Journal Entries
Analyzing transactions and recording them as journal entries is the first step in the accounting cycle. It begins at the start of an accounting period and continues throughout the period. Transaction analysis is a process that determines whether a particular business event has an economic effect on the assets, liabilities or equity of the business. It also involves ascertaining the magnitude of the transaction i.e. its currency value.
After analyzing transactions, accountants classify and record the events having an economic effect via journal entries according to debit-credit rules. Frequent journal entries are usually recorded in specialized journals, for example, sales journal and purchases journal. The rest are recorded in a general journal.
The following example illustrates how to record journal entries:
Example
Company A was incorporated on January 1, 20X0 with an initial capital of 5,000 shares of common stock having $20 par value. During the first month of its operations, the company engaged in the following transactions:
| Date | Transaction |
|---|---|
| Jan 2 | An amount of $36,000 was paid as advance rent for three months. |
| Jan 3 | Paid $60,000 cash on the purchase of equipment costing $80,000. The remaining amount was recognized as a one year note payable with an interest rate of 9%. |
| Jan 4 | Purchased office supplies costing $17,600 on account. |
| Jan 13 | Provided services to its customers and received $28,500 in cash. |
| Jan 13 | Paid the accounts payable on the office supplies purchased on January 4. |
| Jan 14 | Paid wages to its employees for the first two weeks of January, aggregating $19,100. |
| Jan 18 | Provided $54,100 worth of services to its customers. They paid $32,900 and promised to pay the remaining amount. |
| Jan 23 | Received $15,300 from customers for the services provided on January 18. |
| Jan 25 | Received $4,000 as an advance payment from customers. |
| Jan 26 | Purchased office supplies costing $5,200 on account. |
| Jan 28 | Paid wages to its employees for the third and fourth week of January: $19,100. |
| Jan 31 | Paid $5,000 as dividends. |
| Jan 31 | Received an electricity bill of $2,470. |
| Jan 31 | Received a telephone bill of $1,494. |
| Jan 31 | Miscellaneous expenses paid during the month totaled $3,470 |
The following table shows the journal entries for the above transactions.
| Date | Account | Debit | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Cash | 100,000 | |
| Common Stock | 100,000 | ||
| Jan 2 | Prepaid Rent | 36,000 | |
| Cash | 36,000 | ||
| Jan 3 | Equipment | 80,000 | |
| Cash | 60,000 | ||
| Notes Payable | 20,000 | ||
| Jan 4 | Office Supplies | 17,600 | |
| Accounts Payable | 17,600 | ||
| Jan 13 | Cash | 28,500 | |
| Service Revenue | 28,500 | ||
| Jan 13 | Accounts Payable | 17,600 | |
| Cash | 17,600 | ||
| Jan 14 | Wages Expense | 19,100 | |
| Cash | 19,100 | ||
| Jan 18 | Cash | 32,900 | |
| Accounts Receivable | 21,200 | ||
| Service Revenue | 54,100 | ||
| Jan 23 | Cash | 15,300 | |
| Accounts Receivable | 15,300 | ||
| Jan 25 | Cash | 4,000 | |
| Unearned Revenue | 4,000 | ||
| Jan 26 | Office Supplies | 5,200 | |
| Accounts Payable | 5,200 | ||
| Jan 28 | Wages Expense | 19,100 | |
| Cash | 19,100 | ||
| Jan 31 | Dividends | 5,000 | |
| Cash | 5,000 | ||
| Jan 31 | Electricity Expense | 2,470 | |
| Utilities Payable | 2,470 | ||
| Jan 31 | Telephone Expense | 1,494 | |
| Utilities Payable | 1,494 | ||
| Jan 31 | Miscellaneous Expense | 3,470 | |
| Cash | 3,470 |
At the end of the period, all the journal for the period are posted to the ledger accounts.
by Irfanullah Jan, ACCA and last modified on