Golden Rules of Accounting: Overview and Types (2024)

Every economic entity must present its financial information to all its stakeholders. The information provided in the financials must be accurate and present a true picture of the entity. For this presentation, it must account for all its transactions. Since economic entities are compared to understand their financial status, there has to be uniformity in accounting.

To bring about uniformity and to account for the transactions correctly there are three Golden Rules of Accounting. These rules form the very basis of passing journal entries which in turn form the basis of accounting and bookkeeping.

So, get to know the three accounting golden rules that simplify the complicated task of recording financial transactions. Let’s dive deeper.

What are the Golden Rules of Accounting?

To put it in simple terms, the golden rules of accounting are a set of guidelines that accountants can follow for the systematic recording of financial transactions. They revolve around the system of dual entry i.e., debit and credit. You have to know which accounts have to be charged and which need to be credited.

These rules will assist in identifying which account to credit and which one to debit. The accounting golden rules are a set of three principles that allow one in simplifying the complex rules of bookkeeping.

According to these rules, you must determine the type of account for each transaction. Now, each account type has its own set of principles that needs to be applied for every single transaction.

To get a better idea, let’s take a look at the types of accounts.

Types of accounts

In financial accounting, every debit or credit transaction entry will belong to one of the three types of accounts:

1.Nominal account

A nominal account is a general ledger containing the transactions of a business, namely – expenses, incomes, profits and losses. It contains all the transactions that occur in one fiscal year. Furthermore, it resets to zero and starts afresh when the next fiscal year begins.

Examples of nominal accounts are Commission Received, Salary Account, Rent Account and Interest Account.

2. Personal account

You can think of a personal account as a general ledger that relates to people, associations and companies.

It can be divided into three subcategories:

  • Artificial personal account

An artificial personal account represents bodies which are not human beings but act as separate legal entities according to the law. For example, government bodies, hospitals, banks, companies, cooperatives, partnerships, etc.

  • Natural personal account

A natural personal account represents human beings—for example, a Capital account, a Drawings account, Creditors, Debtors, etc.

  • Representative personal account

This type of personal account represents the accounts of natural or artificial entities. However, the transactions in this type of account either belong to the previous or the coming year.

For example, a representative personal account can contain information on an employee’s due salary from last year. Also, it can represent the amount of rent a company paid in advance for the coming year.

3. Real account

Like the other two, a real account is also a general ledger, but it contains transactions related to the liabilities and assets of a company. The assets, in this case, can be further subdivided into tangible and intangible assets.

Tangible assets include land, buildings, machinery, furniture, etc. Alternatively, intangible assets include goodwill, patents, copyrights, etc.

Unlike a nominal account, a real account does not close when a financial year completes. Rather, it is carried forward to the following year. In addition, a real account also appears in the company’s balance sheet.

Now that you have a clear idea of the types of accounts, let’s take a look at how they relate to the golden rules of accounting.

Golden rules of accounting

Golden Rules of Accounting: Overview and Types (1)

Rule 1: Debit all expenses and losses, credit all incomes and gains

This golden accounting rule is applicable to nominal accounts. It considers a company’s capital as a liability and thus has a credit balance. As a result, the capital will increase when gains and income get credited. Inversely, this capital gets reduced when losses and expenses are debited from it.

DateAccountDebitCredit
xx/xx/xxxxRent AccountRs.28,000
xx/xx/xxxxCash AccountRs.28,000

Rule 2: Debit the receiver, credit the giver

The “Debit the receiver, Credit the giver” rule is applicable for personal accounts. When a natural or artificial entity makes a donation to a company, it becomes an inflow. Thus, the receiver must be debited, and the company receiving the donation must be credited in the books.

DateAccountDebitCredit
xx/xx/xxxxAmount of PurchaseRs.19,000
xx/xx/xxxxPresent ShopRs.19,000

Rule 3: Debit what comes in, credit what goes out

This rule is applicable for real accounts where tangible assets like machinery, buildings, land, furniture, etc., are taken into account. They have a debiting balance by default and debit everything that comes in, adding them to the existing account balance.

In a similar way, the account balance needs to be credited when a tangible asset leaves the company.

DateAccountDebitCredit
xx/xx/xxxxMachinery AccountRs.1,90,000
xx/xx/xxxxCash AccountRs. 1,90,000

These three accounting rules form the basis of bookkeeping. Let’s take an example to put things into perspective.

Take a look at the following transactions:

  • Suppose a company named Bhattacharya Tiles starts its business with a capital of Rs.2,00,000.
  • It rents property worth Rs.50,000
  • The firm buys goods worth Rs.1,00,000 from Mahadev Stone Works, on Credit
  • It sells goods worth Rs.1,50,000
  • Then, it pays Mahadev Stone Works in cash for the purchased goods
  • Furthermore, the company pays Rs.1,00,000 worth of salary to its employees

Now, let’s take a look at the different accounts that will be involved and also the types of accounts for each case:

TransactionsInvolved AccountsAccounts Types
Initial capital of Rs. 2,00,000Capital Account, Cash AccountPersonal Account, Real Account
Rents worth Rs.50,000Cash Account, Rent AccountReal Account, Nominal Account
Purchase of goods worth Rs.1,00,000 from Mahadev Stone WorksMahadev Stone Works Account, Purchases AccountPersonal Account, Nominal Account
Sale of goods worth Rs.1,50,000Sales Account, Cash AccountNominal Account, Real Account
Cash payment to Mahadev Stone Works for goods purchasedCash Account, Mahadev Stone Works AccountReal Account, Personal Account
Salary payment to employees worth Rs.1,00,000Cash Account, Salary AccountReal Account, Nominal Account

Applying the golden rules of accounting, your journal entries will be in the following ways:

  • Bhattacharya Tiles starts its business with a capital of Rs.2,00,000.

As cash is a tangible asset, it will be a part of the company’s real account. Also, capital belongs to the personal account.

Therefore, applying the golden rules, you have to debit what comes in and credit the giver.

Account TypeDebitCredit
Cash AccountRs.2,00,000
Capital AccountRs.2,00,000
  • Rents property worth Rs.50,000

Rent is considered as an expense and thus falls under the nominal account. Additionally, cash falls under the real account. So, according to the golden rules, you have to credit what goes out and debit all losses and expenses.

Account TypeDebitCredit
Rent AccountRs.50,000
Cash AccountRs.50,000
  • Buys goods worth Rs.1,00,000 from Mahadev Stone Works on Credit

When a firm purchases something, it falls under its expenses, and so it falls under the nominal account. Moreover, Mahadev Stone Works will be a part of the personal account. Hence, you have to credit the giver and debit all expenses and losses.

Account TypeDebitCredit
Purchases AccountRs.1,00,000
Mahadev Stone Works AccountRs.1,00,000
  • Sells goods worth Rs.1,50,000

Income generated from the selling of goods falls under the nominal account. Furthermore, cash forms a part of the real account. Therefore, you have to credit all incomes and gains and debit what comes in.

Account TypeDebitCredit
Cash AccountRs.1,50,000
Sales AccountRs.1,50,000
  • Pays Mahadev Stone Works in cash for the purchased goods

As Mahadev Stone Works falls under the personal account and cash forms a part of the real account, you have to credit what goes out and debit the receiver.

Account TypeDebitCredit
Mahadev Stone Works AccountRs.1,00,000
Cash AccountRs.1,00,000
  • The company pays Rs.1,00,000 worth of salary to its employees

Salary is considered as an expense to a business and thus falls under the nominal account. In addition, cash forms a part of the real account. So, according to the accounting golden rules, you have to credit what goes out and debit all expenses and losses.

Account TypeDebitCredit
Salary AccountRs.1,00,000
Cash AccountRs.1,00,000

Benefits of the Golden Rules of Accounting

Following the golden rules of accounting has these benefits:

  • Proper maintenance of business records

For a company’s success, the proper maintenance of its records is critical. Doing so will make sure that the company’s records are stored in a safe, and systematic manner.

  • Comparing financial results

The golden rules ensure that financial records are properly recorded. So, businesses can compare their year-over-year financial results in an easier and more efficient way.

  • Calculating the valuation of a business

When a firm properly calculates its financial statements, it assists in proper business valuation. Furthermore, it helps in getting more investments and thereby expanding the business.

  • Helps in budgeting as well as future projections

If a business has a sound budget based on proper accounting practices, it can act as a strong foundation for growth. In addition, it assists in more accurate future projections.

  • Evidence during legal cases

For quick reference during lawsuits, companies need to record their financial data in a systematic manner. Using accounting golden rules comes in handy in this regard.

  • Assists in tax-related matters

Properly accounting a firm’s financial statements helps avoid shortfalls in taxes. Improper accounting practices attract huge penalties. It can also impact the firm’s brand value and image.

  • Helps comply with regulatory authorities

Proper accounting is of utmost importance when it comes to complying with regulatory authorities. Without proper accounting discipline, it will be difficult for any business to achieve regulatory compliance.

Now that you have a clear idea of the golden rules of accounting, you know which type of transaction belongs under which specific account. So, the journal entries on financial transactions shall be accurate and appropriate.

Conclusion

All transactions of an entity must be accounted for. To account these transactions the entity must pass journal entries which will then summarise into ledgers. The journal entries are passed on the basis of the Golden Rules of accounting. To apply these rules one must first ascertain the type of account and then apply these rules.

  • Debit what comes in, Credit what goes out
  • Debit the receiver, Credit the giver
  • Debit all expenses Credit all income

These lay the foundation of accounting and hence are called the Golden Rules of accounting. They are like the letters of the English alphabet. If one does not know the letters he cannot put words and hence, will not be able to use the language. Similarly for accounting, if one does not know the golden rules, he cannot pass journal entries and hence won’t be able to accurately account for the transactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are ledger books?

Ledger books are records of crucial information that is needed to create financial statements.

Who created the golden rules of accounting?

The golden rules of accounting were created by an Italian mathematician named Fra Luca Pacioli and Leonardo da Vinci.

What is accounting?

Accounting is the process of recording a business’ financial transactions. It also includes providing a summary, analysis and report of these transactions to oversight or tax collection agencies.

What is an accounting cycle?

An accounting cycle is a process in which a business accepts, records, sorts and credits payments made and received within a particular accounting period.

Which professions require accounting?

Businesses that have gross receipts worth over Rs.1.5 lakh in the last 3 years of a particular profession have to maintain financial transaction records. As per Rule 6F of IT Act, these are the professions that have to maintain the account of their transactions:

  • Legal
  • Medical
  • Architectural
  • Technical Consultation
  • Film Artists
  • Authorised Representatives
  • Engineering
  • Accountancy
  • Company Secretary
  • Interior Decoration

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Golden Rules of Accounting: Overview and Types (2)

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Golden Rules of Accounting: Overview and Types (2024)

FAQs

Golden Rules of Accounting: Overview and Types? ›

The three types of accounts are: Personal – Individuals and entities. Real – Assets, both tangible and intangible. Nominal – Income, expenses, gains, and losses.

What are the golden rules of accounts and types of accounts? ›

Golden Rules Of Accounting
Type Of AccountGolden Rules of Accounting
Nominal AccountDebit the loss or expense of the business Credit the profit or income of the business
Personal AccountDebit the receiver Credit the giver
Real AccountDebit what comes into the business Credit what goes out of the business
Nov 16, 2023

What are the tree types of accounts? ›

The three types of accounts are: Personal – Individuals and entities. Real – Assets, both tangible and intangible. Nominal – Income, expenses, gains, and losses.

What are the 5 basic accounting principles? ›

What are the 5 basic principles of accounting?
  • Revenue Recognition Principle. When you are recording information about your business, you need to consider the revenue recognition principle. ...
  • Cost Principle. ...
  • Matching Principle. ...
  • Full Disclosure Principle. ...
  • Objectivity Principle.

What are the golden rules of accounting pdf? ›

The three golden rules of accounting are: 1: Debit all expenses and losses, credit all incomes and gains, 2: Debit the receiver, credit the giver, 3: Debit what comes in, credit what goes out.

What are the 5 major types of accounts and explain each account? ›

We have 5 basic categories for accounts:
  • Asset: Something a business has or owns.
  • Liability: Something we owe to a non-owner.
  • Equity: Something we owe to the owners or the value of the investment to the owner.
  • Revenue: Value of the goods we have sold or the services we have performed.
  • Expenses: Costs of doing business.

What are golden rules? ›

The "Golden Rule" was proclaimed by Jesus of Nazareth during his Sermon on the Mount and described by him as the second great commandment. The common English phrasing is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

Is land debit or credit? ›

All assets have normal debit balances. "Land" is an asset account In the general ledger with a normal a. Debit balance. The asset account increases when a debit entry is posted and decreases when a credit entry is posted.

What are the 7 classifications of a tree? ›

Scientifically, all trees can be classified according to the eight-level system of taxonomy that includes: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species.

What are the four basic principles of GAAP? ›

What Are The 4 GAAP Principles?
  • The Cost Principle. The first principle of GAAP is 'cost'. ...
  • The Revenues Principle. The second principle of GAAP is 'revenues'. ...
  • The Matching Principle. The third principle of GAAP is 'matching'. ...
  • The Disclosure Principle. ...
  • Why are GAAP Principles important?
Sep 10, 2021

Who is the father of accounting? ›

Luca Pacioli (c. 1447 – 1517) was the first person to publish detailed material on the double-entry system of accounting. He was an Italian mathematician and Franciscan friar who also collaborated with his friend Leonardo da Vinci (who also took maths lessons from Pacioli).

What is the accounting cycle? ›

What Is the Accounting Cycle? The accounting cycle is a collective process of identifying, analyzing, and recording the accounting events of a company. It is a standard 8-step process that begins when a transaction occurs and ends with its inclusion in the financial statements and the closing of the books.

What is the trick to remember the golden rules of accounting? ›

FAQs
  1. Debit what comes in - credit what goes out.
  2. Credit the giver and Debit the Receiver.
  3. Credit all income and debit all expenses.

What are three types of accounts? ›

  • Personal Accounts. Ledger accounts that contain transactions related to individuals or other organizations with whom your business has direct transactions are known as personal accounts. ...
  • Real Accounts. ...
  • Nominal Accounts.

What is p & l in accounting? ›

The profit and loss (P&L) statement is a financial statement that summarizes the revenues, costs, and expenses incurred during a specified period.

What are 3 types of accounts? ›

3 Different types of accounts in accounting are Real, Personal and Nominal Account. Real account is then classified in two subcategories – Intangible real account, Tangible real account. Also, three different sub-types of Personal account are Natural, Representative and Artificial.

What are the types of bank accounts? ›

Here is a list of some of the types of bank accounts in India.
  • Current account. A current account is a deposit account for traders, business owners, and entrepreneurs, who need to make and receive payments more often than others. ...
  • Savings account. ...
  • Salary account. ...
  • Fixed deposit account. ...
  • Recurring deposit account. ...
  • NRI accounts.

What are the traditional accounts rules? ›

Rules for Debit and Credit under the Traditional Approach
Personal AccountDebit the Receiver; Credit the Giver
Real AccountDebit what comes in; Credit what goes out
Nominal AccountDebit all expenses/losses; Credit all income/gains

What are the different types of accounting? ›

Here are the main types of accounting:
  • Tax accounting.
  • Financial accounting.
  • Management accounting.
  • Cost accounting.
  • Forensic accounting.
  • Governmental accounting.
  • International accounting.
  • Auditing.
May 11, 2023

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