Debetpuolella

Debetpuolella is a Finnish term used in double-entry bookkeeping to refer to the debit side of an accounting entry. The name derives from the Latin debere, meaning something owed, and in Finnish accounting practice the left-hand side of a T-account is called the debetpuolella. The opposite side is kreditpuolella (credit side).

In double-entry bookkeeping, the debetpuolella has a specific effect depending on the type of account. Generally, debet entries increase asset accounts and expense accounts, and decrease liability, equity, and revenue accounts. Conversely, kredit entries increase liability, equity, and revenue accounts, and decrease asset and expense accounts. For every transaction, the total debet must equal the total kredit, keeping the books balanced.

Common examples help illustrate the concept. For instance, buying office supplies with cash is recorded as a debet entry on the Office Supplies (an asset) account and a corresponding kredit entry on the Cash account. Recording a sale on credit would typically involve a debet to Accounts Receivable and a kredit to Sales Revenue, thereby reflecting the incoming asset and the earned revenue.

Debetpuolella is a standard notion in Finnish accounting textbooks, ledgers, and financial documentation. It is used by accountants and students to describe where a transaction increases or decreases specific accounts within the double-entry system, and it remains a fundamental concept for understanding ledger balances and financial statements.