N
The Daily Insight Hub

How do you fix a suspense account?

Author

Rachel Davis

Updated on January 01, 2026

When debits and credits don’t match, hold the difference in a suspense account until you correct it. If the credits in the trial balance are larger than debits, record the difference as a debit. If the debits are larger than credits, record the difference as a credit.

How do you rectify the errors when a suspense account has already been opened?

We can rectify these errors by giving an explanatory note in the account or by passing a journal entry with the help of Suspense A/c. When we detect an error before posting to the ledger, we can correct it by simply crossing the wrong amount, writing the correct amount above it and initializing it.

Which type of error is corrected using a suspense account?

Effectively a posting error – the suspense account is again involved. A trial balance error must affect the suspense account – but no ledger entry. This one needs thought. Take it one sentence at a time.

How do you correct an error in an accounting journal?

Accountants must make correcting entries when they find errors. There are two ways to make correcting entries: reverse the incorrect entry and then use a second journal entry to record the transaction correctly, or make a single journal entry that, when combined with the original but incorrect entry, fixes the error.

What is the journal entry for suspense account?

An entry into a suspense account may be a debit or a credit. It is useful to have a suspense account, rather than not recording transactions at all until there is sufficient information available to create an entry to the correct account(s).

What is an error of principle give two examples?

For example, if the purchase of furniture is treated as an ordinary purchase and is thus debited to purchase account instead of furniture account, it will be an error of principle. For example, if the amount spent on the repair of an old machinery is debited to the machinery account instead of the repairs account.

What are some examples of non counterbalancing errors?

Non-Counterbalancing Errors: Errors that take more than one period to correct themselves. e.g. Immediately expensing construction project avoidable interest instead of capitalizing into the asset. Understates net income in current period and overstates net income over depreciable life of asset.

How do you balance your balance sheet?

Add Total Liabilities to Total Shareholders’ Equity and Compare to Assets. To ensure the balance sheet is balanced, it will be necessary to compare total assets against total liabilities plus equity. To do this, you’ll need to add liabilities and shareholders’ equity together.

How do you create a suspense account in rectification of errors?

How do you fix a mistake without opening a suspense account?

Rectification without Suspense account: (i) Purchase a/c should be debited with Rs. 1000. [Wrong debit to machinery a/c rectified.] (iii) Geetha’s a/c should be credited with Rs.

Is suspense account an asset or expense?

The suspense account is classified as a current asset, since it is most commonly used to store payments related to accounts receivable. It is possible to also have a liability suspense account, to contain accounts payable whose disposition is still being decided.

How is a correcting entry made in a suspense account?

To make the trial balance balance a single entry is posted to the accounting ledgers in a suspense account. When the accounting error is identified a correcting entry is made. Suppose the difference was an addition error on the rent account, then the correcting entry would be as follows:

How does a journal entry correct an accounting error?

Often, adding a journal entry (known as a “correcting entry”) will fix an accounting error. The journal entry adjusts the retained earnings (profit minus expenses) for a certain accounting period. Correcting entries are part of the accrual accounting system, which uses double-entry bookkeeping.

What are the errors in the Suspense accounts?

Error of original entry: The correct double entry has been made but with the wrong amount, e.g. a cash sale of $76 has been recorded as $67. Reversal of entries: The correct amount has been posted to the correct accounts but on the wrong side, e.g. a cash sale of $200 has been debited to sales and credited to bank.

What do you do when you make an accounting error?

Adding a journal entry may be enough to correct an accounting error. This type of journal entry is called a “correcting entry.” Correcting entries adjust an accounting period’s retained earnings i.e. your profit minus expenses. Correcting entries are part of the accrual accounting system, which uses double-entry bookkeeping.