Kreditkolonnen

Kreditkolonnen is a term used in accounting to describe the part of a ledger or journal where credit entries are recorded in double-entry bookkeeping. In a typical ledger, each account has a debit (Dr) side and a credit (Cr) side. Transactions are entered so that total debits equal total credits, ensuring the books remain balanced.

In double-entry accounting, different account types respond to credits in specific ways. Credits generally increase liability accounts, equity, and revenue, and decrease asset and expense accounts. Debits have the opposite effect: they increase assets and expenses and decrease liabilities, equity, and revenue. This dual effect helps track the sources and uses of resources within the accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity).

A common ledger layout uses two columns for each account: the left side for debits and the right side for credits. For a given transaction, at least one account is debited and another is credited for the same amount, maintaining balance. For example, when a company borrows 10,000 cash, the cash account is debited 10,000 (asset increases) and the loan payable account is credited 10,000 (liability increases). When the company makes a sale for 5,000 cash, the cash account is debited 5,000 and the revenue account is credited 5,000.

The term may appear in manuals, ledgers, or financial records in languages that use the concept. The credit column is essential for accurately recording and balancing financial transactions.