Principles of Double Entry System

For every transaction there are two aspects. One is called Debit and the other is called Credit. The debit and credit aspects of a transaction are to be identified based on the principles of double entry system of accounting.

Debit refers to entering an amount on the left side of an account and Credit means to enter an amount on the right side of an account. The abbreviated form of Dr. Stands for Debit and Cr. Stands for Credit. Rules of debit and credit is based on dual aspect concept i.e. every transaction has Debit effect and an equivalent credit effect.

Before deciding which account is to be debited or credited, it is necessary to decide the nature of accounts which are influenced by the business transactions.

The rules of Debit and Credit are given below

Personal Accounts: (Natural Persons and Artificial Person)

Rule    : Debit the Receiver

              Credit the Giver

According to the above principle, the benefit receiver’s account is to be debited and and the benefit giver’s account is to be credited.  

For Examples:

1. Goods purchased from Ramesh on credit for 2,000

The two accounts involved in this transaction are goods purchased A/c and Ramesh A/c. so, Ramesh is the Giver of the goods. Hence Ramesh account is be credit (i.e. credit the giver rule applies) goods purchased is expenditure, so nominal account, hence is to be debited.

2. Goods sold on credit to Mahesh Rs. 5,000/-

In this transaction Mahesh is receiving the benefit from the business. Hence, Mahesh account is to be debited and goods sold is an income, so nominal account hence to be credited.

3. Cash paid to Mohan Rs. 500

In this transaction cash ( asset – real account) is going out and Mohan (personal – personal A/c) is receiving cash. Hence Mohan account is to be debited and cash account is to be credit.

4. Cash received from Sathish Rs. 800

In this transaction Sathish (person) giving cash and cash (real A/c) is coming into business. Here Sathish is the giver. Hence, his account is to be credited.

Real Accounts:(Assets)

Rule    : Debit What comes in

              Credit what goes out

According to real accounts principle, when an assets is received by the business, the asset account is to be debited, when any asset goes out of the business, the asset account is to be credited. 

For example:

1. Purchased office furniture for Rs. 10,000.

In this transaction office furniture (asset – Real A/c) is coming in and cash (asset – Real A/c) is going out. Hence, office furniture account is to be debited and cash account is to be credited.

2. Received cash from Shankar Rs. 2,000.

In this transaction cash (asset – Real account) is coming in and Shankar (personal A/c) is the giver. Hence, cash A/c is to be debited.

3. Cash paid to Manoj Rs. 1,000.

In this transaction cash (asset) is going out and Manoj (personal A/c) is receiving cash. Hence, cash A/c is to be credited and Manoh account is to be debited.

4. Old Machine (asset) sold for Rs. 600.

In this transaction cash (asset) is coming in and Machine (asset) is going out. Hence, cash A/c is to be debited and Machine account is to be credited.

Nominal Accounts: (Expenses, Losses, Incomes, Gains)

Rule    : Debit all Expenses and Losses.

              Credit all Incomes and Gains.

According to normal account principle, expenses and losses are to be debited and all incomes and gains of the business are to be credited. 

For example.

1. Salaries paid Rs. 5000

In this transaction salaries (expenditure-nominal A/c) is an item of expenditure and cash (real A/c) is going out.

Hence, Salaries A/c is to be debited and cash A/c is to be credited.

2. Rent Received Rs. 200

In this transaction, cash (Real A/c) received is asset and rent received is income. Hence rent A/c being income to be credited and cash A/c is to be debited.

3. Goods purchased for Rs.8000

In this transaction goods purchased is expenditure (nominal A/c) and cash (asset) paid is real A/c. Hence, Goods purchased account is to be debited and cash A/c is to be credited.

4. Goods sold for Rs. 10,000

In this transaction cash (asset) received is real A/c and goods sold (income) is nominal A/c. Hence, goods sold account is to be credited and cash A/c is to be debited.