What is a Credit in Accounting?
Contents
If you’re new to accounting, you might be wondering what a credit is. In short, a credit is an accounting entry that represents an increase in assets or a decrease in liabilities.
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Introduction
In accounting, a credit is an entry on the right side of a ledger account that represents the increase in value of an asset or decrease in value of a liability. A debit is an entry on the left side of a ledger account that represents the decrease in value of an asset or increase in value of a liability.
What is a credit in accounting?
A credit in accounting is when you add an asset or decrease a liability on your company’s balance sheet. Credits are the opposite of debits, which you use to subtract an asset or increase a liability.
The definition of a credit
A credit in accounting is defined as an entry on the right side of a ledger account that increases the value of the account. An increase in assets or decrease in liabilities and equity are recorded as credits. Credits are also known as debits.
The purpose of a credit
A credit in accounting is an entry that increases an asset or decreases a liability, and it is always entered on the right side of a ledger. Ideally, a credit will increase equity or decrease expenses. In actual practice, there are many different types of credits, including those that are created to offset entries on the other side of the ledger (debits).
How a credit is used in accounting
A credit in accounting is nothing more than an entry on the right side of a ledger account. While it may seem confusing at first, once you understand the basics of debits and credits, it will be much easier to see how credits are used in accounting.
In double-entry accounting, every transaction is recorded as both a debit and a credit. The debit is always entered on the left side of the ledger account, and the credit is always entered on the right side.
Credits are used to record increases in assets, expenses, losses, and equity. In other words, when something goes into one of these accounts, it is recorded as a credit. For example, when you make a sale on credit, you would debit your Accounts Receivable account (an asset) and credit your Sales account (an equity account).
Conversely, debits are used to record decreases in assets, revenues/gains, and equity. So when something goes out of one of these accounts, it is recorded as a debit. For example, when you pay off a debt with cash, you would debit your Cash account (an asset) and credit your Accounts Payable account (an equity account).
Conclusion
Credits are increases in equity other than those from investments by owners. Credits represent infusions of cash or other assets into a business by creditors, customers, and others who are not owners. A credit decreases an expense account or increases a revenue, equity, or asset account (on the left side of the T-accounts). Common credits include Service Revenues, Interest Receivables, and Increase in Cash.
