What is the Purpose of a Trial Balance

The main purpose of preparing a trial balance is to assist in the preparation of the year-end Balance sheet. However, before going into more detail about the purpose of a trial balance, let’s briefly look at what a trial balance is. The structure of this article is as follows, 

1. What is a Trial Balance?

2. What is the Purpose of a Trial Balance?

What is a Trial Balance

A trial balance is a summarized worksheet which includes all ledger balances as at a particular point in time. It provides all the ending balances in a single document at a glance, thereby it is easy to use as a reference tool. All the debit balances will be recorded in one column while all the credit balances in another. It also assists in disclosing a number of possible errors in case of occurrence and helps to identify the type of journal entries should be posted in order to correct the identified errors. The main purpose of preparing a trial balance is to detect the mathematical accuracy of the ledger balances.

What is the Purpose of a Trial Balance

To use as a Decision Tool

A trial balance can be used as a decision tool to ensure the mathematical accuracy of the journal entries and ledger balances. If all the transactions for an accounting period are accurately recorded, the sum of the debit balances of the trial balance should be equal to the sum of the credit balances.

To Detect and Correct Errors

A trial balance is also used to detect and correct errors in the recording of financial information. The following errors can be identified and should be corrected by posting relevant entries when the trial balance is not in agreement.

Error

Description

Example

Corrective entries after preparing the trial balance

Errors of partial omission

Only the debit entry or the credit entry is posted in accounts

For credit sale of $ 4,450 to ABC Ltd is not recorded in ABC Ltd account

ABC Ltd A/C           Dr  $ 4,450

Suspense A/C            Cr $ 4,450

Errors of casting

The total of an account is more or less recorded

 

Purchases journal is overcasted by $ 1,500

Suspense A/C        Dr $ 1,500

Purchases A/C            Cr $ 1,500

Errors of carrying forward

The ending balance is carried forward incorrectly

Sales journal balance of $ 5,500 is incorrectly carried forward as $ 5,200

Sales A/C                Dr $ 300

Suspense A/C             Cr $ 300

However, it should be noted that there may be other types of errors that do not affect the mathematical agreement of the trial balance, as follows.

Error

Description

Example

Corrective entries after preparing the trial balance

Errors of principle

The entries are posted to the incorrect type of account

 

A sale of building for $ 80,000 is credit to sales

Sales A/C              Dr $ 80,000

Building A/C             Cr $ 80,000

Errors of complete omission

The entries are completely omitted from the accounts

 

A cash sale of $ 1,100 is completely omitted

Cash A/C              Dr $ 1,100

Sales A/C                  Cr $ 1,100

Errors of commission

An entry is posted in the correct type of account, but the wrong account

 

 

A cash payment of $ 225 to ABC Ltd is debited to ABB Ltd

ABB Ltd A/C         Dr $ 225

ABC Ltd A/C             Cr $ 225

Errors of compensation

Incorrect entries in two or more accounts cancel out each other

Interest income is overstated by $ 400 and sundry expense is understated by $ 400

Rent A/C                Dr $ 400

Sundry expense        Cr $ 400

Errors of original entry

Incorrect amount is posted to the correct accounts

 

A credit purchase of $ 2300  from KMN Ltd is recorded for $ 3200

KMN Ltd A/C          Dr $ 900

Purchases A/C           Cr $ 900

Errors of complete reversal

Correct amount is posted to the correct accounts but the debits and credits have been reversed

 

A cash payment of $ 100 for inventory is for by debiting cash and crediting inventory

Inventory A/C          Dr $ 200

Cash A/C                       Cr $ 200

To Assist in Preparation of Year-end Financial Statements

Amounts that should be entered into the year-end financial statements such as income statement and balance sheet are derived from the trial balance.

Even though the trial balance is not a year-end financial statement, the statements prepared using the trial balance are vital for giving an impression about the company and arriving at certain financing and investing decisions. Thus, the preparers of trial balance should ensure that the entire accounting process up to the completing of the trial balance is accurate since these balances will be reflected in the financial statements, which in turn is used by many stakeholders.

What is the Purpose of a Trial Balance

Uses of financial statements

  • To allow comparisons between previous years and industry standards
  • For ratio analysis to make decisions regarding profitability, liquidity, and gearing
  • To facilitate benchmarking results with similar companies
  • To assist preparing budgets for the next financial year

References

“Rectification of Errors – Errors not affecting Trial Balance agreement.” ACCOUNTING-WORLD. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

“Balance Sheet | Example | Template | Format.” My Accounting Course. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
 
“THE USES OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.” THE USES OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
 
“Purpose of Financial Statements.” Accounting Simplified. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
 
Image Courtesy:

“Balance sheet example” By Aishakassimkassim1996 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

About the Author: Dilini

Dilini is a Management and Financial Accounting professional with MBA. She is very about sharing knowledge and her areas of interests include Research Methods, Marketing, Management Accounting and Financial Accounting.

Leave a Reply