Under the double entry system, every financial transactions of a business has a double effect. That is, each transaction involves at least two accounts. One aspect of the transaction is debited in an account and the other credited in another account. The debiting and crediting of the accounts are done on the basis of certain rules. These rules are called rules of journalizing i.e debit and credit. There are two alternative bases for the rules of debit and credit such as follows.
1. Rules Of Debit And Credit Based On The Types Of Account
2. Rules Of Debit And credit Based On The Accounting Equation
1. Rules Of Debit And Credit Based On The Types Of Account
2. Rules Of Debit And credit Based On The Accounting Equation
1. Rules Of Debit And Credit Based On The Types Of Account
Under double-entry system an account is classified into three types. They are personal account, real account and nominal account. For each of these types of account, there are three separate rules of debiting and crediting the financial transactions. The rules of debit and credit under different types of account are as follows.
A. Personal Account
Personal account is a account of a person. A person can be a natural person such as people like us, an artificial person such as firms, organizations and institutions and a representative person such as debtors and creditors. Since a person, be it a natural, artificial or representative, can be the receiver of benefits or giver of benefits, the rule of debiting and crediting the account of the person is as follows:
* Debit the receiver of benefits
* Credit the giver of benefits
This rule states that whenever a person receives benefits is debited by the amount of the benefit received. On the contrary, whenever the person gives the benefits is credited by the amount of benefits given. For example, if cash is paid to Michael (Michael is a natural person), his account (Michael's account) is debited since he is the receiver of the benefit (cash). If cash is received from City Enterprises (City Enterprises is an artificial person), its account (City enterprises account) is credited because it is the giver of benefits (cash).
B. Real Account
Real account is a record of an asset. An asset can be current asset such as cash, a fixed asset such as building and intangible asset such as goodwill. Since an asset, is a current, fixed or an intangible asset , can either come in the business through its purchase or go out of the business through its sales, the rule of debiting and crediting the real (asset) account is as follows:
* Debit what comes in
* Credit what goes out
This rule states that whenever some benefit in the form of asset come into the business through its purchase, its (asset) account is debited. Conversely, whenever some benefit in the form of asset goes out of the business through its sales, its (asset) account is credited. For example, if cash is invested in the business, cash (current asset) account is debited by the amount of cash. If furniture is purchased for cash, furniture (fixed asset) account is debited because it comes into and cash (current asset) account is credited because it goes out from the business in exchange for furniture.
C. Nominal Account
Nominal account is a record of expense or loss or income or gain. An expense or loss is the sacrifice of benefits in exchange for service used and an income or gain is the benefit earned in exchange for service rendered. Since the business makes expenses and earns incomes, the rule of debiting and crediting the expense and income (nominal) account is as follows:
* Debit all expenses and losses
* Credit all incomes and gains
This rule states that whenever some benefit is sacrificed in exchange for service used ( expense made or loss suffered), its (expense) account is debited. On other hand, whenever some benefit is earned in exchange for service rendered, its (income or gain) account is credited. For example, when salary is paid, an expense is made by the business, therefore salary account is debited. On the other hand , when interest is received, an income is earned by the business, hence, interest received account is credited.
2. Rules Of Debit And Credit Based On The Accounting Equation
Accounting equation is a statement of equality between the three basic elements of accounting. They are assets, capital and liabilities. Each and every financial transaction affects the three basic elements. However, the total of all assets is always equal to the total of capital and liabilities at any point in time. The rules of debiting and crediting an account based on the accounting equation can be summarized in the following way.
S.N...............Effect of Transactions........................................Debit or Credit
1...................Increase in assets and expenses/losses...........Debit
2...................Decrease in assets and expenses/losses...........Credit
3...................Increase in capital,liabilities,income/gains........Credit
4...................Decrease in capital,liabilities,income/gains........debit