Closing Entries



At the end of an accounting period, it is necessary to "close" the temporary accounts which means to make their balances zero. The temporary accounts are closed by transferring their balances to permanent accounts. This is done by passing closing entries. Closing entries are based on the account balances in the adjusted trial balance.
Temporary accounts include:
  1. Revenue, Income and Gain Accounts
  2. Expense and Loss Accounts
  3. Dividend, Drawings or Withdrawals Accounts
  4. Income Summary Account
The following example shows the closing entries based on the adjusted trial balance of Company A.

Closing Entries
Note
Date
Account
Debit
Credit
1
Jan 31
Service Revenue
85,600



Income Summary

85,600
2
Jan 31
Income Summary
77,364



Wages Expense

38,200


Supplies Expense

18,480


Rent Expense

12,000


Miscellaneous Expense

3,470


Electricity Expense

2,470


Telephone Expense

1,494


Depreciation Expense

1,100


Interest Expense

150
3
Jan 31
Income Summary
8,236



Retained Earnings

8,236
4
Jan 31
Retained Earnings
5,000



Dividend

5,000
Notes:
  1. Service revenue account is debited and income summary account is credited to transfer the balance of service revenue account to income summary account. If a business has other income accounts, for example gain on sale account, then the debit side of the first closing entry will also include the gain on sale account and the income summary account will be credited for the sum of all income accounts.
  2. Each expense account is credited and the income summary is debited for the sum of the balances of expense accounts.
  3. Income summary account is debited and retained earnings account is credited for the an amount equal to the excess of service revenue over total expenses i.e. the net balance in income summary account after posting the first two closing entries. In this case 85,600 − 77,364 = 8,236.
  4. The last closing entry transfers the dividend or withdrawal account balance to the retained earnings account.