What is Debit and Credit in Accounting?

Debit and Credit are the two most important terms in accounting which have a very important role in the double entry bookkeeping system.

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Introduction

In accounting, debit and credit refer to the two sides of a ledger entry. When you debit an account, you’re increasing its value. When you credit an account, you’re decreasing its value. In other words, debits are entered on the left side of the ledger and credits are entered on the right side.

What is Debit?

In accounting, debit is an informal term used to designate various entries on the left side of a formal ledger account. On the Balance Sheet, assets are represented on the left side while liabilities and equity are represented on the right side. The income statement uses a similar format, with revenues appearing on the left and expenses appearing on the right.

What is Credit?

Credit is an accounting entry that either increases assets or reduces liabilities on a company’s balance sheet. A credit is the opposite of a debit. For example, if a company borrowed $10,000 from a bank, the company would list the loan as a liability on its balance sheet and enter a $10,000 debit. To repay the loan, the company would reduce the liability by entering a $10,000 credit.

How are Debit and Credit Used in Accounting?

In accounting, the terms “debit” and “credit” have very specific meanings. A debit is an accounting entry that indicates a decrease in an asset or an increase in a liability or expense. A credit is an accounting entry that indicates an increase in an asset or a decrease in a liability or expense. For example, when you pay cash for office supplies, the amount paid is recorded as a debit to the cash account and is offset by a credit to the office supplies account.

Conclusion

In conclusion, debit and credit are two important aspects of accounting that you need to understand. Debit represents an increase in assets or a decrease in liabilities, while credit represents a decrease in assets or an increase in liabilities. You need to know how to use them correctly in order to keep your financial records accurate.