cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Mark ISP
Level 1

accounts with negative values

When an account that normally has a credit balance such as Current Liabilities, or Deposits Held has a negative balance ( - ) on the Chart of Accounts, does this mean that they currently have a Debit balance?

1 Comment 1
aj4fluentbiz
Level 3

accounts with negative values

The short answer is "yes"!

 

When viewing the chart of account you will see the account balances listed as positive numbers and negative numbers (-).  The positive numbers reflect how that account type normally carries a value (debit balances for assets and credit balances for liabilities).  If you see a negative (-) balance in one of the accounts it means it has the opposite of what the account type normally carries in value.  

 

A good example would be a fixed asset account.  If you purchase a vehicle the value of the vehicle on the chart of accounts would have a positive or debit balance.  Every year the vehicle is depreciated and there is another account "vehicle depreciation" listed as a fixed asset.  This account will carry a negative balance even though it is an asset as it is reducing the value of the corresponding asset, vehicle, and carries a credit balance.

 

The liability section of the balance sheet works the same way.  It is just that the positive account balances are credits and the negatives are debits.

 

 

Sign in for expert help
Ask questions, post replies & join our community of QuickBooks users.

Need to get in touch?

Contact us