Types Of Accounts In Accounting And Their Classifications
What Is Accounts?
An account can be defined as a record in a double entry system that is kept for each class of asset, liability, revenue and expenses. The principles of double entry has been adequately explained. The next thing is the application of the system in principal book (ledger).
Types of Accounts
In accounting, there are two types of accounts, which are Personal account and Impersonal account. The Impersonal account is further subdivided into two, which are real and personal account. The different types of accounts will be clearly explained as you read on.
1. Personal Accounts
These are accounts for the names of individuals, firms, and business enterprises e.g Michael account, Lagbaja LTD, Fufu Enterprise, Debtors and creditors account, etc.
Types Of Personal Accounts
There are 3 types of personal accounts, they are:
- Natural personal accounts
Natural personal accounts is the simplest and easiest to understand out of all and includes all of God’s creations who have the ability to deal, who, in most cases, are people. E.g. Kumar’s A/C, Adam’s A/C, etc.
- Artificial personal accounts
These are types of Personal accounts which are created artificially by law, examples are corporate bodies and institutions, are called Artificial personal accounts. E.g. Pvt Ltd companies, LLCs, LLPs, clubs, schools, etc.
- Representative personal accounts
These are types of Accounts which represent a certain person, individual or a group directly or indirectly. E.g. When wages are paid in advance to an employee – a wage prepaid account will be opened in the books of accounts. The wages prepaid account is a representative personal account indirectly linked to the person involved.
ALSO READ: Three Golden rules of Accounting
2. Impersonal Accounts
These are accounts for properties, item of expenditures and income. Impersonal accounts can be divided into two, which are;
1. Real accounts
Real accounts are accounts for something we can see or move around us. They are accounts for assets e.g Land and building account, machinery account, etc.
2. Nominal account
These are accounts for expenses incurred, income received, losses and gains e.g rent account, discount received account, discount allowed account, insurance and interest account, etc.
Rules For Debiting And Crediting In Accounting
- The account which "receives" is debited with the value that comes into the account.
- The account which "gives" is credited with the value that goes out of the account. These rules can now be applied to the classes of account.
