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Explain the traditional and modern rules of debit and credit?
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Explain the traditional and modern rules of debit and credit?
Debit and credit are simply additions to or subtraction from an account. In accounting, debit refers to the left hand side of any account and credit refers to the right hand side. Asset, expenses and losses accounts normally have debit balances; liability, income and capital accounts normally have credit balances.
The term debit is derived from the latin base debere (to owe) which contracts to the "Dr" used in journal entries to refer to debits. Credit comes from the word credere (that which one believes in, including persons, like a creditor), which contracts to the "Cr." used in journal entries for a credit.
Personal Accounts:
Debit the account of the person who receives something and credit the account of the person who gives something.
Real Accounts:
Debit the account of the asset/property which comes into the business or addition to an asset, and credit the account which goes out of the business. When furniture is purchased for cash, furniture account is debited (which comes into the business) and cash account is credited (which goes out of the business).
Nominal Accounts:
Debit the accounts of expenses and losses, and credit the accounts of incomes and gains. When wages are paid, wages account is debited (expense) and cash account is credited (asset goes out).
Valuation Account:
Debit the account when the account is to be reduced and credit the account when the account is to be increased.
Community Answer
Explain the traditional and modern rules of debit and credit?
Traditional Rules of Debit and Credit:
The traditional rules of debit and credit are based on the accounting equation, which states that assets equal liabilities plus equity. These rules are used in double-entry bookkeeping to record and classify financial transactions. Here are the traditional rules of debit and credit:

1. Debit:
Debit entries increase assets and expenses, and decrease liabilities, revenues, and equity. The following accounts are debited:
- Assets: Debit entries increase the balance in asset accounts, such as cash, accounts receivable, and inventory.
- Expenses: Debit entries increase the amount of expenses incurred by the business, such as salaries, rent, and utilities.
- Losses: Debit entries are made for losses incurred by the business, such as losses from theft or damage.
- Drawings: Debit entries decrease the owner's equity when the owner withdraws funds from the business for personal use.

2. Credit:
Credit entries increase liabilities, revenues, and equity, and decrease assets and expenses. The following accounts are credited:
- Liabilities: Credit entries increase the balance in liability accounts, such as accounts payable, loans payable, and accrued expenses.
- Revenues: Credit entries increase the amount of revenue earned by the business, such as sales revenue or service fees.
- Gains: Credit entries are made for gains earned by the business, such as gains from the sale of assets or investments.
- Owner's Equity: Credit entries increase the owner's equity when the business earns profits or when the owner invests additional funds.

Modern Rules of Debit and Credit:
While the traditional rules of debit and credit are still applicable, modern accounting practices have introduced some modifications. These modifications aim to simplify and standardize the recording and reporting of financial transactions. Here are the modern rules of debit and credit:

1. Debit:
- Assets: Debit entries continue to increase the balance in asset accounts.
- Expenses: Debit entries increase the amount of expenses incurred by the business.
- Losses: Debit entries are made for losses incurred by the business.
- Dividends: Debit entries decrease the retained earnings when dividends are paid to shareholders.

2. Credit:
- Liabilities: Credit entries increase the balance in liability accounts.
- Revenues: Credit entries increase the amount of revenue earned by the business.
- Gains: Credit entries are made for gains earned by the business.
- Equity: Credit entries increase equity accounts, such as retained earnings and contributed capital.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the traditional rules of debit and credit are based on the accounting equation and involve debiting and crediting specific accounts to record financial transactions. The modern rules build upon the traditional rules and introduce some modifications to enhance clarity and consistency in accounting practices. Understanding these rules is essential for accurate and systematic financial record-keeping.
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