Understanding Debits, Credits, and the Increasing Side of Accounts: The Side of the Account That is Increased

The Side of the Account That is Increased

Ever scratched your head wondering about the concept of “the side of the account that is increased”? You’re not alone. It’s a fundamental principle in accounting, yet it can be tricky to wrap your head around.

In this article, I’ll break down this concept in simple, easy-to-understand terms. We’ll explore what it means, why it’s important, and how it plays a crucial role in the world of finance.

Debit and Credit

Imagine the financial world without the concept of debits and credits. Impossible, right? This is how integral the concept is in governing accounting’s fundamental law, the double-entry system.

Debits and Credits in Accounting

Truth be told, understanding the side of the account that is increased can be tricky. We must untangle the ambiguity surrounding the terms “debit” and “credit”. Often regarded as just adding or subtracting money, they assume multiple meanings based on the type of account.

When we talk of “debit”, we refer to the left side of a T-account. On the other hand, “credit” belongs to its right side. In simple language, an “entry” or transaction’s record on the left side of the ledger is a debit, while an entry on the right side is a credit.

Keep in mind that a “debit” increases asset and expense accounts. Contrary, a “credit” increases liability, equity, and revenue accounts. You might wonder why it’s different for certain accounts, but it all boils down to the balance sheet equation. The goal is: Assets = Liabilities + Equity.

Debit and Credit Terminology

You’ll quickly realize that accounting has its unique language. Here, “debit” and “credit” come with abbreviations: “dr” and “cr,” respectively. A common misconception is that “cr” equates to “credit card.” However, in the accounting realm, “cr” means “credit.”

The Rules of Debit and Credit

Now comes the vital part: the cardinal rules that guide the interaction of debits and credits:

• A debit increases an asset or expense account, and decreases a liability, equity, or revenue account.
• A credit decreases an asset or expense account, and increases a liability, equity, or revenue account.

To summarize the effects, let’s put it in a markdown table:

With knowledge of these guidelines, the world of accounting becomes less daunting and more logical. So, focus on understanding these rules thoroughly. It’ll be the compass guiding you through the wide and often intricate labyrinth of finance and accounting.

The Increase Side of an Account

Understanding the increase side of an account is like deciphering the language of the financial world. So let’s delve deeper.

Debit or Credit: Which Side is Increased?

Before, debits and credits were introduced as two opposing columns in a T-account. Yet, their purpose extends far beyond being mere space fillers on the left or right. It’s a common misconception that debits always mean increase and credits always mean decrease. The reality? It completely depends on the type of account we’re looking at.

For asset and expense accounts, debits lead to an increase. On the contrary, liability, equity, and revenue accounts swell with a healthy dose of credits. So, the “increase side” can either be a debit or a credit – no clear winners here!

The Normal Balance of Accounts

Moving on, let’s talk about the normal balance of accounts. A somewhat fancy term, the normal balance refers to the side (debit or credit) where an account is increased. It’s the account’s natural habitat.

• Asset and expense accounts have a normal balance on the debit side.
• Liability, equity, and revenue accounts find their comfort zone on the credit side.

Being on the account’s normal balance increases the account’s total. That’s why it’s vital to remember which accounts have a debit normal balance and which ones ride on the credit side.