Accurate and efficient bookkeeping is essential for any business, and understanding the difference between temporary vs permanent accounts can help you improve your accounting operations. Temporary accounts track income or expenses that occur in a single period of time, while permanent accounts are used to store information related to assets or liabilities that will last for multiple periods.
This guide will break down what makes these two types of accounts different from each other, provide examples of both temporary vs permanent accounts, and explain why it’s essential to understand the distinction when managing your finances.
What are Temporary Accounts?
Temporary accounts are accounts that begin each fiscal year with a zero balance and are closed at the end of every accounting period. They are designed to track financial activity for a specific period of time. All income statement accounts, such as revenue accounts, expense accounts (including the cost of goods sold, compensation expense, and supplies expense accounts), gain and loss accounts (like the loss on assets sold account), and the income summary account, are considered temporary accounts.
Temporary accounts classify and describe a company’s financial transactions for a designated period of reporting. At the end of the fiscal year, the balances in these accounts are shifted, resulting in a zero balance to start the new accounting period.
Examples of Temporary Accounts
Here are some examples of temporary Accounts:
- Revenue Accounts: These include sales revenue, service revenue, and interest revenue. They record the income earned by the business during the accounting period.
- Expense Accounts: These include the cost of goods sold, wages expense, rent expense, utilities expense, depreciation expense, advertising expense, and tax expense. They record the costs incurred by the business in its operations to generate revenue.
- Gain and Loss Accounts: These accounts track gains or losses from selling assets, currency exchange, or investments. For example, gain on equipment sales or loss on foreign exchange.
- Income Summary Account: This is a special temporary account used during the closing process. It collects the balances of all other temporary accounts and eventually shows the net income or loss for the period.
- Owner’s Drawing Account: This account tracks any withdrawals made by the owner (in a sole proprietorship or partnership) from the business for personal use.
At the end of each accounting period, these temporary accounts are closed out or reset to zero, and their balances are transferred to a permanent account, typically the owner’s capital account in the case of a sole proprietorship or partnership or retained earnings for corporations.
What are Permanent Accounts?
Permanent accounts are those that continue to maintain ongoing balances over time. These accounts do not close at the end of the accounting period but carry their balances into the next period. Permanent accounts encompass all accounts consolidated in the balance sheet. This includes asset accounts, liability accounts, and equity accounts.
Examples of Permanent Accounts
Here are a few notable examples of permanent accounts:
- Asset Accounts: These include accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses, buildings, equipment, and investments. They record the resources owned or controlled by the business.
- Liability Accounts: These include accounts payable, notes payable, accrued expenses, and also long-term debt. They record the obligations of the business to its creditors.
- Equity Accounts: These include common stock, retained earnings, and treasury stock. After all, liabilities have been deducted; they record the owners’ claims against the business’s assets.
Once the transactions have been recorded and posted in the temporary accounts, they are then closed or reset to zero, and their balances are transferred to permanent accounts.
Temporary Accounts Vs. Permanent Accounts: Key Differences
Temporary and permanent accounts play crucial roles in accounting. However, they serve different purposes and function differently. Here are some key differences:
Purpose
Temporary accounts are used to track financial results for a specific period. They include all income statement accounts that report revenues, expenses, gains, and losses. On the other hand, permanent accounts keep a running tally of the company’s resources and claims against those resources, essentially providing a snapshot of a company’s financial health at any given time. They include all balance sheet accounts which report assets, liabilities, and also equity.
Resetting Balances
At the end of each accounting period (typically a year), temporary accounts are closed or reset to zero, and their balances are transferred to a permanent equity account (Retained Earnings for corporations, Owner’s Equity for sole proprietorships or partnerships). This procedure is commonly referred to as book closure.. On the contrary, permanent accounts do not close at the end of the accounting period. Their balances carry over from one period to the next, accumulating over the company’s lifetime.
Reporting
Temporary accounts contribute to the creation of the income statement, which shows the company’s revenues, costs, and profit for a given period. On the other hand, permanent accounts are reported on the balance sheet, which provides a view of the company’s financial position at a specific time.
Examples
Temporary accounts include revenue, expense, and dividend accounts. Permanent accounts include:
- Asset accounts (like cash, accounts receivable, and buildings).
- Liability accounts (like accounts payable and notes payable).
- Equity accounts (like retained earnings and common stock).
Understanding these differences is essential for accurate financial reporting and a business’s financial state.
Why Does It Matter to Identify the Difference?
Identifying the difference between temporary and permanent accounts is essential for several reasons:
Financial Reporting
Understanding the distinction between these two types of accounts is crucial for accurate financial reporting. Temporary accounts generate the income statement, which reflects a company’s performance over a specific period. On the other hand, permanent accounts contribute to the balance sheet, which provides a snapshot of a company’s financial position at a certain time.
Closing the Books
At the end of an accounting period, closing out all temporary accounts and transferring their balances to the appropriate permanent account (usually Retained Earnings) is necessary. This process, known as “closing the books,” resets temporary accounts to zero so they’re ready to track activity in the next period. If you don’t correctly distinguish between temporary and permanent accounts, this process can become confusing and lead to errors.
Tracking Financial Progress
Permanent accounts allow businesses to track their financial progress over time since these account balances carry forward from one period to the next. In contrast, temporary accounts provide a view of financial activities within a specific timeframe.
Decision Making
The information provided by both temporary and permanent accounts is critical for decision-making by management, investors, and other stakeholders. For example, the income statement (derived from temporary accounts) can provide insights into a company’s profitability and operational efficiency, while the balance sheet (derived from permanent accounts) can shed light on the company’s liquidity and financial stability.
Recognizing the differences between temporary and permanent accounts is fundamental to understanding, managing, and communicating a company’s financial health and performance.
Which Should You Choose?
When it comes to choosing between temporary vs permanent accounts, it’s not a matter of preference or choice but rather a necessity based on the nature of the transactions and the purpose of the account. Both accounts are integral parts of accounting systems and serve different purposes.
- Temporary Accounts: These accounts are used for recording transactions related to a specific accounting period. They include revenue, expense, and dividend accounts, and they’re crucial for preparing the company’s income statement, which provides insights into the company’s profitability during a certain period.
- Permanent Accounts: These accounts carry their balances into the next accounting period. They include asset, liability, and equity accounts, and they’re necessary for preparing the company’s balance sheet, which shows the company’s financial position at a particular time.
Temporary vs. permanent accounts, both are crucial components of the accounting process, serving different purposes in the creation of a company’s financial statements. An accountant doesn’t choose between them but uses them both as needed based on the nature of the business transactions they’re recording.
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Wrapping Up
Understanding the distinction between temporary and permanent accounts is essential for accurate financial reporting. Knowing how to properly manage these two types of accounts can help you create comprehensive financial statements that reflect your company’s performance over a specific period or point in time. Plus, with ReliaBills’ invoicing and payment processing software solutions, managing customer information and creating proper billing reports become easier than ever before! Start taking control of your business finances by signing up today!
