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Every successful organization can be shown to have accounting as a pillar. By providing the basis for efficient financial management, maintaining business records and decision-making. The term “accounting” now refers to more than just bookkeeping. In this article, we will discuss the three golden rules of accountancy.
You know how accounting isn’t just about keeping records now? Well, in this article, we’re going to talk about something really important in accounting called the “three golden rules.” It’s like a special set of rules that help people understand how money moves around in businesses and stuff.
When something like buying or selling happens, it affects two accounts. Think of it like the three main rules of accounting—they’re kind of like the ‘Golden Rules’ in accounting. These rules help us understand different types of accounts: personal, real, and nominal. It’s like the foundation of accounting.
1. Introduction To Three Golden Rules Of Accountancy
In this post, we’re going to take a close look at these three golden rules of accounting. We’ll explore where they come from, why they’re important, and what benefits they offer. If you want to become a great accountant or run your own business someday, understanding these rules will make things much easier for you. It’s like building a strong foundation for learning about money and finance.
Beginners in the accounting industry must decide to select the regulation.
1.01. The Use Of Debit And Credit Can Be Widespread Or Customary Or British
The use of debit and credit can vary based on location and financial system. There are three main approaches: widespread, customary, and British, each with its own rules for when to use debit and credit.
1.02. A contemporary or American strategy
In the olden days, they used to divide accounts into two groups: personal and impersonal accounts. But now, in modern times, they have a different way called the “accounting equation” to handle accounts. It’s like a new and more helpful way to keep track of money.

2. Types of accounts
Think of the golden rule of accounting standards as a special helper for keeping track of money in different ledgers. These rules might change a bit depending on the type of account you’re dealing with. It’s like having different tools for different jobs.
In every transaction, there are two parts, like two sides of a coin. One side is called a credit entry, and the other side is a debit entry. These two sides are connected to three special types of accounts. It’s like fitting puzzle pieces together to keep track of money.
2.01. Nominal Account
A “nominal” account is like a big journal where a company writes down everything it does with money. This includes stuff like spending money (expenses), earning money (income), making profits, and when things don’t go so well (losses). It’s like a big book of money stories for the whole year. And when a new year begins, they start a fresh new book to keep track of everything all over again.
As an illustration, consider the accounts for rent, interest, commissions, and salaries.
2.02. Personal Account
Personal accounts are like special lists of people, groups, or businesses you deal with when it comes to money. It’s like keeping track of who owes you money or who you owe money to.
It has been divided into 3 subcategories:
2.02.01. Artificial Personal Account
Even though they’re not people, some things in these accounts, like hospitals, partnerships, banks, companies, and government groups, are considered sort of like they have their own special legal “lives.” It’s like they can do important money stuff on their own, just like people.
2.02.02. Natural Personal Account
This natural personal account is like a list of different people-related money things. It includes people who lend money (creditors), people who owe money (debtors), and even special accounts for taking money out or putting money into a business (drawing and capital accounts). It’s like keeping track of all the money stories involving people and buying things.
2.02.03. Representative Personal Account
This special personal account can stand for things that are real, like actual people, or things that we create, like accounts for business purposes. And whether we use an account from this year or last year depends on the situation. For example, if we’re keeping track of money a company owes to an employee from the previous year, we’d use this kind of account. Or if a company pays rent ahead of time for the next year, it goes in here too. It’s like a way to organize all sorts of money stuff.

2.03. Real Account
Just like the other two accounts, this one is like a big money journal, but it focuses on things the company owes to others, like money it has to pay back (creditor account), and things the company owns, which can be split into two types: things you can’t touch, like patents and copyrights (intangible assets), and things you can touch, like buildings and equipment (physical assets). It’s like keeping track of what the company owes and what it has.
Tangible assets are things you can touch, like furniture, equipment, and buildings. Intangible assets are things you can’t touch, like the good reputation a company has (goodwill), special rights to ideas or creations (copyrights and patents), and stuff like that. It’s like the difference between toys you can play with and ideas that are valuable but invisible.
Real accounts are like long-term friends that stick around. They don’t get cancelled at the end of the year; instead, they carry over to the next year. You can see them on something called the balance sheet, which is like a financial report that shows what the company owns and owes. So, they’re like the important stuff that keeps going and shows up on the company’s financial report.
Let’s talk about the golden laws of accounting after looking at various types of accounts.
3. Three Golden Rules of Accounting
Golden accounting standards for various types of accounts.
3.01. Real Account Golden Rule
1. The company debits the money that enters it.
2. Give the firm credit for what it sends out.
3.02. Personal Account Golden Rule
1. Pay the recipient back
2. Recognize the giver
3.03. Nominal Account Golden Rule
1. Subtract the company’s expenditure or loss.
2. Credit the company’s earnings or profits.

4. Rule One Of Accountancy
” Credit what goes out, debit what comes in.”
This act is about making sure we keep track of what we already have in our accounts. It’s like counting our buildings, furniture, land, and machines. Sometimes, the balance in these accounts can be negative, which means we owe something. To make things right, we add what we’re going to get by writing it down in a special way called “debiting.” It’s like keeping our money records accurate.
5. Rule Two Of Accountancy
“Credit the donor, debit the beneficiary.”
This rule is for personal accounts, which are like records of people and organizations you deal with. When someone gives your company money, it’s like receiving a payment, and you need to keep track of who paid you. It’s similar to how stores record their sales. This helps you update your records accurately.
6. Rule Three Of Accountancy
“Credit all revenue, debit all expenses.”
This rule is about nominal accounts, which are like special money categories for businesses.
When a company makes money, like earnings and profits, it’s like adding to their savings (capital), so they record it as a credit. This makes their wealth go up.
But when they have losses and expenses, it’s like spending from their savings, so they record it as a credit too. This makes their capital go down.
So, it’s like keeping track of how much money the company has saved up or spent.

7. Importance Of Golden Rules
Let’s discuss the importance of these golden rules in detail.
7.01. Consistency
The golden rules are like a special set of instructions that everyone, like accountants, follows when recording money stuff. This helps make sure that when we look at money records from different times and places, they’re easy to compare. It’s like having a common way to understand how money was used in the past, which helps us learn from it.
7.02. Accuracy
The golden rules are like a guide to making sure financial statements are correct. They help us put every money action into one of three groups: personal, real, or nominal. This helps us make smart decisions for a business and figure out if it’s doing well financially. So, it’s all about keeping our money records accurate for a healthy business
7.03. Dual Aspect Concept
The dual-aspect idea, a foundational accounting theory, is embodied in the golden rules. According to this theory, there is an equal amount of giving and taking throughout every transaction. Since the dual entry method records the two sides of every transaction, guided by the golden laws. The basic accounting equations—Assets = Liability + Owner’s Equity—stay unchanged. aiding in keeping the equations for accounting balanced and ensuring that the books remain in balance.
7.04. Financial Reporting
Companies use the golden rules to make important financial documents like the balance sheet, cash flow statement, and income statement. Accountants use these rules to organize and summarize all the money stuff correctly. These documents tell people, like lenders and investors, how well a company is doing and if it’s in good financial shape. So, it’s like making reports that show how a company is doing with its money.

The Icy Tales team talked to Khurram Suhrwardy, CEO of Caption Easy, about their choice between cash-based and accrual accounting for businesses’ financial reporting needs. Here is what he said:

“For Caption Easy, the choice between cash-based and accrual accounting hinges on our growth trajectory and financial goals.
While cash-based accounting may offer immediate insights into cash flow, accrual accounting allows us to anticipate future revenue streams and plan strategically.
By prioritizing long-term sustainability, we can accurately assess our profitability and manage expenses. For example, in 2022, we opted for accrual accounting to facilitate our expansion into new markets, resulting in a 15% increase in revenue projection accuracy.”
We interviewed Eric Novinson, Founder of This Is Accounting Automation, on this. Here is what he had to say:

“I use cash-basis accounting because it’s simpler to track revenue and expenses that way. Bank account records will show you when a payment arrived or when it was sent.
But you’ll need additional record-keeping systems to track when you performed a specific task that generated revenue or incurred expenses for using a service that you’ll pay for in the future.”
8. Benefits Of Golden Rules
Here, are the benefits of golden rules.
8.01. Simplified Training And Knowledge Transfer
These rules help new accountants or beginners in accounting to keep things organized and simple when recording money transactions. It’s like having a clear roadmap to learn and use accounting principles. These rules are like the building blocks for understanding how accounting works, making it easier to learn and pass on knowledge and skills in the accounting world. So, it’s like a helpful guide for new accountants to get started.
8.02. Error Detection And Prevention
The Golden Rules come with something cool called the dual-entry system. It’s like a built-in way to catch mistakes. For every transaction, it says you have to do both a debit and a credit entry. This makes it easy to spot any mistakes right away.
So, by using this system, we make sure our financial reports are accurate and trustworthy. It’s like having a safety net to keep our money records in good shape.
8.03. Financial Analysis And Interpretation
The Golden Rule helps make financial information easier to understand and analyze. Accountants use it to sort transactions into different categories like personal, real, and nominal accounts. This makes it simpler to see patterns and trends in the money data.
So, it’s like having a special tool that helps people study the finances of a company better. It helps us make smart choices based on clear information.
8.04. Risk Management And Fraud Prevention
Effective risk management and fraud prevention are made possible by these rules. By offering These regulations ensure that all financial transactions are accurately recorded by establishing a framework for standardizing transaction recording. This helps to identify and stop fraud-related actions. such is the misappropriation of stolen money and the forgery of financial documents. The emphasis of the golden rules on uniformity and readability contributes to the development of a robust control environment and the reduction of financial risk.
Integrating accounting principles with financial systems and software enables the automation and streamlining of the accounting process. Mapping the rules to the system’s chart of accounts enables the automatic recording, categorization, and reduction of manual labour and potential errors in system transactions. The integration increases the overall effectiveness of financial processes and enhances efficiency and processing speed.
8.06. International Financial Reporting
Organizations that operate internationally find these guidelines suitable because they align with international reporting standards. By adhering to these regulations, multinational corporations can maintain uniformity in financial reporting across national borders and ensure adherence to international accounting standards. This practice encourages transparency, facilitates cross-border analysis, and enables entities operating in multiple countries to compare themselves more easily.

9. Fundamentals Of The Golden Rule
Now, read the fundamentals of the golden rules.
9.01. Futuristic Strategy
Accountants use the concept of a running business, as they perceive a company as existing forever, and the only way to halt it after it has become established is to separate it.
This presumption implies that there won’t be any conflicting information, and the business will continue as usual until the end of the next accounting quarter. The going concern principle allows businesses to borrow credit, budget for future receivables and payables, and depreciate equipment if it will be used extensively.
If management anticipates a quick suspension of operations, they abandon standard accounting. For dissolution-related reasons, a particular kind of accounting is employed.
9.02. Monetary Strategy
Unlike trade, accounting cannot account for items in the same way, as it must state all values in terms of a single monetary unit. Assigning values to products and items becomes challenging because they are ultimately subjective. However, accounting has regulations in place to deal with the issue.
9.03. Pricing Strategy
The conservative philosophy and the cost idea go hand in hand. The cost principle states that companies must account for all expenses in their financial statements. Over time, gold, real estate, and other commodities typically increase in value. However, accountants will not permit this appreciation to show up on the company’s financial records until it has been recognized.
Accountants think that a product’s market value is only a personal assessment. Accountants are unable to take into account all of the many viewpoints. since it was purchased, and the selling price was verified, it is accurate. The cost principle and facts serve as the basis for accounting.
9.04. Conservatism Strategy
Accountants are known for their cautious temperament, wanting to hope for the best while bracing for the worst. The standards they have established for their field make this clear. The idea of conservatism is crucial in accounting.
Using this method, the company must determine the lowest possible revenue and the highest possible potential expenses when the predicted inflow of funds is uncertain.
10. Final Note
The “golden rules of accounting” provide the foundation for financial management, reporting, and the creation of financial statements during an accounting period. Understanding these rules actively allows businesses to maintain accurate financial records, comply with regulations, and make informed decisions based on reliable data about the company’s capital. The rule establishes the standardization language of accounting, enabling effective communication and analysis within the financial realm.
The golden rule actively supports businesses in implementing internal control measures to safeguard their assets, detect errors or regulation breaches, and maintain operational efficiency. The rule actively establishes the standardization language of accounting, enabling effective communication and analysis within the financial realm.
While the three rules provide a solid framework, it is important to note that accountancy encompasses additional principles, practices, and complexities. Continual learning and exploration in the field of accountancy are essential for professionals and individuals seeking to deepen their understanding and expertise.
In essence, the golden rule of accountancy lays the groundwork for accurate financial management, reporting, and decision-making. By adhering to these recommendations, businesses can successfully utilize the power of accounting, attaining their strategic objectives while maintaining financial stability.
Guest Author: Saket Kumar
Last Updated on by Saket Kumar