Nulbalans

Nulbalans is a term used in Norwegian accounting and finance to denote a zero balance on an account or ledger. It describes a situation in which the net of debits and credits equals zero, and it can occur either temporarily during bookkeeping or as a final result after reconciliation.

In accounting practice, nulbalans often appears at period end when temporary or nominal accounts are closed. Through closing entries, the balances of revenue and expense accounts are transferred to retained earnings or the appropriate permanent accounts, leaving those temporary accounts with a zero balance for the new period. Nulbalans can also indicate that a particular set of transactions has been fully offset, aiding in the accuracy and clarity of the financial records.

In banking and treasury management, the concept is related to zero-balance accounts (ZBAs), where subsidiary accounts are kept at or returned to zero by automatic transfers to a master or concentrating account. This minimizes idle balances and simplifies cash management while ensuring funds are available where needed.

Nulbalans is primarily used in Norwegian-language financial contexts. In English-language practice, equivalent terms are typically “zero balance” or “zero-balance account.” The concept emphasizes balance, reconciliation, and the administrative hygiene of keeping ledgers clean and up to date.