Final balance. Accounting terminology: what is a balance

In accounting, there is such a fairly common and ubiquitous concept as balance (remainder). They call it all the difference that arises on an account (letter of credit) between debit and credit. That is, knowing the debit of the account and the credit on it and calculating the difference between them, you can get nothing more than a balance. In other words, this concept characterizes the movement of funds - their expenditure and receipt, but within a certain time interval.

Differences between debit and credit

The activities of any enterprise do not seem feasible without current income and expenses. And both of these parts of the balance sheet are closely interrelated and are components of any budget item. And understanding the fine line between them is the primary task of both the head of the organization and the head of the financial department.

Naturally, it is quite rare to break even, and with a certain probability any line of the balance sheet will contain a value other than zero. In other words, the difference between the debit and credit columns that characterize the double entry of any analytics.
Considering that the two main components of the balance are debit and credit turnover, it is divided into two forms:

A debit balance is a balance that is calculated for letters of credit with a debit turnover exceeding a credit turnover. That is, if the organization acted more as a creditor in the past period, then the difference between the readings of the “gave and received” columns will be exactly this.
A credit balance is a balance that arises when the turnover of credit transactions exceeds debit transactions. If the company accepted goods (services) from third-party debtors, then, naturally, the difference will be a credit difference.

There is also an expanded balance that can arise on a certain type of account; we’ll talk about this in more detail below. It is obviously necessary to clarify that each enterprise can carry out not only the same type of operations, but also work bilaterally - both give and receive financial resources.

For example, various calculations with debtors can be carried out both in favor of the enterprise and in favor of counterparties. Therefore, for the same line, the balance indicator can be either a negative number or a positive one.

Determination of residues

Determining the outcome is not such a difficult task. For maximum understanding of the calculation procedure, we will describe each step in detail. You will only need basic knowledge of mathematical operations and a calculator - components that are available in any accounting department and any of its employees.

First of all, the accountant is required to perform such work as the formation of a balance sheet, in which all accounting transactions will be recorded on any line of the balance sheet. Its structure resembles a double entry, with the only difference being that next to each component a special column is added, in which the found value will be indicated.

It is necessary to create a table in each reporting period. This is done in order to once again monitor the work of the department and obtain reliable information about the state of the balance sheet.

Determining the account type

First of all, the accountant must decide on the type of account for which the difference needs to be calculated. They can be of three types - active, passive and mixed active-passive.

Active are all types of balance sheet items related to the organization’s property (for example, “Cash”, “Materials”, “Fixed Assets”, “Materials”). A distinctive feature of active accounts is that any receipt financial resources they are recorded on the debit side, and disposals are recorded on the credit side.

Passive are those types of balance sheet items that reflect the sources of formation of the organization’s property (for example, “Settlements with personnel”, “Reserve capital” and others). Passive accounts are characterized by recording receipts Money on credit, and their disposal - in the opposite direction.

Active-passive include both information about the property and information about the methods of its formation. Accounts Payable and Profit and Loss are examples of active-passive accounts.

Direct calculation

Active account

In this case, such a balance is nothing more than debit balances and letter of credit turnovers without taking into account all credit turnovers (that is, the amount is found in the “Debit” column and the amount in the “Credit” column is subtracted). The balance of such accounts in the accounting department will always be debit, and it is recorded in the column listing the corresponding transactions.

Passive

The calculation is carried out identically. All credit turnovers and balances are taken, excluding debit turnovers. That is, the credit amount is reduced by the debit amount, and the result is a balance. This balance is always a credit balance. It is recorded precisely in the column that records the corresponding operations.

Active-passive

In this case, calculating the balance is somewhat more complicated than in the previous cases described. Since active-passive accounts in accounting can be either with a one-sided balance (either debit or credit) or with a two-sided one.

The calculation formula is the same and repeats the calculation for the asset. That is, the credit amount on the same account is subtracted from the debit amount of the account, and the difference will be the required one. But in this case, the balance can be either positive or negative.

If the calculation results in a positive value, then we can talk about a debit balance and write it in the appropriate column. If the balance turns out to be negative, then this value must be recorded on the credit side of the account.

This calculation option is suitable only in cases where it is known in which direction the letter of credit is oriented more: debit or credit. That is, if the organization acts as a creditor, and the account mainly reflects transactions with creditors, then the balance will be a debit, and the letter of credit itself will be active. If, on the contrary, such a flip will be debit, and the letter of credit will be passive.

Active-passive with expanded remainder

What to do if the role of the organization is dual, and both types of transactions can be reflected on the same letter of credit? The accountant will be helped by the opening balance, which has been carried over from the previous period. To this figure is added the sum of the values of the column of what type the transferred difference was.

Next, the sum of another column not affected in the calculations (credit turnover or debit) is subtracted from the resulting value. The result obtained - the final balance - is written in the column according to the already familiar rule of the sign before the number (a positive number is a debit, a negative number is a credit).

If the initial debit-credit difference, transferred from the previous period, cannot be determined, then the final one is recorded in the column in which the monthly turnover is greater.

The importance of filling out the form

Maintaining a balance sheet in accounting is almost as useful as maintaining order journals, the General Ledger and entries in automated programs. The results that it reflects help accounting employees once again evaluate the quality of the work performed in the reporting period and compare the values found with the readings in other accounting statements. We can say that calculating the balance of a letter of credit is another important and mandatory point in drawing up a balance sheet.

Understanding the difference between debit and credit is the key to the correct formation of statements and balance sheets in the current period. Without this information, it is impossible to transfer the work of the previous stage to the current one and continue its implementation. In addition, awareness of the magnitude of these indicators and their belonging to debit or credit allows you to competently analyze the efficiency of the organization, the implementation of various plans, and the implementation of current and past tasks.

Active-passive accounting accounts keep records of settlements with various organizations or individuals, i.e., records of receivables and payables.

If an enterprise uses attracted or borrowed funds, then it has accounts payable to other organizations or individuals who are creditors of this enterprise.

If the enterprise is owed by other organizations or individuals, then these debtors are called debtors, and their debt to the enterprise is called receivable.

Debtors owe the enterprise, and creditors owe the enterprise itself. The word "debit" is derived from the Latin word debet, which means "must", and "credit" is derived from the Latin word credo, which means "believe".

Active-passive account scheme:

The main active-passive accounts include:

71 - “Settlements with accountable persons”;
75 - “Settlements with founders”;
76 - “Settlements with various debtors and creditors”;
99 - “Profits and losses.”

On account 71, settlements with accountable persons are carried out. Accountable persons are the employees of the enterprise, who are given money from the cash register for travel expenses or economic needs, i.e. for the purchase of goods for small amounts. After the employee has spent the money received, he must report, i.e. provide invoices for the purchase of goods, railway or air tickets, hotel bills, etc. All this is approved in the advance report, which is submitted accountable person. These costs are usually written off as manufacturing costs.

Let's look at examples of how accounting is kept on active-passive accounts.

Example: Keeping records of settlements with accountable persons.

At the beginning of the month, the accountable person Petrov A.S. owes the company 500 rubles. (accounts receivable).

During the month, the following business transactions related to accountable persons were reflected:

Exercise. Create active-passive account 71 “Settlements with accountable persons”, calculate turnover and balance.

In order to determine the final balance on an active-passive account, you need to calculate all debit amounts, including the opening balance, and in the same way you should calculate the total credit amount. The final balance on the active-passive account will be where the amount is greater, and will be equal to the difference between the debit and credit amounts.

Account 71 “Settlements with accountable persons”

Regarding account 99, which was previously considered passive, the following should be said: all enterprises operate with the main goal of making a profit, but if for some reason they incur losses, then in this case account 99 becomes active-passive. Let's look at an example of how accounting is kept on account 99 “Profits and losses”.

Example: Keeping records of profits and losses. At the beginning of the month, the company has a loss of 4,000 rubles.

The following business transactions were reflected during the month:

Task: Create an active-passive account 99 “Profits and losses”, calculate turnover and balance.

Account 99 “Profits and losses”

Table of passive accounts

02 Depreciation of fixed assets
05 Depreciation intangible assets
42 Trade margin
63 Provisions for doubtful debts
66 Calculations for short-term loans and borrowings
67 Calculations for long-term loans and borrowings
70 Settlements with personnel for wages
80 Authorized capital
82 Reserve capital
83 Extra capital
86 Targeted financing
96 Reserves upcoming expenses
98 Deferred income

Active – passive accounts

These are accounts that can have a balance, either debit or credit, depending on the current result economic results during the reporting period.

And some of these accounts may have an expanded balance, i.e. on debit and credit simultaneously. In this case, the debit balance is shown in the asset side of the balance sheet, and the credit balance is shown in the liability side of the balance sheet.

These are the accounts:

40 Product release
60 Settlements with suppliers and contractors (a debit balance occurs in the case of an advance payment to a supplier)
62 Settlements with suppliers and customers (a credit balance occurs when the buyer has transferred an advance to us)
68 Calculations for taxes and duties
69 Settlements with funds social insurance and provision
71 Settlements with accountable persons
73 Settlements with personnel for other operations
75 Settlements with founders
76 Settlements with various debtors and creditors
84 retained earnings (uncovered loss) the credit balance reflects the profit of previous years, the debit balance reflects the loss of previous years
90 Sales
91 Other income and expenses
99 Profit and loss (loan profit current year, by debit - loss of the current year).

Passive account credit

Passive account (name of accounting object):

Thus, according to passive account, which takes into account the sources of property formation, is reflected: on the credit side of the account - balances at the beginning and end of transactions and business transactions that cause an increase in balances; On the debit side of the account only business transactions that cause a decrease in balances are shown.

Using the previously given notations, to determine the balance of the passive account at the end of the reporting period, we will draw up the following formula:

Sk = Sn + Ok - Od

In passive accounts, an increase in sources of education household assets is shown on the right side, and the balance can only be a credit balance.

When recording business transactions in passive accounts, there can only be two situations:

Situation one: the amount of the initial balance and the amount of turnover on the credit of the account must be greater than the amount shown on the debit of the account. In this case, we have a balance at the end of business operations, which is determined by the above formula.
Situation two: the amount of the initial balance and the amount of turnover on the credit of the account are equal to the amount shown on the debit of the account. In this case, there will be no balance at the end of the reporting period.

The balances on active accounts, which reflect the organization’s property, and on passive accounts, which show the sources of formation of this property, are then linked and respectively reflected in the assets and liabilities of the balance sheet.

But there are also active-passive accounts, which have features of both active and passive accounts. In such accounts, the balance can be both debit and credit, or both debit and credit (the so-called “expanded balance”).

For example, for the account “Settlements with various debtors and creditors”, the debit balance shows the amount accounts receivable and is reflected in the balance sheet asset. The credit balance on this account shows the amount of accounts payable and is reflected in the liability side of the balance sheet.

Expanded balance in active-liable accounts in as usual impossible to determine, this requires data analytical accounting. Analytical accounting provides information on the status of settlements with each debtor (for example, with a buyer) and with each creditor (for example, a supplier of materials to an organization), i.e., the balance is displayed for each buyer and supplier separately, and then the total amount of receivables and accounts payable.

Based on the above, the order of entries in the accounts is as follows:

Accounts are opened at the beginning of the year (period);
During the year (period), accounts are opened as needed;
at the beginning of the year (period), initial balances (balances) are recorded in the accounts according to the balance sheet data;
during the reporting period (month), business transactions are reflected in the accounts;
at the end of the reporting period (month), the turnover of the accounts is calculated and the final balances (balances) are displayed;
at the end of the reporting period (month), a balance sheet is drawn up based on data on the final balances of accounts.

Passive bank accounts

Passive balance sheet accounts reflect: bank funds, funds of organizations and citizens, deposits, funds in settlements, bank profits, accounts payable, other liabilities and borrowed funds. An increase in a liability account is reflected as a credit, and a decrease as a debit.

Funds in passive accounts are the bank's resources for lending and financing the organization, and debt in active accounts shows the use of these resources.

Off-balance sheet accounts are also divided by economic content, like balance sheet accounts, into active and passive. In accounting, transactions are reflected using the method double entry: active accounts correspond to account 99999, passive accounts - to account 99998, while accounts 99998 and 99999 are maintained only in the currency of the Russian Federation - in rubles.

Based on chart of accounts commercial banks make up the balance. Balance is the basic form financial statements, and the balance sheet itself is a report on the financial condition of the bank, which displays its assets, liabilities and equity in monetary terms on a specific date. The balance sheet is the main tool for studying the activities of the bank.

The accounts of the bank's balance sheet are divided into on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet. Balance sheet accounts are either active or passive. They are grouped into sections according to their economic content. One section can contain active and passive accounts.

Active balance sheet accounts take into account: cash in the bank's cash desks, short-term and long-term loans, costs for capital investments, accounts receivable, other assets and diverted funds. In active accounts, an increase is reflected as a debit, and a decrease as a credit.

Passive account debit

Depending on the type of observation object, accounts are divided into active and passive. Active accounts reflect the property of the enterprise, and passive accounts reflect the obligations of the organization (methods of forming this property). For example, active accounts include accounts “Fixed assets”, “Cash”, “Materials”, and passive accounts “Settlements with personnel for wages”, “Authorized capital”, “Reserve capital”, etc. Recording on the accounts begins reflection of the opening balance (opening balance). On active accounts this balance is recorded as a debit, on passive accounts – as a credit.

The accounts then record all transactions that change the balance. Transactions that increase the balance are recorded on the balance side, while transactions that decrease the balance are recorded on the opposite side. That is, in active accounts, an increase is reflected as a debit, a decrease as a credit. In passive accounts, on the contrary, an increase is reflected as a credit, a decrease as a debit. If you add up the sums of all transactions recorded on the sides of the account, you get turnover. The total amount recorded on the debit side of the account is called debit turnover, and on the credit side of the account - credit turnover. When calculating revolutions, the initial balance is not taken into account. The final balance (closing balance) of the account is determined by adding to opening balance turnover on the same side of the account on which the initial balance is located, and subtracting the turnover on the opposite side. For example, when determining the final balance on an active account, you need to add the initial balance with the debit turnover and subtract the credit turnover. The ending balance (there may not be one) is recorded on the same side of the account as the beginning balance. If there was no initial balance, then the balance at the end of the reporting period is found by subtracting the smaller one from the larger turnover. The balance is recorded on the side of the account on which the larger turnover amount was reflected.

Scheme of the structure of active and passive accounts:

In addition to accounts for accounting for the organization’s property (active) and the sources of its formation (passive), in accounting there are also accounts that simultaneously reflect both the property and the sources of its formation. Such accounts are called active-passive, which are intended mainly for settlements with various debtors and creditors.

Depending on the state of these calculations, there can be three cases:

Or our enterprise is owed by other enterprises, i.e. are our debtors - in this case, the balance on such accounts will be debit and will be reflected in the asset balance sheet, the account itself will accordingly be active;
or our enterprise is a debtor of some other enterprise, which will be our creditor - in this case, the balance will be a credit balance, reflected in the liability side of the balance sheet, and the account itself will accordingly act as a liability;
however, in practice, the following situation most often occurs when our enterprise is owed by other economic entities, and our enterprise is a debtor to some economic entities - in this case, the balance will be both debit and credit (expanded balance), reflected in both the asset and liability of the balance sheet .

In order to determine the ending balance active-passive account The following rule is used: the monthly turnover on the side of the account where the opening balance is reflected is added to the opening balance, and the monthly turnover on the opposite side of the account is subtracted. The positive difference will be the final balance, which will be reflected on the same side of the account as the initial one; and a negative difference means that the balance will move to the opposite side of the account in relation to the initial one. If there is no opening balance in an active-liability account, then the final balance is determined by comparing monthly turnover and is reflected on the side of the account where the turnover is greater.

There are two types of active-passive accounts: with a one-sided balance (either debit or credit) and with an expanded balance (both debit and credit at the same time). For example, if the debit turnover on the “Profit and Loss” account exceeds the credit turnover, then the ending balance will be recorded on the debit side of the account (this means that the company incurred a loss in this reporting period). If, on the contrary, the enterprise’s expenses were less than its income (profit was made), then in the “Profit and Loss” account the credit turnover will be greater than the debit turnover and, accordingly, the final balance on this account will be reflected as a loan (profit is the source of the formation of property and is reflected in the liability balance). From this we can conclude that the “Profit and Loss” account is active-passive with a one-sided balance.

An example of an active-passive account with an expanded balance is the account “Settlements with various debtors and creditors.” The debit balance of this account reflects accounts receivable, the credit balance reflects accounts payable. Debit entries can have different meanings - either an increase in accounts receivable or a decrease in accounts payable. The credit reflects either an increase in accounts payable or a decrease in accounts receivable. The structure of an active-liability account with an expanded balance can be presented in the table.

For the accounting material assets They use a different form of account, into which, in addition to monetary measures, they enter natural indicators. This form is used mainly in analytical accounts.

Analytical – accounts that are used for detailed characteristics of the object of observation. They open in the development of each synthetic account.

Active-passive account structure:

Accounts in which the organization’s property, its obligations and business processes reflected in a generalized form are called synthetic. For example, these are the accounts “Fixed assets”, “Payroll calculations”, etc. Accounting carried out on synthetic accounts is called synthetic. It is conducted only in monetary terms. For operational management of economic activities, as well as control over the safety of property, generalized data obtained using synthetic accounting, not enough. For example, in addition to data about total amount fixed assets, it is necessary to have information about each fixed asset object separately (building, equipment, machinery, etc.); To have full view about settlements with personnel for wages, you need to know the details of settlements with each employee individually (Petrov, Sidorov, etc.). To obtain detailed, disaggregated, analytical data about objects accounting, analytical accounts are used. Accounts that reflect detailed data for each separate species property, obligations of organizations and processes are called analytical. Accounting carried out on analytical accounts is also called analytical.

Analytical accounts are opened in addition to synthetic ones in order to detail them and obtain specific indicators for each individual type of property, source of property formation, business transaction. For example, to synthetic account“Materials” analytical accounts “Gasoline”, “Diesel Oil”, etc. can be opened. In this case, analytical accounts will show the movement of each material separately. Obviously, the following conditions will be met. The amounts of debit and credit turnover of analytical accounts will be respectively equal to the debit and credit turnover of the synthetic account combining them. The sum of the initial balances of analytical accounts will be equal to the initial balance of the synthetic account combining them. The same can be said about ending balances.

In accounting, this concept has certain specifics; it means the difference between cash receipts to the company's accounts and their spending. The term “balance” is often used not only in accounting, but also in other areas of activity, and often not in its literal meaning.

Translated from Italian, “saldo” means balance, that is, it is the difference between several amounts, income and expenses in a company, which was formed over a certain period of time. The indicators of this balance can have both negative and positive values. In some situations these indicators are zero.

For some time now this term has been used in externally economic activity countries. And although in the understanding of accounting, this is the amount determined by subtracting expenses from the company’s income, such a concept as the balance can be discussed in many ways.

So, we can distinguish two aspects of the use of this term: the balance in accounting and the balance in trade relations between our country and foreign countries.

Accounting balance When a company operates, its account is regularly replenished, but at the same time, debits occur money supply

. The financial condition of the company is displayed by displaying the balance. This concept applies within a certain period, and not for the entire period as a whole.

There are several types of balances in accounting:
debit balance;

credit balance.

As for the balance within the accounting framework, there is no need to include all accounts from the beginning of the company’s operation to the present day. We can talk about a short period of time, usually a quarter or a continuous month. According to this, balances are classified by time, and according to this criterion it happens:

opening balance;
balance for the period;
ending balance.

The opening balance displays the amount of the balance at the beginning of the month or other period, which can be a year or a quarter. If we are talking about the balance for a period, then this amount is established for a certain period of time, for 12 months or 30 days. The ending balance displays the balance of money at the end of the period, year or quarter or month. You can find out the final balance if you add the turnover value to its initial value. The value for revolutions is in the same part of the graph. After this, the current values are calculated, which are taken from another part of the account.

If we consider balance in the context of a firm or enterprise, then balance sheet is defined as the difference between debits and credits. This difference must be present in the account of the company or private entrepreneur. The balance is calculated based on income and expense transactions. For clarity, let’s give this example: in one month the company earned 10,000 rubles. The company's expenses for the same period amounted to 4,000 rubles. The balance is 6,000, that is, the difference between income and expenses.

The balance can only be calculated after homogeneous transactions over a certain period of time have been added up. So, the balance is calculated for absolutely all incoming and outgoing actions.

Balance of trade and payments

As for trade transactions on the foreign market, the balance is defined as the difference between the amounts of exports and imports of goods. This amount is determined for a certain period. This period is most often 12 months. There are these types of balances:

trade balance;
balance of payments.

The trade balance is the difference between the amounts in the value of exported goods and imported goods. These indicators can be both positive and negative. Trade balance analysis occurs for a specific area or for a specific class of product.

If the number of goods exported is greater than imports, it means that the country sells more products than it purchases from its neighbors. Such indicators indicate a positive balance. A surplus occurs when the government does not need many goods, and not all goods produced are sold domestically. And the world market is showing great interest in the products of this state.

If we talk about a negative balance, then its occurrence is preceded by the predominance of imports over exports. This situation in many cases is not very favorable for the country. The data from this balance indicate that the state cannot provide for itself and because of this it becomes dependent on neighboring countries.

Another negative point– this is because local production is in very poor condition. Its capabilities are limited, and the products produced locally are uncompetitive. If the balance has negative indicators, then the exchange rate national currency The country could suffer greatly because of this.

If we are talking about highly developed countries, then a negative balance does not create as big problems for them as in all other cases. For an average country, such indicators are not something good. For example, in the United States, negative balances prevent inflation. The same situation is developing in some European countries. In certain cases, with such indicators, the country’s complex production facilities can be moved to other states whose economies do not stand still.

Trade balance is one of the parts that make up the balance of payments.

The balance of payments is the amount that is the difference between the amounts of payments abroad and the amounts that come from abroad. If the inflow of capital exceeds its expenditure, then the balance is considered positive, but if the state is forced to transfer abroad more money, rather than coming from there, the balance is negative.

Negative performance does not represent anything good for the local currency. With such a balance, it begins to lose its course. That is why many countries are trying to ensure a positive balance.

So, we can say that balance is a multi-valued concept. But at the same time, despite all the interpretations of this term, this is still the difference between the income and expenses of the subject.

How to determine the balance?

It doesn’t take much effort to determine the balance. But in order to accurately understand the whole scheme, we will talk about this process step by step. To get started, you need to arm yourself with a calculator and have basic knowledge of mathematics, which any accounting employee has. First, to determine the figure, you need to create a balance sheet. All accounting transactions on any line of the balance sheet are entered into it.

The structure of the statement consists of a double entry, but a separate column is added to each entry. It indicates the value that was determined. A table of this kind must be created for each reporting period. This is necessary for control, since this is the only way to get all necessary information about the work of departments and the state of their financial balance.

Thus, the balance has a certain concept, but for a greater understanding it should be taken into account that the balance can be incoming and final. Opening balance displays the picture at the beginning of the month, and the outgoing picture at the end of the month. The balance is classified into zero, debit and credit. Zero balance means zero balance, that is, when the credit and debit readings are the same. In other cases, they talk about a credit or debit balance.

Balance is a concept that denotes the discrepancy between the crediting of funds and their use over a specified period of time. The area of application of balances is quite common - accounting, foreign economic relations with foreign countries and other aspects. You can define this term using the balance sheet and ledger account, as well as the activity and passivity (debit and credit) of the account.

Balance Sheet Designation

In the traditional sense balance sheet is the difference between the accrual to the company's financial account and the amount of expenses. It displays the company's material accumulations for a particular period of time.

In accounting, the following types of balance sheets are defined:

Debit. It is formed in a situation where a debit covers a credit, and is displayed in the asset column;
Credit. It makes sense when a credit covers a debit and is stored in the liability column. But if the balance is zero, the account is closed. There are times when one account has both types of balances.

Accounting must be carried out in such a way that the balance of all invoices for this moment was equal to zero. This is called the principle of conservation, when the final result of the entire debit is equal to the total indicator of the entire credit, which allows you to control the balance.

If we take into account the actual part of the accounting assessment, then not its entire chronicle comes under consideration, but only a period of time, which is of interest. In this value, the following sections of the balance are distinguished:

Initial balance;
Debit – turnover for the period;
Credit - turnover at a given stage of time;
Balance for the entire period;
Closing balance.

The opening balance shows the remaining amount on the balance at the minute the transaction begins. The reason for the calculation is operations that were carried out earlier.

The basis for calculating debit and credit income is the balance sheet action, which is carried out in a specific period of time.
The balance for the entire period is the result of transactions at a certain time.

The opening balance displays the surplus in the account at the end of the designated time. Basically, the end result is the sum of the primary balance and income for the entire period.

Using balances in accounts of accounting value

During production, many different things happen related to economic organization labor, processes: material and necessary raw materials arrive, products are manufactured and sold, accrual and issuance takes place wages. In order to correctly display all these operations in accounting, they are divided into groups according to the criteria of identical action. For this purpose they use accounting calculations, which are divided into: active, passive, and also active - passive.

Active accounts record the accounting of company funds (cash, capitalization and consumption of material resources).

Active accounts contain the following indicators:

The starting balance is always a debit balance and reflects the existence of funds at the beginning of the reporting period;
Debit turnover indicates an influx of assets;
Credit turnover indicates write-off of assets;
The final balance is always a debit balance;
Cash and turnover are monitored on active accounts financial condition enterprises.

The group of active main accounts may include: fixed assets, financial deposits, intangible assets, foreign currency accounts, materials, current accounts, main production, cash register and finished products.

Passive accounts record the origin of material savings.

Passive accounts are distinguished by the following characteristic attributes: the primary balance is always a credit balance and indicates the amount of funds or the presence of production guarantees at the beginning of the reporting period, debit turnover reflects the write-off of finances or production guarantees, the initial balance is always a credit balance and provides capital indicators at the end of the reporting period.

The main passive accounts include the following indicators: profits and expenses, calculations with contractors and suppliers, additional finances, calculations for loans and credits for a short time, reserve capital, calculations for loans and credits for long term, statutory finances, calculations of accruals and taxes, issuance of wages, as well as calculations for social security and insurance.

The total amount of all asset items must be the same as the total amount of all liability items.

Active-passive accounts in accounting

Accounting accounts with an active-passive characteristic are intended for keeping records of property and its sources of replenishment in the same period of time. The main such accounts include calculations with reporting employees, with investors, with various creditors and debtors, and also take into account profits and expenses.

Accounting accounts are divided into two classes: balance sheet and off-balance sheet accounts. Balance sheet accounts are the accounts on the basis of which the balance sheet is compiled, and off-balance sheet accounts are the balances.

The balance can be positive or negative, but it is always plus, because the minus sign when accounting material resources does not apply.

When drawing up a balance sheet in accounting as a report on the financial condition of the organization, only part of the information that is on the accounts in the form of balances is used, and therefore the balance sheet is called “balance”.

Hello, dear readers of the blog site. People who are far from economic activity (including accounting), hearing the word “balance”, will never guess what it means.

Therefore, today, in order to be “in the know,” we will understand what a balance is, where it is used and how it is calculated.

Definition - what is it?

“Balance” in Italian is translated as “ remainder" As you can see, everything is very simple. You can say: “The balance of my pocket money is zero.” Not quite Russian, but beautiful and intriguing.

Let's explain with an example: let's say that you received a receipt for paying for electricity. It contains a lot of sums:

your debt at the beginning of the month is the unpaid balance at the end of last month, which is also the opening balance for the current month. It is called the opening balance;
electricity charges for the billing period;
the total amount consisting of the following terms: opening balance + accruals – possible adjustments– amounts paid in the current period = closing balance. This is the final amount you need to pay.

Balance is the difference (account balance) between receipts and expenses for a specific time interval.

This term is used in economics and accounting, i.e. where it is necessary to calculate the final result in numerical terms:

Types of balances in accounting

In accounting, “balance” is a term that carries a specific functional load. It is calculated by the debit and credit of a specific account, therefore it is distinguished:

debit balance- this is the total amount calculated on the debit side, which exceeds the amount calculated on the credit side. Displays the status of the company's assets. If we talk in simple language, then this is the state of the account in which the amount of receipts exceeds the amount of expenses (costs);
credit balance- this is said when the sum of the credit indicators is greater than the debit amount, that is, there is a negative balance due to the excess of expenses over receipts (in monetary terms).

If at the end of the billing period the debit and credit are equal, then this balance is called zero, and the account for which it = 0 is closed.

This indicator expresses the state of the account at different time intervals, so it is divided into 2 types:

initial– the total balance at the end of the previous period, respectively, it is the starting amount for the current period;
final– the result of activity in monetary terms at the end of the current period.

Formula for calculating the balance on an active account:

Now let's look at all this with an example:

The example shows how they are formed:

debit turnover: all receipts are summed up;
loan turnover: all expenses are summed up;
final balance: initial sum + debit turnover – credit turnover.

See what the balance sheet looks like on various accounts of a particular enterprise separately for each account and in the end:

*click on the picture to open it full size in a new window

The role of balances in accounting

Balance calculation is the basis for analysis economic activity enterprises.

What does this indicate? numerical indicator:

about the level of profitability of the entire enterprise or a separate area of its business. activities;
about stability economic situation enterprise, or, on the contrary, about its proximity to bankruptcy.

In addition, analysis of balances for different periods allows draw conclusions about successes or mistakes economic management of the company and adjust the further course of its economic activities.

Brief conclusion

Knowledge of economic terms allows you to navigate not only the news of modern life, but also apply the acquired knowledge in everyday situations. If you want to be “on the wave”, then read our blog! You will learn a lot of new and useful things!

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