Table of Contents

    Debit & Credit Rules for Basic Accounting Elements

    🔹 Debit & Credit Rules for Basic Accounting Elements

    Figure: Debit & Credit Rules for Basic Accounting Elements

    1. Assets (Things the business owns)

    • Rule:

      • Debit what comes in

      • Credit what goes out

    ✅ Example:

    • Business buys machinery for $10,000 (Cash paid).

      • Machinery A/c Dr. $10,000 (comes in)

      • Cash A/c Cr. $10,000 (goes out)


    2. Liabilities (What the business owes)

    • Rule:

      • Debit decrease in liability

      • Credit increase in liability

    ✅ Example:

    • Business takes a loan of $5,000 from bank.

      • Bank Loan A/c Cr. $5,000 (liability increases)

      • Cash A/c Dr. $5,000 (asset increases)


    3. Equity (Capital / Owner’s Equity)

    • Rule:

      • Debit decrease in capital

      • Credit increase in capital

    ✅ Example:

    • Owner invests $20,000 cash in business.

      • Cash A/c Dr. $20,000 (asset increases)

      • Capital A/c Cr. $20,000 (owner’s equity increases)


    4. Revenue / Income

    • Rule:

      • Debit decrease in income

      • Credit increase in income

    ✅ Example:

    • Business earns $2,000 service income (on cash).

      • Cash A/c Dr. $2,000 (asset increases)

      • Service Revenue A/c Cr. $2,000 (income increases)


    5. Expenses / Losses

    • Rule:

      • Debit all expenses & losses

      • Credit all incomes & gains

    ✅ Example:

    • Paid $1,000 as office rent.

      • Rent Expense A/c Dr. $1,000 (expense increases)

      • Cash A/c Cr. $1,000 (asset decreases)


    🔹 Quick Memory Table

    Element Debit (Dr.) Credit (Cr.)
    Assets Increase Decrease
    Liabilities Decrease Increase
    Equity (Capital) Decrease Increase
    Revenue/Income Decrease Increase
    Expenses/Losses Increase Decrease

    ✅ In short:

    • Debit = Assets ↑, Expenses ↑

    • Credit = Liabilities ↑, Capital ↑, Income ↑

    Figure: Debit & Credit Rules for Basic Accounting Elements Chart