CONTENTS
In double entry accounting, rather than using a single column for each account and entering some numbers as positive and others as negative, we use two columns for each account and enter only positive numbers. Whether the entry increases or decreases the account is determined by choice of the column in which it is entered. Entries in the left column are referred to as debits, and entries in the right column are referred to as credits.
Two accounts always are affected by each transaction, and one of those entries must be a debit and the other must be a credit of equal amount. Actually, more than two accounts can be used if the transaction is spread among them, just as long as the sum of debits for the transaction equals the sum of credits for it.
The double entry accounting system provides a system of checks and balances. By summing up all of the debits and summing up all of the credits and comparing the two totals, one can detect and have the opportunity to correct many common types of bookkeeping errors.
To avoid confusion over debits and credits, avoid thinking of them in the way that they are used in everyday language, which often refers to a credit as increasing an account and a debit as decreasing an account. For example, if our bank credits our checking account, money is added to it and the balance increases. In accounting terms, however, if a transaction causes a company's checking account to be credited, its balance decreases. Moreover, crediting another company account such as accounts payable will increase its balance. Without further explanation, it is no wonder that there often is confusion between debits and credits.
The confusion can be eliminated by remembering one thing. In accounting, the verbs "debit" and "credit" have the following meanings:
Debit "Enter in the left column of" |
Credit "Enter in the right column of" |
Thats all. Debit refers to the left column; credit refers to the right column. To debit the cash account simply means to enter the value in the left column of the cash account. There are no deeper meanings with which to be concerned.
The reason for the apparent inconsistency when comparing everyday language to accounting language is that from the bank customer's perspective, a checking account is an asset account. From the bank's perspective, the customer's account appears on the balance sheet as a liability account, and a liability account's balance is increased by crediting it. In common use, we use the terminology from the perspective of the bank's books, hence the apparent inconsistency.
Whether a debit or a credit increases or decreases an account balance depends on the type of account. Asset and expense accounts are increased on the debit side, and liability, equity, and revenue accounts are increased on the credit side. The following chart serves as a graphical reference for increasing and decreasing account balances:
Assets | = | Liabilities | + | Owner's Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Subscribe to Paperfree Magazine
EB5 visa Consultants by Paperfree EB5 Program
Get dedicated service, from finding the right information to complex investment challenges.
Real estate investment strategies
Multifamily investment strategy to boost investment portfolio returns.
Diversify in multifamily investment strategy to lower volatility and boost portfolio returns.
Value add real estate strategy helps investors drive capital growth.
The value add real estate strategy's first goal is capital growth, the second goal is some income. The strategy works with all property types
Investing in senior housing. Invest in senior housing real estate to drive stable returns.
Senior living investments will create social impact on the market with strong fundamentals: growing demand, resilience to economic cycles.
Invest in build to rent investment funds
Build to rent investment funds for passive real estate investing.
Invest In Real Estate Private Equity
Discover diverse private equity real estate investment opportunities.
Core real estate investment strategy to drive income vs capital growth
Core Real Estate Strategy is one of the most conservative modern real estate investment strategies focusing primarily on income.
Passive real estate investing, best investment strategies, opportunities and more.
Passive real estate investing allow you to be a silent partner in large-scale real estate investments that can produce earnings and return on investment.
Invest in Syndication Real Estate
Investing in real estate syndicates as a part of alternative investments strategy
Investing in apartment buildings
Apartment investments are a sound investment option for numerous investment strategies.
Multifamily fund
Multifamily funds have one of the highest average annual returns of all real estate investments. Find private and public multifamily investment funds below.
Multifamily value add strategy
The main attribute of the multifamily value add strategy is the focus on capital growth. The investment strategy has a median risk profile.
Core plus investment strategy real estate to generate income
Core Plus Strategy focus to generate income based on mid-low risk profile. Learn more.
Opportunistic real estate investment
Opportunistic real estate investment strategy drives capital growth with heights risk of default.
EB5 investment projects list
Find the best fit for your immigration strategy and investment goals for EB5 projects in USA local markets.
Value add real estate funds
Value add real estate funds aim to increase cash flow and value by buying and improving underutilized assets, potentially yielding higher returns than traditional real estate investments.