Let us recollect what we were going through

What is the basic purpose of accounting??

Derivation of Information

What is targeted to be achieved through the accounting process?

Collecting all the information relating to an element at a single place.

What were we trying to do?

We were trying to know about the mechanism that would enable us to achieve the target of collecting all the information relating to an element at a single place.

What did we learn till now?

We learnt

• Three concepts of accounting
  • Money Measurement Concept
  • Separate Entity Concept
  • Dual Entity Concept
• Elements or accounting heads
• Types or nature of accounts (real, personal and nominal)

What next?

We would be learning about the rules or principles of debit and credit that would be one of the keys to enable us to achieve of our target of collecting all the information relating to an element at a single place.

By analysing a transaction, we identify the two elements affected by the transaction, identify the nature or type of each element and then decide which element is to be debited and which is to be credited by applying the rules of debit and credit.

Debit and Credit are two actions of opposing nature that are relevant to the process of accounting.

Debiting an account and crediting an account are the two actions that are the result of an accounting transaction. We either debit an account or credit an account in relation to an accounting transaction but not both.

They are as fundamental to accounting as addition (+) and subtraction (−) are to mathematics. Trying to apply this mathematical analogy in all cases would give a distorted meaning. It would not be appropriate to consider debit to be an equivalent of addition and credit to be an equivalent of subtraction or vice versa.

We just need to understand that debit and credit are two actions that are opposite in nature.

An element (account head) that is effected by an accounting transaction is either debited or credited, with an amount that is reflected in the transaction, depending on the nature of the account and the rule applicable to it.

• A purchase of Furniture worth 10,000 for Cash.

  This transaction would result in

  1. Furniture a/c being debited by an amount of 10,000 and
  2. Cash a/c being credited by a similar amount.
• A payment of 5,000 received from Mr. Narayan by Cheque.

  This transaction would result in

  1. Mr. Narayan a/c being credited to the extent of 5,000 and
  2. The Bank a/c being debited with a similar amount.

The total process of accounting is driven by

• The dual entity concept
• The nature of the accounts and
• The rules/principles of debit and credit

All the account heads used in the accounting system of an organisation are classified under one of the three heads Real, Personal and Nominal. Each account type, has a pair of principles or rules of debit and credit relevant to it. One for debit and another for Credit.

Real Accounts

• Debit what comes in

  Consider the following Transaction :

  Bought Furniture on credit from M/s Wood Mart

  The two elements effected by the transaction are

  1. Furniture a/c (Real account) and
  2. M/s Wood Mart a/c (Personal account).

  Since furniture is being bought, we can say that it is coming in. Thus we say that Furniture a/c is to be debited based on the principle "Debit what comes in".

  [Please ignore the effect relating to the other element]

• Credit what goes out

  Consider the following Transaction

  Sold Goods to Mr. Murty on credit

  The two elements effected by the transaction are

  1. Goods a/c (Real account) and
  2. Mr. Murty a/c (Personal account).

  Since goods are being sold, we can say that it is going out. Thus we say that Goods a/c is to be credited based on the principle "Credit what goes out".

  [Please ignore the effect relating to the other element]

Thought to be applied - Is it Coming in (Or) Going out

To decide whether a particular Real Account (element) effected by an accounting transaction is to be debited or credited, we need to identify whether the element is coming into the organisation or going out of it.

Personal Accounts

• Debit the benefit receiver

  Consider the following Transaction

  Paid Cash to Mr. Ibrahim

  The two elements effected by the transaction are

  1. Cash a/c (Real account) and
  2. Mr. Ibrahim a/c (Personal account).

  Since cash is being paid to Mr. Ibrahim, we can say that he is receiving (the benefit) from the organisation. Thus we say that Mr. Ibrahim a/c is to be debited based on the principle "Debit the benefit receiver".

  [Please ignore the effect relating to the other element]

• Credit the benefit giver

  Consider the following Transaction

  Bought Goods on credit from M/s Maghan Lal & Co

  The two elements effected by the transaction are

  1. Goods a/c (Real account) and
  2. M/s Maghan Lal & Co a/c (Personal account)

  Since the goods are being bought on credit from M/s Maghan Lal & Co, we can say that they are giving (the benefit) to the organisation. Thus we say that M/s Maghan Lal & Co a/c is to be credited based on the principle "Credit the benefit giver".

  [Please ignore the effect relating to the other element]

Thought to be applied » Is he/she/it Giving (Or) Taking

To decide whether a particular personal account (element) effected by an accounting transaction is to be debited or credited, we need to identify whether the element is giving the benefit to the organisation or taking the benefit from the organisation.

Nominal Accounts

Accounting transactions affecting an element or account of the type nominal are related to an expenditure/loss or income/gain to the organisation.

• Debit all Expenses and Losses

  Consider the following Transaction

  Paid Wages to Workers

  The two elements effected by the transaction are

  1. Cash a/c (Real account) and
  2. Wages a/c (Nominal account)

  Since wages are being paid, it amounts to an expenditure for the organisation. Thus we say that Wages a/c is to be debited based on the principle "Debit all expenses and losses"

  [Please ignore the effect relating to the other element]

• Credit all Incomes and Gains

  Consider the following Transaction

  Received Commission from M/s Onyx Chemicals by Cheque

  The two elements effected by the transaction are

  1. Bank a/c (Personal account) and
  2. M/s Commission a/c (Nominal account).

  Since commission is being received, it amounts to an income for the organisation. Thus we say that Commission a/c is to be credited based on the principle "Credit all incomes and gains".

  [Please ignore the effect relating to the other element]

Thought to be applied » Is it an Expenditure/Loss (Or) an Income/Gain

To decide whether a particular nominal account (element) effected by an accounting transaction is to be debited or credited, we need to identify whether the affect represents an expenditure (or loss) or an income (or gain) to the organisation.

Each accounting transaction has its effect on two elements. Of the two elements affected, where one element has to be debited the other has to be credited invariably.

Consider the following Transaction

Bought Goods on Credit from M/s Maghan Lal & Co

The two elements effected by the transaction are

1. Goods a/c (Real account) and
2. M/s Maghan Lal & Co a/c (Personal account)

Debit - Goods a/c

Since goods are being bought, we can say that the goods are coming in. Thus we say that Goods a/c is to be debited based on the principle "Debit what comes in".

Credit - M/s Maghan Lal & Co a/c

Since the purchase is being made on credit (without paying any cash), we can say that M/s Maghan Lal & Co is giving (benefit) to the organisation. Thus we say that M/s Maghan Lal & Co a/c is to be credited based on the principle "Credit the benefit giver".

Once we identify the element to be debited, we can conclude that the other element is to be credited and vice versa.

Caution

In the initial stages of learning process, please do not resort to the habit of concluding that the second element is debited or credited based on what is done with the first element.

Supporting both debit and credit with the relevant principles would help you in forming a concrete foundation for your accounting knowledge (that stays with you a life time).

Exception

The above explanation that where one account is debited, the other should be credited holds good only when an accounting transaction is considered in its simplest form.

As you enhance your knowledge on accounting, you will come across what are called simple compound and complex compound entries wherein you will find that more than two transactions are combined together and interpreted as a single complex/compound transaction for the purpose of accounting. This logic of when one is debited the other is credited may not hold in such cases.

Illustration

Practice Problems - Principles or Rules of Debit/Debit

An account may be debited in some transactions and the same account may be credited in some other transactions.

• In a transaction of cash sale, Cash a/c is debited and
• In a transaction of cash purchase, the same Cash a/c is credited.