Chapter 2

Double Entry Book-keeping – Part A

The rules of double entry — debits and credits — and how transactions are recorded in ledger accounts, with an interactive exercise.

Double entry book-keeping – Part A records every transaction twice — one debit and one credit of equal value — in ledger accounts.

The rules of double entry

Debit: an increase in an asset or expense
Credit: an increase in a liability, capital or income

Each account has a debit side (left) and a credit side (right). For example, buying goods for cash: debit Purchases, credit Cash.

Remember

  • Debit increases assets and expenses; credit increases liabilities, capital and income.
  • Every transaction is recorded in two accounts.

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