Let’s discuss the definition of adjusting journal entries in detail.
In order for revenues and expenses to be reported in the correct period, companies make adjusting entries at the end of the accounting period.
Adjusting entries ensure that the revenue recognition and matching principles are followed. Adjusting entries make it possible to report correct amounts on the balance sheet and on the income statement.
Definition of adjusting journal entries
Entries made at the end of an accounting period to ensure that companies follow the revenue recognition and matching principles are called Adjusting entries.
This is a process through which an amount of money is added or deducted to form the ledger balances to make the balances up to date. So adjusted entries can be defined in the following way:
“Adjustment entries are journal entries made at the end of an accounting period or at any time financial statements are to be prepared to bring about a proper matching of revenues and expenses.”
Adjusting entries is a vitally necessary part of the accounting cycle as a result of they make sure that you’re reportage the company’s money state of affairs accurately. During this lesson, you’ll learn that accounts would like adjusting and the way those changes are created.
What are the Adjusting Entries?
Adjusting entries journal entries created at the top of the associate degree accounting cycle to update only revenue and expense accounts and to form certain you befit the matching principle.
The matching principle states that expenses got to be matched to the accounting amount during which the revenue paying for them is earned. There are four main sorts of accounts that require being adjusted: paid expenses accumulated expenses, unearned income, and collected profits.
Prepaid Expenses
Prepaid expenses are expenses that are paid ahead, like paying your rent for six months all at just once. The issue is, you cannot record the full six months of rent as associate degree ‘expense’ promptly as a result of the cash remarkably hasn’t been spent nonetheless.
For example, what if one thing happens three months into your lease that prevents you from dealing with the workplace, and therefore the landowner must come back some of your money? Immediately, that paid rent is associate degree quality.
According to the matching principle, you’ve got to match the value of the rent for every month to cash earned in this month. So, after you initial build a paid expense payment, you record the whole quantity as an associate degree ‘asset.’ At the top of every ordered accounting amount, you’ll record the used-up portion of the paid expense as associate degree ‘expense’. Paid expenses that require associate degree accounting entry sometimes embrace things like rent, insurance, and workplace provide.
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