In: Accounting
What is the purpose of the post-closing trial balance?
The post-closing trial balance serves as a starting point for the following accounting period and confirms the correctness of the closure procedure. The post-closing trial balance serves the following primary objectives:
1.The post-closing trial balance aids in confirming that the closing entries were accurately entered. It makes sure that all temporary accounts (revenue, cost, and dividend accounts) have been closed to the proper permanent accounts (such retained earnings or owner's equity).
2. By creating a post-closing trial balance, you may examine the account balances and find any possible closing-process mistakes. The trial balance should balance if the closing entries were properly recorded. There may have been mistakes made throughout the closure process or additional modifications if there were disparities.
3.The post-closing trial balance serves as the starting point for the following accounting period. Only the permanent accounts—whose balances are carried over from one period to the next—are included. You may start recording transactions during the new period using the post-closing trial balance as a baseline, making it simpler to maintain correct financial records.
4.In order to generate financial statements for the next accounting period, the account balances required can be found in the post-closing trial balance. Due to the closure of temporary accounts, it assures that only the pertinent permanent account balances are shown in the financial statements.
In general, the post-close trial balance is a technique used to confirm the correctness of the closure process, spot mistakes, set a starting point for the next period, and simplify the creation of financial statements.