A contra account is an account with a balance opposite the normal accounts in its category. Contra accounts are usually linked to specific accounts on the balance sheet and are reported as subtractions from these accounts. In other words, contra accounts are used to reduce normal accounts on the balance sheet. Show Types of Contra Accounts – ExplanationThere are a few different types of contra accounts in the chart of accounts. Each one is tied to their respective asset, liability, or equity account to reduce their carrying balance on the balance sheet. Here’s a list of the main types of contra accounts: Contra Asset Account – A contra asset account is an asset that carries a credit balance and is used to decrease the balance of another asset on the balance. An example of this is accumulated depreciation. This account decreases the fixed asset carrying balance. Contra Liability Account – A contra liability account is a liability that carries a debit balance and decreases other liabilities on the balance sheet. An example of this is a discount on bonds payable. Contra Equity Account – A contra equity account has a debit balance and decreases a standard equity account. Treasure stock is a good example as it carries a debit balance and decreases the overall stockholders’ equity. ExampleHow are Contra Accounts Used and Reported?Take the equipment account for example. Equipment is a long-term asset account that has a debit balance. Equipment is depreciated over its useful. This depreciation is saved in a contra asset account called accumulated depreciation. The accumulated depreciation account has a credit balance and is used to reduce the carrying value of the equipment. The balance sheet would report equipment at its historical cost and then subtract the accumulated depreciation. By reporting contra accounts on the balance sheet, users can learn even more information about the company than if the equipment was just reported at its net amount. Balance sheet readers cannot only see the actual cost of the item; they can also see how much of the asset was written off as well as estimate the remaining useful life and value of the asset. The same is true for other asset accounts like accounts receivable. Accounts receivable is rarely reported on the balance sheet at its net amount. Instead, it is reported at its full amount with an allowance for bad debts listed below it. This shows investors how much receivables are still good. Maybe more importantly, it shows investors and creditors what percentage of receivables the company is writing off. Contra Account is an opposite entry passed to offset the balances of related original accounts in the ledger and helps the organization retrieve the original amount and the amount of decrease in the value, thereby presenting the net balances of the account.
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You are free to use this image on your website, templates, etc., Please provide us with an attribution linkHow to Provide Attribution?Article Link to be Hyperlinked List of Contra Accounts with ExamplesThese accounts can be listed based on the respective asset, liability, or equity account to reduce their original balance. Below is the list you should be aware of – #1 – Contra AssetAn asset that is recorded as a credit balance is used to decrease the balance of an asset. The balance of a contra asset accountContra Asset AccountA contra asset account is an asset account with a credit balance related to one of the assets with a debit balance. When we add the balances of these two assets, we will get the net book value or carrying value of the assets having a debit balance.read more is a credit balance. This account decreases the value of a hard asset. This account is not classified as an asset since it does not represent a long-term value. It is not classified as a liability since it does not constitute a future obligation. These contra accounts examples include
#2 – Contra LiabilityA liability recorded as a debit balance is used to decrease the balance of a liability. The balance of a contra liability account is a debit balance. This account decreases the value of the liability. Contra Liability a/c is not used as frequently as contra asset accounts. It is not classified as a liability since it does not represent a future obligation. The examples of contra liability accounts include:
#3 – Contra EquityEquity recorded as a debit balance is used to decrease the balance of a standard equity account. It is a reduction from equity because it represents the amount paid by a corporation to buy back its stockBuy Back Its StockShare buyback refers to the repurchase of the company’s own outstanding shares from the open market using the accumulated funds of the company to decrease the outstanding shares in the company’s balance sheet. This is done either to increase the value of the existing shares or to prevent various shareholders from controlling the company.read more. The contra equity account reduces the total number of outstanding sharesOutstanding SharesOutstanding shares are the stocks available with the company's shareholders at a given point of time after excluding the shares that the entity had repurchased. It is shown as a part of the owner's equity in the liability side of the company's balance sheet.read more. The treasury stock accountTreasury Stock AccountTreasury Stock is a stock repurchased by the issuance Company from its current shareholders that remains non-retired. Moreover, it is not considered while calculating the Company’s Earnings Per Share or dividends. read more is debited when a company buys back its shares from the open market. #4 – Contra RevenueThe contra revenue account is a reduction from gross revenue, which results in net revenue. These transactions are reported in one or more contra revenue accounts, which usually have a debit balance and reduce the total amount of the company’s net revenue. Examples of contra revenue accountRevenue AccountRevenue accounts are those that report the business's income and thus have credit balances. Revenue from sales, revenue from rental income, revenue from interest income, are it's common examples.read more include:
Debit or CreditFrom studying the basics of debit and credit, balance sheet accountsBalance Sheet AccountsA balance sheet is one of the financial statements of a company that presents the shareholders' equity, liabilities, and assets of the company at a specific point in time. It is based on the accounting equation that states that the sum of the total liabilities and the owner's capital equals the total assets of the company.read more have a healthy balance.
Why are Contra Accounts Important?It enables a business to record the original value on the general ledger and any reduction in the value. It allows us to see the assets’ unique historical value and the associated accumulated depreciation. It facilitates easy retrieval of the original amount and the actual decrease, which helps understand the net balance. It allows a business to present the net value based on the reduction made on the original amount. Recommended ArticlesThis article has been a guide to Contra Account. Here we discuss the list of contra accounts, including Assets, Liability, Equity, and Revenue, along with examples. You can learn more about accounting from the following articles – What is an example of a contra account?An account with a balance that is the opposite of the normal balance. For example, Accumulated Depreciation is a contra asset account, because its credit balance is contra to the debit balance for an asset account. Another example is the owner's drawing account.
Which is a contra account quizlet?an account that is offset against another account. A contra account can be an asset with a credit balance or a liability with a debt balance.
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