Debit and Credit in Accounting | Double Entry Bookkeeping (2024)

When is a Debit and Credit used?

Double entry bookkeeping uses the terms Debit and Credit.They refer to entries made in accounts to reflect the transactions of a business. The terms are often abbreviated to DR which originates from the Latin ‘Debere’ meaning to owe and CR from the Latin ‘Credere’ meaning to believe.

Do not try to read anything more into the terms other than debit means on the left hand side and credit means on the right hand side of the accounting equation.

Debit and Credit Entries In Accounting

What is a Debit?

• Debits go on the left, and they either increase or decrease accounts depending on the type of account. For example assets are on the left side of the accounting equation so a debit will increase an asset account. In contrast liabilities are on the right side of the equation so a debit will decrease a liability account. For easy reference the chart below shows the effect of debits and credits on particular types of account.
• For every Debit there must be a Credit

What is a Credit?

• Credits go on the right, and they either increase or decrease accounts depending on the type of account. For example a liability is on the right side of the equation so a credit will increase a liability account. In contrast an asset is on the left side of the equation so a credit will decrease an asset account. For easy reference the chart below shows the effect of debits and credits on particular types of account.
• For every Credit there must be a Debit

The Debits and Credits Chart below is a quick reference to show the effects of debits and credits on accounts.The chart shows the normal balance of the account type, and the entry which increases or decreases that balance.

For further details of the effects of debits and credits on particular accounts see our debits and credits chart post.

Debit and Credit on Bank Statement

Do not confuse the everyday use of the terms debited and credited on a bank statement with those defined above. A bank statement is a document supplied by the bank and reflects the accounting records of the bank and not those of the business.

Cash In, Debit Cash

When a business receives cash and deposits it with the bank it will debit cash in its accounting records. Cash is an asset on the left side of the accounting equation. From the banks point of view it owes the cash to the business and therefore has a liability. To show this liability the bank will credit the account of the business and this in turn will show as a credit on the bank statement.

Cash Out, Credit Cash

Likewise when a business pays cash from its bank account it will credit cash in its accounting records (the reduction of an asset). From the banks point of view it reduces the liability owed to the business and to reflect this, the bank will debit the account of the business and this in turn will show as a debit on the bank statement.

In summary the cash transactions the bank shows on the bank statement will be equal and opposite to those shown in the accounting records of the business.

DR or CR Account Balance

At the end of an accounting period the net difference between the total debits and the total credits on an account form the balance on the account.

If the debits exceed the credits then the balance will be a debit balance.

If the credits exceed the debits then the balance will be a credit balance.

Examples of accounting transactions and their effect on the accounting equation can been seen in our double entry bookkeeping example journals.

Last modified October 4th, 2022 by Michael Brown

October 4, 2022