H.Randall Trial

Accounting: AS Level and A Level
AS Level and A Level
Accounting
Harold Randall
PUBLISHED BY THE PRESS SYNDICATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
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CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
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Cambridge University Press 2005
This book is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective
licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of
Cambridge University Press.
First published 2005
Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 0 521 53993 5 paperback
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Cover image Philip James Corwin/CORBIS

Past examination questions are reproduced by permission of the University of Cambridge Local
Examinations Syndicate.
Contents
Preface
vii
Topics grid
ix
I The accounting system
1 Double-entry bookkeeping: cash transactions
2 Double-entry bookkeeping: credit transactions
3 Books of prime (or original) entry
12
4 Balancing accounts
19
5 The classification of accounts and division of the ledger
21
6 The trial balance
23
II Financial accounting
27
7 Trading and Profit and Loss Accounts for sole traders
28
8 Balance Sheets for sole traders
36
9 Accounting principles or concepts
39
10 Accruals and prepayments (the matching concept)
43
11 Provisions for the depreciation of fixed assets
48
12 Bad and doubtful debts
56
13 Bank reconciliation statements
62
14 Control accounts
66
15 Suspense accounts
76
16 Incomplete records
84
17 Non-profit-making organisations (clubs and societies)
94
18 Departmental accounts
103
19 Manufacturing Accounts
110
20 Valuation of stock
117
Contents
21 Partnership accounts
125
22 Partnership changes
133
23 An introduction to the accounts of limited companies
148
24 Cash flow statements
164
25 Limited companies: more about share capital and debentures;

capital reductions and reconstructions
181
26 Business purchase
192
27 Published company accounts
200
III Financial reporting and interpretation

28 Interpretation and analysis
210
29 Company financing
227
IV Elements of managerial accounting
vi
Contents
209
233
30 Costing principles and systems: total (or absorption) costing
234
31 Unit, job and batch costing
245
32 Process costing
249
33 Marginal costing
255
34 Budgeting
266
35 Standard costing
277
36 Investment appraisal
288
Appendix 1: Table showing net present value of $1
295
Answers to exercises and multiple-choice questions
297
Index
353
Part I
The accounting system
Double-entry bookkeeping:
cash transactions
In this chapter you will learn:
that every transaction has two aspects
that double-entry bookkeeping records both aspects of a transaction
what ledger accounts are
the meanings of the terms debit and credit
how to record cash transactions in ledger accounts.
1.1 What is double-entry

bookkeeping?
Double-entry bookkeeping is a system of recording
transactions that recognises that there are two sides (or
aspects) to every transaction. For example, you give your
friend $10 in exchange for his watch. This involves you
giving him $10 (one aspect) and your friend receiving $10
(the other aspect). The transfer of the watch involves him
giving you the watch (one aspect) and you receiving his
watch (the other aspect). Every transaction involves giving
and receiving. It is important that you recognise and record
both aspects of every transaction in your bookkeeping.
1.2 Ledger accounts

Transactions are recorded in ledger accounts. An account
is a history of all transactions of a similar nature. A ledger
is a book that contains accounts. An account separates
what is received from what is given. For example, a Cash
account records cash received and cash paid, as shown:
Cash
Debit
Credit
$
Mar 1 Cash received

from customers
Mar 4 Cash received
from customers
240
$
Mar 2 Cash paid
to suppliers
80
Mar 3 Wages paid
116
1.3 How to record cash transactions

Bookkeeping treats businesses as persons with separate
identities from their owners. For example, if Abdul is a
trader, all his business transactions are recorded as those
of the business and not as Abduls own transactions.
In the example that follows, some transactions are
recorded in ledger accounts. Make sure you understand
the bookkeeping entries, and observe the wording
carefully. This is important as you must be able to record
transactions in ledger accounts correctly.
Example
(Here all transactions are recorded from the point of view
of Abduls business, not from the point of view of the
people with whom the business deals.)
Transaction 1 April 1. Abdul starts business as a trader by
paying $10 000 into a Bank account which he opens for
the business. Abdul gives, and the business receives,
$10 000. An account for Abdul will be opened (his Capital
account) and credited with his capital. The business
Bank account will be debited.
Abdul Capital
118
The left-hand side of the account is called the debit side

and is used to record cash received (that is, coming into
the account). The right-hand side of the account is the
credit side and shows cash paid (that is, going out of the
account). All accounts have a debit side on the left to
record what is received, and a credit side on the right to

record what is given. In practice, the words debit and
credit are not shown because bookkeepers do not need
to be reminded of them.
$
Apr 1
Bank
10 000
Bank
$
Apr 1
Abdul Capital
10 000
Note. Each entry is dated and shows the name of the

other account in which the double entry is completed.
Make sure you show these details for every entry you
make in a ledger account.
Entries in ledger accounts are known as postings, and
bookkeepers are said to post transactions to the
accounts.
Transaction 2 April 2. Abdul buys a motor vehicle for the
business and pays $2000 from the business Bank account.
A Motor Vehicles account must be opened.
Transaction 5 April 7. A customer returns some goods

and receives a refund of $40.
Bank
$
Apr 1
Abdul Capital
Apr 4
Sales
10 000
Apr 2
Motor Vehicles
2000
Motor Vehicles
$
Apr 2
Bank
Apr 7
Bank
10 000
Apr 2
Motor Vehicles
2000
Apr 3
Purchases
3000
Sales Returns
40
$
Apr 1
Abdul Capital
Apr 4
Apr 8
10 000
Apr 2
Motor Vehicles
2000
Sales
800
Apr 3
Purchases
3000
Purchases Returns
100
Apr 7
Sales Returns
40
Purchases Returns
$
Apr 8
3 000
Bank
$
Sales
Apr 7
Bank
Bank
100
Note. Goods returned to a supplier are credited to

Purchases Returns account. This account is also known
as Goods Outwards account.
Transaction 7 April 10. Abdul buys another motor vehicle
for the business and pays $4000 by cheque.
Transaction 4 April 4. Abdul sells a quantity of stock for

$800 and banks the cash.
Apr 4
3000
Note. Purchases of stock are always debited to a

Purchases account. An account called Stock account is
used for a special purpose, which will be explained in
chapter 7.
Abdul Capital
Purchases
Apr 1
Apr 3
Note. Goods returned are not debited to Sales account

but to Sales Returns account. This account is also known
as Goods Inwards account.
Purchases
Bank
800
Transaction 6 April 8. Abdul returns some goods costing

$100 to a supplier and receives a refund.
2 000
Apr 3
2000
Bank
Abdul Capital
Motor Vehicles
40
Transaction 3 April 3. Abdul buys stock (goods which he

will re-sell in the normal course of trade) for $3000 and
pays by cheque.
Apr 1
Apr 2
$
Abdul Capital
10 000
Sales Returns
Bank
Apr 1
10 000
Apr 2
Motor Vehicles
2000
800
Apr 3
Purchases
3000
Bank
$
Apr 1
Abdul Capital
Apr 4
Apr 8
10 000
Apr 2
Motor Vehicles
2000
Sales
800
Apr 3
Purchases
3000
Purchases Returns
100
Apr 7
Sales Returns
Apr 10 Motor Vehicles
40
4000
Motor Vehicles
Sales
$
$
Apr 4
Bank
800
Sales of stock are always credited to Sales account, never

to Stock account.
$
Apr 2
Bank
2 000
Apr 10 Bank
4 000
I Double-entry bookkeeping: cash transactions
Note. As explained in 1.2, an account is a history of all

transactions of a similar nature. Therefore it is not
necessary to open another account for the second motor
vehicle. Similarly, all purchases of office equipment are
posted to Office Equipment account, and all purchases of
office furniture are posted to Office Furniture account.
You will encounter other examples such as plant and
machinery, and fixtures and fittings.
Transaction 8 April 11. Tania lends the business $5000.
Bank
$
Apr 1
Abdul Capital
Apr 4
Sales
Apr 8
Purchases Returns
Apr 2
Motor Vehicles
2000
800
Apr 3
Purchases
3000
Apr 7
Sales Returns
100
5 000
40
4000
$
Apr 11 Bank
300
Note. Rent receivable is not posted to the Rent Payable

account. It is important to keep income and expenditure
in separate accounts.
Transaction 11 April 15. Abdul pays wages by cheque,
$1200.
Bank
$
Apr 1
Abdul Capital
Apr 4
Apr 8
Apr 4
10 000
Apr 2
Motor Vehicles
2000
Sales
800
Apr 3
Purchases
3000
Purchases Returns
100
Apr 7
Sales Returns
Apr 11 Tania Loan
Tania Loan
$
Apr 14 Bank
10 000
Apr 11 Tania Loan
Rent Receivable
Rent Receivable
40
5 000
4000
300
Apr 12 Rent Payable
1000
Apr 15 Wages
1200
5000
Wages
Transaction 9 April 12. Abdul pays rent on a warehouse
by cheque, $1000.
$
Apr 15 Bank
1 200
Bank
$
Apr 1
Abdul Capital
Apr 4
Apr 8
10 000
Apr 2
Motor Vehicles
Sales
800
Apr 3
Purchases
Purchases Returns
100
Apr 7
Sales Returns
Apr 11 Tania Loan
5 000
2000
000
4000
Apr 12 Rent Payable
1000
Rent Payable
Apr 12 Bank
Bank
40
Transaction 12 April 16. Abdul withdraws $600 from the

business Bank account for personal use.
1 000
$
Apr 1
Abdul Capital
Apr 4
Apr 8
10 000
Apr 2
Motor Vehicles
2000
Sales
800
Apr 3
Purchases
3000
Purchases Returns
100
Apr 7
Sales Returns
Apr 11 Tania Loan

Apr 14 Rent Receivable
Abdul Capital
10 000
Apr 2
Motor Vehicles
2000
Apr 4
Sales
800
Apr 3
Purchases
3000
Apr 8
Purchases Returns
100
Apr 7
Sales Returns
Apr 14 Rent Receivable
Apr 1
5 000
300
300
40
4000
Apr 12 Rent Payable
1000
40
4000
Apr 12 Rent Payable
1000
Apr 15 Wages
1200
600
Drawings
Bank
Apr 11 Tania Loan
5 000
Apr 16 Drawings
Transaction 10 April 14. Abdul sublets part of the

warehouse and receives $300 rent.
Apr 16 Bank
600
Note. Money drawn out of a business by the owner for

personal use is debited to a Drawings account, not to the
owners Capital account.
Exercise 1
When recording transactions think very carefully

about which account gives and which account
receives. Credit the account that gives and debit the
account that receives.
Make sure you complete the double entry for every
transaction before starting to record the next one.
Date every entry and enter the name of the other
account in which the double entry is completed in the
details column.
If you make a mistake in an exercise, study the answer
given at the end of the book and make sure you
understand what you should have done and why.
Open the necessary ledger accounts and post the

following transactions to them.
May 1 Martine started business as a florist by paying $3000 into a
business Bank account.
2 Charline lent the business $1000.
Martine then had the following transactions.
3 Paid rent, $100.

4 Purchased shop fittings, $400.
Purchased stock of flowers $300.
5 Received refund of $20 for flowers returned to supplier.
6 Sold some flowers and received $40.
1.5 Multiple-choice questions
7 Paid wages, $60.
1 Joel occupies part of Natashas business premises.

Which entries in Natashas books record the rent Joel
pays her?
8 Withdrew $100 for personal use.
Exercise 2
Complete the entries for the following table. The first
item has been done for you.
1. Noel pays a cheque into his business

Bank account as capital
Debit account
Credit account
Bank
Rent Payable
Debit
account
Credit
account
Bank
Rent Receivable
Rent Payable
Bank
Bank
Noel Capital
Rent Receivable
Bank
2. Purchases some stock and pays

by cheque
3. Sells some stock and banks the
takings
4. Pays rent by cheque
5. Purchases shop fittings and pays
by cheque
2 Yasmina purchased some office equipment for use in

her business. The equipment was faulty and she
returned it to the supplier who refunded the cost to
Yasmina.
Which entries in Yasminas books record the return of
the equipment?
Debit account
Credit account
7. Pays wages by cheque
Bank
Purchase Returns
8. Returns stock to supplier and

banks refund
Bank
Office Equipment
Purchases Returns
Bank
9. Receives rent from tenant and banks

cheque
Office Equipment
Bank
6. Cashes cheque for personal expenses
10. Refunds money to customer by

cheque for goods returned
11. Motor vehicle purchased and paid for
by cheque
12. Pays for petrol for motor vehicle and
pays by cheque
1.4 Examination hints
All transactions are recorded from the point of view

of the business, not from those of its customers
and suppliers.
3 A trader withdraws money from his business Bank

account for personal expenses.
Which entries record this in his books?
Debit account
Credit account
Bank
Capital
Bank
Drawings
Capital
Bank
Drawings
Bank
I Double-entry bookkeeping: cash transactions
4 A trader returns goods to the supplier and receives a

refund.
Which entries record the refund in the traders books?
3 Bought office furniture for $2000 and paid by cheque.

4 Paid $5000 by cheque for goods for re-sale.
5 Sold some goods for $1500 and banked the proceeds.
Debit account
Credit account
6 Paid insurance premium by cheque, $600.
Bank
Purchases
7 Bought motor van and paid $3000 by cheque.
Bank
Purchases Returns
8 Drew cheque for $50 to pay for petrol for motor van.
Purchases
Bank
Purchases Returns
Bank
9 Bought some goods costing $2000 for re-sale and paid by

cheque.
10 Sold goods for $2400 and banked the proceeds.
Drew cheque for wages, $400.
1.6 Additional exercises
11 Repaid $1200 by cheque to customers for goods returned.
1 Open the necessary ledger accounts and post the

following transactions to them.
13 Received a refund of insurance of $100.
June 1 Farook commenced business by paying $15 000 into his business
Bank account.
Amna lent the business $5000.
12 Received a refund of $900 from suppliers for goods returned.

Withdrew $200 from business bank account for personal
expenses.
14 Returned some office furniture that was damaged and received a
refund of $800.
15 Repaid $1000 of the loan from Amna.
Farook then had the following business transactions:

2 Purchased premises and paid $8000.
2 Complete the entries for the following table with

information taken from the accounts of a trader.
Debit account
1. Local taxes paid by cheque
2. Bank pays interest to trader
3. Sundry expenses paid by cheque
4. Postage and stationery paid by cheque
5. Telephone bill paid by cheque
6. Carriage inwards* paid by cheque
7. Carriage outwards** paid by cheque
8. Interest paid by cheque to brother in respect of a loan received from him
9. Interest paid to bank
*
**
Carriage inwards is the delivery cost added to the price of goods by the supplier.
Carriage outwards is the cost of delivering goods to a customer.
Credit account
Double-entry bookkeeping: credit

transactions
how to record transactions which do not involve immediate cash payments in ledger accounts
the difference between trade and cash discounts and how to treat them.
2.1 What are credit transactions?

Many transactions take place without any money being
paid or received at the time. For example, Lai sells goods
to Chin for $500 on 31 May and gives Chin until 30 June
to pay. The transaction is on credit. The sale has taken
place on 31 May and must be recorded in the books of
both Lai and Chin at that date. No entries to record
payment are made in their books until Chin pays Lai.
The debit entry in Chins account shows that he is a

debtor in Lais books; that is, Chin owes Lai $500 until
he pays for the goods.
In Chins books Debit the purchase to Purchases account
and credit it to an account for Lai.
Purchases
$
May 31 Lai
500
2.2 How to record credit transactions

In a sellers books A sale on credit is credited to Sales
account and debited to an account opened for the
customer. When the customer pays, his or her account is
credited, and the Bank account debited.
In a customers books A purchase on credit is debited to
Purchases account and credited to an account opened for
the supplier. When the supplier is paid, his or her account
is debited, and the Bank account credited.
Example
Lai sells goods to Chin for $500 on 31 May and gives Chin
until 30 June to pay.
In Lais books Credit the sale to Sales account and debit it
to an account for Chin.
$
May 31 Purchases
500
The credit entry in Lais account shows that he is a

creditor in Chins books.
Goods returned
On 4 June Chin returns some of the goods costing $100
to Lai because they are damaged.
In Lais books Credit Chins account and debit Sales
Returns account.
Chin
May 31 Sales
500
$
Jun 4
Sales Returns
100
$
May 31 Chin
Sales Returns
500
Chin
May 31 Sales
Sales
$
Lai
Jun 4
Chin
100
500
In Chins books Debit Lais account and credit Purchases

Returns account.
Chin
$
May 31 Sales
Lai
$
Jun 4
Purchases Returns
100
500
Jun 4
$
May 31 Purchases
Lai
100
Jun 28 Chin
goods bought or sold on credit

Trade discount
Trade discount is an allowance made by one trader to
another. In the above example, the goods which Lai sold
to Chin may have been sold normally for $625. Lai knows
that Chin, also a trader, must make a profit on the goods
when he sells them. He has allowed Chin a trade
discount of $125 (20% of $625) so that if Chin sells the
goods for $625 he will make a profit of $125.
Note. Although the normal price of the goods was $625,
the transaction was for $500 only, and only $500 is
entered into the books of both Lai and Chin. Trade
discount is never recorded in ledger accounts.
380
$
Jun 28 Chin
20
In Chins books Credit the discount to Discounts Received

account.
Lai
$
Jun 4
Purchases Returns
Jun 28 Bank
100
May 31 Purchases
20
Bank
$
$
Jun 28 Lai
380
Discounts Received
$
$
Jun 28 Lai
20
Example
Andrew had the following transactions in May.
May 1 Purchased goods from David. The goods cost $1000 less 10%
trade discount.
2 Purchased goods from Rodney for $1600 less 15% trade discount.
3 Purchased a computer for the office on credit from Bernard for
$2000.
4 Sold goods to Mario for $800.
5 Returned goods which had cost $100 after trade discount to
David.
6 Purchased goods from Ludovic for $700 less trade discount of
20%.
7 Sold goods to Ravin for $500.
8 Mario returned goods which had been sold to him for $40.
500
380
Jun 28 Discounts Received
Cash (or settlement) discount

Lai has given Chin one month to pay for the goods. To
encourage Chin to pay by 30 June, Lai may allow Chin
to pay less than the amount due. This allowance is a
cash (or settlement) discount. (Notice the difference
between cash discount and trade discount: trade
discount is not dependent on payment being made
promptly, or even at all.)
Note. Cash discounts are always recorded in ledger
accounts.
Suppose Lai has allowed Chin a cash discount of 5%
provided Chin pays by 30 June, and Chin pays Lai on 28
June. Chin owes Lai $400 ($500 $100). 5% of $400 =
$20. He will therefore pay only $380.
In Lais books Debit the discount to Discounts Allowed
account.
Discounts Allowed
2.3 How to record payments for
20
Bank
$
Jun 4
100
380
Jun 28 Discounts Allowed
500
Purchases Returns
$
Sales Returns
Jun 28 Bank
9 Received cheque from Ravin for amount owing, less cash discount
of 5%.
10 Paid amount owing to David, less cash discount of 5%.
Purchases
$
May 1 David
11 Paid amount owing to Rodney, less cash discount of 5%.

Paid Bernard for computer.
12 Received cheque from Mario for amount owing, less 5% cash
discount.
Paid amount owing to Ludovic, less 5% cash discount.
900
May 2 Rodney
1360
May 6 Ludovic
560
Purchases Returns
$
These transactions are recorded as follows.
May 5 David
David
$
100
May 10 Bank
760
May 10 Discounts Received
Sales
$
May 5 Purchases Returns
May 1 Purchases
100
900
May 4 Mario
800
May 7 Ravin
500
40
Sales Returns
Rodney
$
May 11 Bank
$
$
1292
May 2 Purchases
May 8 Mario
40
1360
Discounts Allowed
68
Bernard
$
May 11 Bank
2000
May 3 Office Computer
May 9 Ravin
25
May 12 Mario
38
2000
Discounts Received
Ludovic
$
May 12 Bank
$
$
532
May 6 Purchases
560
28
Mario
$
May 4 Sales
May 8 Sales Returns

May 12 Bank
May 12 Discounts Allowed
40
May 11 Rodney
68
May 12 Ludovic
28
Office Computer
$
800
May 10 David
40
$
May 3 Bernard
2000
722
Bank
38
$
Ravin
$
May 7 Sales
500
May 9 Ravin
475
May 10 David
May 12 Mario
722
May 11 Rodney
1292
475
May 11 Bernard
2000
25
May 12 Ludovic
532
$
May 9 Bank
$
760
Calculations
Purchases:
Amount before
trade discount
Trade discount
$
From:
David
1000
(10%) 100
900
Rodney
1600
(15%) 240
1360
Ludovic
700
(20%) 140
560
Cash settlements:
By
Cost to Andrew
Amount before
cash discount
Cash discount (5%)
Amount paid
Ravin
500
25
475
Mario
760
38
722
Exercise 1
2.5 Multiple-choice questions
Post the following transactions in the books of Geraud.

June 1 Purchased goods from Khor which cost $3000 less trade discount
of 10%.
5 Sold goods to Lai for $600.
1 Davina bought goods on credit from Sharon for $600

less trade discount of $120.
Which entries record this transaction in Davinas
books?
10 Returned goods which had cost Geraud $200 to Khor.

15 Purchased goods from Lim which cost $2800 before trade
discount of 10%.
20 Sold goods to Chin for $1300.
25 Lai returned goods which had cost him $200.
30 Geraud paid Khor and Lim the amounts due to them after
deducting 5% cash discount.
Account to be debited
Account to be credited
Purchases $480
Sharon $480
Purchases $480
Discounts Allowed $120
Sharon $600
Purchases $600
Sharon $600
Purchases $600
Sharon $480
Discounts Received $120
Lai and Chin paid Geraud the amounts they owed him after
deducting 5% cash discount.
2.4 Examination hints
10
Remember to record all transactions from the point of

view of the business, not from those of its customers
and suppliers.
Where trade discounts are given, record all amounts
net of trade discount.
Note carefully whether cash discount is to be deducted
from settlements.
Remember to complete the entries for cash discounts
to the correct Discount accounts.
Be accurate in all your calculations.
2 Kristal bought goods on credit from Prisca. The goods

had a list price of $1000 but Prisca allowed Kristal trade
discount of 10% and cash discount of 4%.
How much did Kristal have to pay Prisca?
A $860
B $864
C $900
D $960
3 Shirley bought goods from Corrine. The goods had a
list price of $800. Corrine allowed Shirley trade
discount of 20% and cash discount of 5%.
In Corrines books, which entries record the cheque
she received from Shirley?
Account to be debited
Account to be credited
Bank $608
Shirley $640
Bank $608
Shirley $640
Bank $608
Shirley $760
Bank $608
Shirley $760
2.6 Additional exercises

1 Fleming had the following transactions.
July 1 Purchased goods from Adams for $5000 less trade discount of
15%. Adams allowed Fleming 4% cash discount.
4 Purchased goods from Bond for $2500 less trade discount of 10%.
Bond allowed Fleming 4% cash discount.
5 Returned goods which had cost $600 to Adams.
2 Streak had the following transactions in March.

Mar 1 Sold goods to Blignaut for $2500 less trade discount of 10%, and
allowed him cash discount of 4%.
4 Sold goods to Ebrahim for $4000 less trade discount of 15%, and
6 Ebrahim returned goods which had cost him $200.
8 Sold goods to Friend for $3200 less trade discount of 20%, and
7 Purchased goods from Astle for $7000 less trade discount of 20%.
Astle allowed Fleming 5% cash discount.
12 Sold goods to Flower for $2000 less trade discount of 10%, and
9 Returned goods which had cost $800 to Astle.
14 Flower returned goods which had cost him $350.
10 Purchased goods from Cairns for $4200 less 10% trade discount.
Cairns allowed Fleming 5% cash discount.
14 Fleming settled all accounts owing to his suppliers by cheque,
taking advantage of the cash discount in each case.
Required
Post the transactions listed above in Flemings books in
good form.
15 Blignaut, Ebrahim, Friend and Flower settled their accounts by

cheque, each taking advantage of cash discount.
Required
Post the transactions listed above in Streaks books in
good form.
11
Books of prime (or original) entry

the purpose of books of prime entry
how to enter transactions in books of prime entry
how to post transactions from the books of prime entry to ledger accounts.
3.1 What is a book of prime entry?

A book of prime entry is used to list all transactions of
a similar kind before they are posted to ledger accounts.
They are sometimes known as books of first (or original)
entry but for convenience they will be referred to as
books of prime entry in this text. Because they list
transactions before they are posted to ledger accounts

they are outside the double-entry model. It is important to
remember that they are not part of double-entry bookkeeping.
There is, however, one exception to this rule, and that is
the cash book, as explained later in 3.4.
The names of the books of prime entry and their uses
are:
Book of prime entry
Use
Sales journal (or sales day book)
To record all sales made on credit. The entries are made

from copies of invoices sent to customers.
Sales returns book (or sales returns To record all goods returned from customers. When
journal, or returns inwards journal) customers return goods that were bought on credit they
are sent credit notes showing the amount credited to
their account for the returns. The sales returns book is
prepared from the copies of credit notes sent to
customers.
Purchases journal (or purchases
day book)
To record all purchases of stock in trade (goods for

resale) made on credit. These are entered in the
purchases journal from suppliers invoices.
Purchases returns journal

(or purchases returns book,
or returns outwards journal)
To record all goods returned to suppliers. The purchases

returns journal is prepared from credit notes
received from suppliers.
Cash book
To record all cash transactions. (But see 3.4.)
Journal (or general journal)
To record all transactions for which there is no other

book of prime entry. (Also see 3.11.)
12
3.2 How to write up books of prime

entry
3.3 How to post from books of

prime entry to ledger accounts
Example
Example
Jayasuriya has sent and received the following invoices

and credit notes.
Use the information in the books of prime entry in 3.2.

Step 1 Post each item in the books of prime entry to the
suppliers or customers account in the ledger following
the procedure already learned in chapter 2, but do not
post them to the Purchases, Purchases Returns, Sales or
Sales Returns accounts.
Invoices sent to customers
Amount of invoice
$
May 1 Atapattu
2350
May 4 de Silva
1746
May 6 Arnold
520
Credit notes sent to customers
Atapattu
$
Amount of credit note
May 1 Sales
$
May 3 Atapattu
350
May 5 de Silva
146
May 7 Arnold
60
Invoices received from suppliers
5000
May 5 Fernando
3600
May 7 Mubarak
2200
Credit notes received from suppliers
Amount of credit note
May 6 Sales
Sales returns journal
520
May 3 Atapattu
350
May 4 de Silva
1746
May 5 de Silva
146
May 6 Arnold
520
May 7 Arnold
60
Purchases returns journal
5 000
May 6 Vaas
May 5 Fernando
3 600
May 7 Fernando
May 7 Mubarak
2 200
60
1000
May 2 Purchases
5000
$
600
$
1000
600
May 5 Purchases
3600
Mubarak
$
$
May 7 Purchases
556
May 2 Vaas
May 7 Sales Returns
Fernando
2350
4616
$
May 1 Atapattu
10 800
146
Vaas
600
May 5 Sales Returns
The transactions will be entered in the books of prime entry as follows:
Purchases journal
1746
Arnold
1000
350
$
May 4 Sales
Sales journal
May 3 Sales Returns
Amount of invoice
May 2 Vaas
May 7 Fernando
2350
de Silva
May 6 Vaas
2200
Step 2 Post the total of each book of prime entry to the

Sales, Sales Returns, Purchases or Purchases Returns
accounts, as appropriate.
1600
Sales
$
$
May 7 Sales journal total
4616
Sales Returns
$
May 7 Sales returns journal

total
556
3 Books of prime (or original) entry
13
Purchases
Bank
Discounts
(allowed)
$
May 7 Purchases journal

total
10 800
Purchases Returns
$
$
May 7 Purchases returns
journal total
1600
May 7
Attapattu
May 7
de Silva
May 7
Arnold
Bank
$
100
1900
80
1520
23
437
Discounts
(received)
$
Bank
200
3800
150
2850
110
2090
May 7
Vaas
May 7
Fernando
May 7
Mubarak
203
460
3.4 The cash book

A cash book is the book of prime entry for all cash
transactions; but we have already seen in chapter 1 that
it is also an account. It is the only book of prime entry
that is also part of the double-entry model.
The cash book is also used as the book of prime entry
for cash discounts. A column is provided on the debit side
of the Bank account to record discounts allowed, and a
column on the credit side to record discounts received.
2350
May 3 Sales Returns

May 7 Bank
Discounts
(allowed)
(received)
1900
100
1746
Bank
350
de Silva
May 4 Sales
Discounts Bank
$
$
May 1 Sales
Bank
Atapattu
May 5 Sales Returns

May 7 Bank
146
1520
80
Arnold
The words allowed and received are usually omitted
because bookkeepers know which is which.
$
May 6 Sales
520
May 7 Bank
3.5 How to enter discounts in the
cash book
When a payment is received from a customer who has
deducted cash discount, enter the amount of the discount
in the discounts allowed column next to the amount
received in the bank column.
Enter discounts received from suppliers in the
discounts received column next to the amount paid in the
bank column.
Example
All payments due from customers and all payments to
suppliers in 3.2 were settled on 7 May. In each case, cash
discount of 5% was allowed or received.
May 7 Sales Returns
60
437
23
Vaas
$
1000
May 7 Bank
3800
$
May 2 Purchases
5000
200
Fernando
$
May 7 Bank
600
$
May 5 Purchases
3600
2850
150
Mubarak
$
May 7 Bank
14
2090
110
$
May 7 Purchases
2200

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Accounting: AS Level and A Level

AS Level and A Level

PUBLISHED BY THE PRESS SYNDICATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom

The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK

Cover image Philip James Corwin/CORBIS

I The accounting system

1 Double-entry bookkeeping: cash transactions

2 Double-entry bookkeeping: credit transactions

3 Books of prime (or original) entry

5 The classification of accounts and division of the ledger

6 The trial balance

7 Trading and Profit and Loss Accounts for sole traders

8 Balance Sheets for sole traders

9 Accounting principles or concepts

10 Accruals and prepayments (the matching concept)

11 Provisions for the depreciation of fixed assets

12 Bad and doubtful debts

13 Bank reconciliation statements

17 Non-profit-making organisations (clubs and societies)

23 An introduction to the accounts of limited companies

24 Cash flow statements

25 Limited companies: more about share capital and debentures;

27 Published company accounts

III Financial reporting and interpretation

IV Elements of managerial accounting

30 Costing principles and systems: total (or absorption) costing

31 Unit, job and batch costing

Appendix 1: Table showing net present value of $1

Answers to exercises and multiple-choice questions

1.1 What is double-entry

1.2 Ledger accounts

Mar 1 Cash received

Mar 3 Wages paid

The accounting system

1.3 How to record cash transactions

The left-hand side of the account is called the debit side

record what is received, and a credit side on the right to

Note. Each entry is dated and shows the name of the

Transaction 5 April 7. A customer returns some goods

Note. Goods returned to a supplier are credited to

Transaction 4 April 4. Abdul sells a quantity of stock for

Note. Purchases of stock are always debited to a

Note. Goods returned are not debited to Sales account

Transaction 6 April 8. Abdul returns some goods costing

Transaction 3 April 3. Abdul buys stock (goods which he

Apr 10 Motor Vehicles

Sales of stock are always credited to Sales account, never

I Double-entry bookkeeping: cash transactions

Note. As explained in 1.2, an account is a history of all

Apr 10 Motor Vehicles

Note. Rent receivable is not posted to the Rent Payable

Apr 11 Tania Loan

Apr 11 Tania Loan

Apr 10 Motor Vehicles

Apr 12 Rent Payable

Apr 11 Tania Loan

Apr 12 Rent Payable

Apr 10 Motor Vehicles