Do journal entries have to have an equal dollar amount of debits and credits?
Matthew Harrington
Updated on February 11, 2026
Remembering (1) in each journal entry the total dollar amount of debits must equal the total dollar amount of credits and (2) assets increase with debits, how is the October 6 purchase of supplies recorded in the general journal? The required credit of $400 would be to accounts payable, which is a liability.
When the total of debits and credits are equal?
For a general ledger to be balanced, credits and debits must be equal. Debits increase asset, expense, and dividend accounts, while credits decrease them. Credits increase liability, revenue, and equity accounts, while debits decrease them.
How are debits and credits calculated?
The extended accounting equation is as follows: Assets + Expenses = Equity/Capital + Liabilities + Income, A + Ex = E + L + I. In this form, increases to the amount of accounts on the left-hand side of the equation are recorded as debits, and decreases as credits.
How is the balance of an account determined?
How is the balance of an account determined? The balance of an account is determined by the difference between the total debit and credit amounts.
What does it mean if an account has an exceptional balance?
Having an opposite balance doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a mistake, but it should definitely be checked out. Transaction that could cause an exceptional account balance: your business overpays an account payable. a customer with no account balance returns unsatisfactory merchandise for credit.
How to determine the difference between debits and credits?
Determine the difference between debits and credits, divide the amount by 9, and if it divides evenly, look for a transposition or slide error. c. Determine the difference between debits and credits, divide the amount by 2, and look for the amount. d.
Where do I find the debit and credit balances on a ledger?
(2) List the accounts from the ledger and enter their debit or credit balance in the Debit or Credit column of the trial balance. (3) List the name of the company, the title of the trial balance, and the date the trial balance is prepared. (4) Total the Debit and Credit columns of the trial balance.
How to do debit and credit in an accounting exam?
(1) Verify that the total of the Debit column equals the total of the Credit column. (2) List the accounts from the ledger and enter their debit or credit balance in the Debit or Credit column of the trial balance. (3) List the name of the company, the title of the trial balance, and the date the trial balance is prepared.
How to prepare a trial balance for accounting?
Prepare a trial balance. The total of the debits is (1) Verify that the total of the Debit column equals the total of the Credit column. (2) List the accounts from the ledger and enter their debit or credit balance in the Debit or Credit column of the trial balance.