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Books of original entry definition
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What are Books of Original Entry?
Books of original entry refers to the accounting journals in which business transactions are initially recorded. The information in these books is then summarized and posted into a general ledger , from which financial statements are produced. Each accounting journal contains detailed records for the types of accounting transactions pertaining to a specific area. Examples of these accounting journals are the cash journal, general journal , purchase journal, and sales journal .
The general ledger is not considered a book of original entry, if it only contains summarized entries posted to it from one of the underlying accounting journals. However, if transactions are recorded directly into the general ledger, it can be considered one of the books of original entry.
Books of original entry are extremely useful for investigating individual accounting transactions, and are commonly accessed by auditors , who verify a selection of business transactions to ensure that they were recorded correctly, as part of their audit procedures .
This concept only applies to manual record keeping. A computerized accounting system no longer makes reference to any of the accounting journals, instead recording all business transactions in a central database.
Terms Similar to Books of Original Entry
A journal may also be referred to as a day book.
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Books of Original Entry
Tally Solutions | Updated on: July 27, 2022
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- What is books of original entry?
- Types of books of original entry
- Components of books of original entry or books of prime entry or day books

What is Books of Original Entry?
When a businessman starts their company, one of the primary things they do is keep a track of their everyday transactions. These transactions are recorded on a timely basis (depending on the nature of their business) in a book before they are transferred to ledger accounts. Books of original entry is nothing but an accounting book or journal where all transactions are initially recorded. All business transactions, their details and descriptions are first recorded in the book of original entry.
Entering transactions on a regular basis in Book of original entry that carries details and evidence of business transactions before they are posted or transferred into proper ledger because, without the book of original entry being filled with evidence of business transactions, the writing of a ledger cannot be initiated.
Types of Books of Original Entry:
- General Journal - To record the transactions not recorded in special journals
- Special Journals - Special journals include further sub-journals; as given below:
- Sales journal - To record sales invoices issued by the firm when selling goods on credit
- Purchases journal - To record purchases invoices received by the business from suppliers, when buying goods on credit
- Return inwards journal - To record sales returns from customers
- Return outwards journal - To record purchases returns to suppliers
- Cash book - To record receipts or payments
Components of Books of Original Entry or Books of Prime Entry or Day Books:
Entries in the books of original entry normally consist of:.
- Date of transaction
- Details relating to transactions, i.e., the second aspect of transactions, e.g., name of trade receivable in the sales journal
- Monetary amount of the transactions
- References to the relevant ledger account (often called folio)
- References to original source documents, e.g., invoice number
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Books of original entries, also called the first entry book, are where the entire journal entries are recorded and kept with all the supporting documents & details of the transactions, which provides the existence & accuracy of the financial transaction posted before the same is being recorded or transferred in the individual ledgers.
Books of original entry refers to the accounting journals in which business transactions are initially recorded. The information in these books is then summarized and posted into a general ledger, from which financial statements are produced.
5-Aug-2021 – Books of original entry are the primary books of accounting, which are used by Accountants for recording accounting transactions in the first place. It is the first step in the accounting cycle, followed by ledgers, Trial Balance, and financial statements.
Books of original entry is nothing but an accounting book or journal where all transactions are initially recorded. All business transactions, their details and descriptions are first recorded in the book of original entry.
A book of original entry refers to an accounting book or journal where all transactions are initially recorded. This book can also be called a first entry or preliminary entry. It is the journal in which invoices, vouchers, cash transactions and others are first recorded before they are transferred to ledger accounts.
A book of original entry represents a physical location where accountants enter financial transactions. These books include registers, journals, and ledgers, though other items may be a book of original entry. Accountants use these books to separate business transactions by type.
Journal is called the Book of Original Entrysince every transaction is first recorded. Rules of debit and credit are applied to each transaction at the time of recording in the books of accounts. The transactions recorded in the Journal are posted into Ledger Accounts.
Characteristics: Journal has the following features: Journal is the first successful step of the double entry system. A transaction is recorded first of all in the journal. So, journal is called the book of original entry. A transaction is recorded on the same day it takes place. So, journal is also called a day book.