Accounting Sub Journals and Cash Book

The accounting procedure, for recordingdifferent persons can carry out the job.
information, involves two steps, namelyCash Book
journalizing and posting. It follows that everyIn any business, perhaps, the largest number of
business must maintain a journal (books of originaltransactions of one nature must relate to cash
or prime entry) and a ledger (principal book). Thusand bank. It is so because every transaction
the system of book-keeping originally envisagesmust, ultimately, result in a cash transaction. Now
that all the transactions must be recorded first inif every cash transaction is to be recorded in
the book of original record, i.e., journal and thenjournal, it will involve an enormous amount of
each transaction so recorded in the journal shouldlabor in debiting or crediting cash or bank account
be posted in the principal book, i.e., ledger.in the ledger for each transaction. Therefore, it is
Subsequently it was experienced that the labor ofconvenient to have a separate book, the cash
recording each transaction with narration in thebook, to record such transactions. Maintaining of
journal and then posting each entry in twocash book removes the necessity of having cash
different accounts in the ledger was enormous.and bank accounts in the ledger. This book
The procedure was more time-consuming andenables us to know the balance of cash in hand
resulted in higher establishment cost.and at bank at any point of time.
It is but natural that in every business most ofCash book consists of cash and bank accounts
the transactions relate to receipts and paymentstaken out of ledger and maintained separately;
of cash; purchases of goods ;. sales of goods etc.thus it is a substitute of ledger for cash and bank
It was found to be convenient and economical toaccounts. It is also a book of original entry
keep separate books to record each particularbecause cash and bank transactions are not
class of transactions. Each separate book meantrecorded in any other subsidiary book.
to record transactions of a particular class is the
book of original or prime entry. It is also known asTypes of cash books
sub-journal or subsidiary book. The system underThe type of cash book to be used by any
which transactions of similar nature are entered inbusiness will depend upon its nature and
the relevant' subsidiary book and on the basis ofrequirements. It may be anyone of the following:
which ledger is written is known as the 'practical(1) Single column cash book (cash column).
system of book- keeping'. This system reduces(2) Double column cash book (cash and discount
labor and time of recording the transactions ascolumns).
impersonal accounts, viz., sales account, purchases(3) Triple column cash book (cash, discount and
account etc., receive the posting of totals and notbank columns).
of individual transactions. However, this system(4) Bank cash book (bank and discount columns).
also conforms to the basic rules of the doubleGenerally, each business will use anyone of the
entry system.above types of cash book along with "petty
Generally the following subsidiary books are usedcashbook" which is maintained on memorandum
in the business:basis.
(1) Cash book : records receipts and payments ofDistinction between cash A/c and Cash book
cash including transactions relating to bank;Actually cash book is a perfect substitute of cash
(2) Purchases book: records credit purchases ofaccount. In both, cash transactions are recorded
goods meant for sale or for conversion intodate wise in order of occurrence. Cash balance as
finished goods;on any date can be ascertained by balancing both
(3) Returns outwards book: records return of theon any day desired. Yet there are some
goods to the suppliers due to several reasons;differences between the two as given below:
(4) Sales book: records credit sales of the goodsCash account
dealt in by the business;1. Is an account in the ledger.
(5) Returns inwards book : records the return of2. Cash account is part of the ledger. Cash
goods by the customers to the business ; (vi) Billsaccount is opened in the ledger in which posting is
receivable book: records the receipts of bills ofdone from some book of original entry i.e. journal
exchange, promissory notes and hundies of3. In cash account posting is not followed by
various parties;narration.
(6) Bills payable book: records the issue of bills4. It only records one aspect of transaction
exchange, promissory notes and hundies to theinvolving cash and bank.
various parties:Cash book
Advantages of sub-journals1. Is a separate book of accounts forming part of
(1) It results in saving of time by (a) enabling theaccounting system.
recording procedure to be carried on2. Cash book records entries directly from
simultaneously in different subsidiary books andtransactions and these is no need for a book of
(b) by posting the periodical totals in theprime entry.
impersonal accounts.3. In cash book entries are followed by narration
(2) It makes information available regarding eachalso.
particular class of transactions.4. It records both the aspects of this transaction
(3) At the time of preparing trial balance thein cash and bank columns to complete double
checking is easier because books being many,entry posting.