correct credit entry (so a secoond £500 credit entry via the Bank). Your balancing entry will be the suspense account, the opposite of where you would have posted to get the TB to balance in the first place.

Re your example (2)
Office equipment Dr 500 Bank Cr 50

So here you will have an imblanace of £450 on the TB. So you would have to move that to suspense so your TB balances (credit suspense £450). Then to correct it - credit bank with the difference £450 and debit suspense £450.

Always either draw it up as a mini TB. Or better still - write it down in three ways via a T account:-

1) What you did (the wrong oway)
2) What entries you should have done
then
3) What you need to do to put it right.

As you work through this T account process it becomes plainer how to correct it.


thanks for reply, As I learn sage I want to learn how to correct errors in sage so some material I covered in manual bookkeeping course comes back to my mind. I mentioned transcaction in my example that involves entries on accounts that have debit balances. I have troubles to think of corresponding entries on accounts that have credit entries.

-- Edited by rafapak on Saturday 1st of April 2017 04:25:56 PM

__________________


Master Book-keeper

Status: Offline
Posts: 8646
Date:
Permalink Closed

Glad I asked - the think with sage is:-

The only time you can really have two non balancing double entries such as the ones you mention is if you try to use the journal entry method. This though would flag up that they dont balance and ouldnt let you post them until they are balanced. Besides the fact that for most entries you would not be doing it via the journal screen.

Usually when you are say using the Bank screen - you will be eg paying for an item. So take your purchase of office equipment - on the bank payment option you would enter it as £500 to be paid from the bank. Then you choose the fixed asset nominal code and the £500 is auto posted to that account.

You can go wrong so care is an absolute must with Sage, but its rare you will encounter the situations you mention above.

__________________

 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position



Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 396
Date:
Permalink Closed

thanks for reply

__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
©2007-2024 The Book-keepers Forum (BKF). All Rights Reserved. The Book-keepers Forum (BKF) is a trading division of Bookcert Ltd. Registered in England Company Number 05782923. 2 Laurel House, 1 Station Rd, Worle, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, BS22 6AR, United Kingdom. The Book-keepers Forum and BKF are trademarks of Bookcert Ltd. This forum is a discussion forum only. There will usually be more than one opinion to any question and any posting should not be viewed as a definitive solution. No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any posting on this site is accepted by the contributors or The Book-keepers Forum. In all cases, appropriate professional advice should be sought before making a decision. We reserve the right to remove any postings which are offensive, libellous, self-promoting or engaged in covert marketing. We will not notify users of removals. The views expressed in the forum posts are those of the individual and do not necessary reflect or agree with those of The Book-keepers Forum. Any offensive or unsuitable posts will be removed by the moderators. Any reader of this forum can request for a post to be looked into by sending an email to: bookcertltd@gmail.com.

Privacy & Cookie Policy  About