Closing entries are the journal entries used at the end of an accounting period. These entries are made to update retained earnings to reflect the results of operations and to eliminate the balances in the revenue and expense accounts, enabling them to be used again in a subsequent period. Closing entries are passed on the last day of the financial year. Examples of closing entries include:What Are Closing Entries?
When Are Closing Entries Passed?
Closing Entries FAQs
The closing journal entries example comprises of opening and closing balances. Opening entries include revenue, expense, Depreciation etc., while closing entries include closing balance of revenue, liability, Depreciation etc.
Closing entries are mainly made to update the Retained Earnings to reflect the results of operations and to eliminate the balances in the revenue and expense accounts, enabling them to be used again in a subsequent period.
Both closing and opening entries record transactions, but there is a slight variation in their purpose. Closing entries are used to close the books by registering the financial effects of all activities that occurred during an accounting period such as revenues, expenses, assets etc., while opening entries are capitalized for future usage by capturing the effects of all activities that occurred during a period before the books were closed.
Examples of closing entries can include: Closing entry for the transfer of all closing balances of assets, closing entry for the transfer of all closing balances of liabilities, etc.
Closing entries are put into action on the last day of an accounting period. This means that it is carried out every year. There are various journals for example cash journal, sales journal, purchase journal etc., which allow users to record transactions and find out what caused changes in the existing balances. Closing entries are mainly used to determine the financial position of a company at the end of a specific accounting period.
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