CONTROL ACCOUNTS

A control account controls a section of the ledger. By control is meant that the balance on the control account
should be equal to the total of the balances in the section of the ledger it is controlling. A sales ledger control
account controls the sales ledger; a purchase ledger control account controls the purchase ledger.
Control accounts are kept in the general or nominal ledger, not in the ledgers they are controlling.

Purposes of Control Accounts

1. It helps to detect fraud
2. It helps to identify errors
3. It provides the total figures of debtors and creditors quickly for the preparation of the final account.

Preparation of Control Accounts

Control Accounts is prepared from periodic totals of each type of transactions which are obtained from the
books of prime entry. The control account is also known as Total AccountThe following example shows very
simply how the principle works for the sales ledger control account.
Example:
Transactions for January 2003
4 Jan Sold goods $ 1,000 on credit to Amisha
10 Jan Sold goods $ 1,500 on credit to Patel
24 Jan Sold goods $ 1,900 on credit to Prity
24 Jan Sold goods $ 2,000 on credit to Zinta
25 Jan Amisha returns goods $ 100
25 Jan Patel returns goods $ 200.
26 Jan Zinta returns goods $ 300
27 Jan Received $ 600 cash from Amisha after allowing her $ 60 discount
28 Jan Received $ 700 cash from Patel after allowing her $ 70 discount
29 Jan Received $ 1,000 cash from Prity after allowing her $ 100 discount
30 Jan Received $ 1,300 cash from Zinta after allowing her $ 130 discount

Sales Journal
Date Particulars $ $
2003
4 Jan Amisha 1,000
10 Jan Patel 1,500
24 Jan Prity 1,900
27 Jan Zinta 2,000
31 Jan Total Transferred to Sales Account 6,400

Sales Returns Journal

Date Particulars $ $
2003
10 Jan Amisha 100
27 Jan Patel 200
29 Jan Zinta 300
31 Jan Total Transferred to Sales Returns Account 600

Dr Cash Book Cr
2003 F Discount Cash Bank
$ $ $
27 Jan Amisha 60 600
28 Jan Patel 70 700
29 Jan Prity 100 1,000
30 Jan Zinta 130 1,300
360 3,600

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 Sales Ledger
Dr Amisha Account Cr
Date Details F $ Date Details F $
2003 2003
4 Jan Sales 1,000 25 Jan Sales Returns 100
27 Jan Cash 600
27 Jan Discount Allowed 60
31 Jan Balance c/d 240
1,000 1,000
1 Feb Balance c/d 240

Patel Account
10 Jan Sales 1,500 25 Jan Sales Returns 200
28 Jan Cash 700
28 Jan Discount Allowed 70
31 Jan Balance c/d 530
1,500 1,500
1 Feb Balance c/d 530

Prity Account
24 Jan Sales 1,900 29 Jan Cash 1000
29 Jan Discount Allowed 100
31 Jan Balance c/d 800
1,900 1,900
1 Feb Balance c/d 800

Zinta Account
27 Jan Sales 2,000 26 Jan Sales Returns 300
30 Jan Cash 1300
30 Jan Discount Allowed 130
31 Jan Balance c/d 270
2,000 2,000
1 Feb Balance c/d 270

List of debtors
$
Amisha 240
Patel 530
Prity 800
Zinta 270
Total 1,840
General Ledger
Dr Sales Ledger Control Account Cr
Date Details F $ Date Details F $
2003 2003
4 Jan Credit Sales 6,400 25 Jan Sales Returns 600
27 Jan Cash 3,600
27 Jan Discount Allowed 360
31 Jan Balance c/d 1,840
6,400 6,400
1 Feb Balance b/d 1,840
Note: A Sales Ledger (individual Account) is used to prepare a debtors’ list. The total of the debtors’ list should
be equal to the balance of the Control Account.

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Activity
Example:
Transactions for January 2003
4 Jan Bought goods $ 1,000 on credit from Jack
10 Jan Bought goods $ 1,500 on credit from Ram
24 Jan Bought goods $ 1,900 on credit from Yoven
24 Jan Bought goods $ 2,000 on credit from Varsh
25 Jan We returned goods $ 100 to Jack
25 Jan We returned goods $ 200 to Ram.
26 Jan We returned goods $ 300 to Yoven
27 Jan Paid $ 600 cash to Jack after receiving $ 60 discount
28 Jan Paid $ 700 cash to Ram after receiving $ 70 discount
29 Jan Paid $ 1,000 cash to Yoven after receiving $ 100 discount
30 Jan Paid $ 1,300 cash to Varsh after receiving $ 130 discount

Sales Ledger Control Account

 The Sales Ledger control Account is also known as Debtors Control Account or Total Debtors Account
 The Sales Ledger Control Account has the main balance in the debit side and a minority balance on the
credit side (Balance b/d).
 A minority balance is created due to the following.
• An overpayment of account by a customer
• Return made by debtors not yet refunded
• Deposit made by customers
 Cash Sales are not recorded in the Sales Ledger Control Account.
 Provisions for Doubtful debts do not feature in the Sales Ledger Control Account because the provision
accounts are kept in the general ledger, not in the Sales Ledger.

Purchases Ledger Control Account

 The Purchase Ledger Control Account is also known as Creditors Control Account or Total Creditors
Account.
 The Purchases Ledger Control Account has the main balance in the credit side and the minority balance on
the debit balance
 A minority balance is created due to the following.
• An overpayment of account to a supplier
• Return made to creditors not yet refunded
• Deposit made to suppliers

Contra Settlement
A contra settlement is made whenever an individual is both a debtor and a creditor at the same time. Set off
adjustment is made with the lowest balance of the two accounts.

Contra settlement decreases both the debtors and the creditors at the same time.

Accounting entries: Debit Creditors Control Account

Credit Debtors Control Account

Balance sheet
Sales Ledger Control Account Purchases Ledger Control Account
Main Balance  Current Asset Main Balance  Current Liabilities
Minority Balance  Current Liabilities Minority Balance  Current Asset

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Sales Ledger Control Account

General Ledger
Dr Sales Ledger Control Account
Cr
2003 Details F $ 2003 Details F $
Jan 1 Balance b/d 12,000 Jan 1 Balance b/d 7,000
31 Credit Sales 24,000 31 Sales Returns 5,000
Cash refund to customers 100 Cash / Bank 20,000
Interest charged on debtors 200 Discount Allowed 2,000
Dishonoured cheques 200 Bad Debts written off 1,500
Discount Disallowed 100 Bad Debts recovered 1000
Bad Debts recovered 1000 Purchases Ledger C 4,000
31 Balance c/d 4,800 31 Balance c/d 1,900
42,400 42,400
Feb 1 Balance b/d 1,900 Feb 1 Balance b/d 4,800

Note: Cash Sales and Provisions for Doubtful debts do not feature in the Sales Ledger Control Account.

Sources of information Sales Ledger Control Account

The books of original entry from which entries are made in the Sales Ledger Control Account
 Opening balance (main)  Total of Sales Ledger debit balance b/f from previous period.
 Opening balance (minority)  Minority balance brought forward from previous period.
 Total Credit Sales  Sales Day Book.
 Cash refund to customers  Cash Book
 Cash / Bank  Cash Book
 Discount Allowed  Cash Book
 Dishonoured cheques  Cash Book
 Sales Returns  Sales Returns book
 Interest charged on debtors  General Journal
 Bad Debts written off  General Journal
 Contra entry  General Journal
 Closing Balance (main)  Total of Sales Ledger debit balance
 Closing Balance (minority)  Minority balance at the end

Purchase Ledger Control Account

General Ledger
Dr Purchases Ledger Control Account Cr
2003 Details F $ 2003 Details F $
Jan 1 Balance b/d 3,500 Jan 1 Balance b/d 14,000
31 Purchases Returns 3,000 31 Credit Purchases 22,000
Cash / Bank 17,000 Interest charged 1,000
Discount Received 2,000 By creditors
Sales Ledger C 4,000
31 Balance c/d 8,500 31 Balance c/d 4,000
38,000 38,000
Feb 1 Balance b/d 4,000 Feb 1 Balance b/d 8,500

Sources of information Purchases Ledger Control Account

 Opening balance (main)  Total of Purchases Ledger credit b/f forward from previous period.
 Opening balance (minority)  Minority balance brought forward from previous period.
 Total Credit Purchases  Purchases Day Book.
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 Cash / Bank  Cash Book
 Discount Received  Cash Book
 Purchases Returns  Purchases Returns book
 Contra entry  General Journal
 Closing Balance (main)  Total of Purchases Ledger credit balance
 Closing Balance (minority)  Minority balance at the end

CORRECTION OF ERRORS AND CONTROL ACCOUNTS

Control Accounts are prepared to find if the balance on the control account is equal to the total of the balances in
the section of the ledger it is controlling. If they are not equal, this implies that there are errors either in
preparing the control account or in the ledger. These errors need to be traced and corrected

Errors and their corrections

Error 1: A transaction omitted from the book of prime entry.
Therefore, the entry is omitted from both the ledger and the control account
Correction: Correct both personal account balance and the control account balance

Error 2: A transaction entered incorrectly in the book of prime entry

Therefore, the entry is entered incorrectly in both the ledger and the control account
Correction: Correct both personal account balance and the control account balance

Error 3: An error in the addition of the book of prime entry

The error affects only the control account
Correction: Correct only the control account balance

Error 4: Error in the personal account only

The error affects only personal account balance
Correction: Correct only personal account balance

Error 5: Error in the control account balance only

The error affects only the control account
Correction: Correct only the control account balance

Note: When correcting these errors, an amended Control Account and a statement reconciling the Control
Account Balance and the Ledger Balance need to be prepared.

Example
The balance as per the list of debtors as at 31st December 2003 was $ 1,030 and
The Balance as per the Debtors Control Account as at 31st December 2003 was$ 2,470
After investigation the following errors were discovered

Error 1:An invoice of $ 1,000 representing a sale to Visham has been completely omitted from the books
Error 2: Credit Sales of $ 200 to Raja has been incorrectly posted in the Sales Day Book as $ 20.
Error 3: The discount column in the Cash Book has been overcast by $ 200
Error 4: Goods returned to Nunda $ 400, has been correctly entered in the Sales Return Book, but credited to
her account as $ 40.
Error 5: Credit Sales totaling $ 12,000 was correctly added in the Sales Day Book but posted in the Sales
Ledger Control Account as $ 14,000

General Ledger
Dr Amended Sales Ledger Control Account Cr
2003 Details F $ 2003 Details F $
Dec 31 Balance b/d 2,470 E6 Sales incorrectly posted 2,000
E1 Credit Sales omitted 1,000

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 E2 Sales incorrectly posted 180 Balance c/d 1,850
E3 Discount Allowed overcast 200
3,850 3,850
Balance b/d 1,850

Statement reconciling Sales ledger balance with sales ledger control account balance(List of debtors)
$
Balance as per the list of debtors 1,030
E1 Credit Sales omitted from Sales Day Book 1,000
E2 Sales incorrectly posted in Sales Day Book 180
E 4 Return inwards wrongly posted (360)
Balance as per Amended Control Account 1,850

CONTROL ACCOUNTS
1. Given opening debtors $ 10,000, credit sales $ 50,000, increase in provision for bad debts $ 500, amount
received from debtors $ 45,000, discount allowed $ 350, dishonored cheque $ 100, sales returns $ 400,
closing debtors will be
A. $ 14,350 B. $ 14,650 C. $ 14,850 D. $ 15,150 SP P1 Q 8

2. The table shows information relating to Michael’s business for the year ended 31st December 1996.
$
st
Debtors at 1 January 1996 280,000
bad debts written off 8,500
cash from credit customers 796,000
cash sales 69,500
credit sales 718,000
increase in provision for bad debts 9,500
return inwards on credit transactions 7,500
What is the balance on Michael’s Debtors ( Sales) Ledger Control Account at 31st December 1996?
A. $ 176,500 B. $ 186,000 C. $ 195,500 D. $ 255,000 J 97 P1 Q 10

3. X sells goods to Y. At the end of the month, X owes Y $ 3,200 and Y $ 1,941. An agreement is in force for
the Sales Ledger account and Purchases Ledger account balances to be offset, so that only one payment is
made. Which double entry records the offset in X.s books?

account Dr Cr
$ $
A Purchases Ledger Control 3,200
account 3,200
Sales Ledger Control
account
B Y’s (Purchases Ledger) 1,941
account 1,941
Sales Ledger Control
account
C Purchases Ledger Control 1,259
account 1,259
Sales Ledger Control
account
D Purchases Ledger Control 1,941
account 1,941
Sales Ledger Control
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 account
J 97 P1 Q 11

4. The sales day book of a business has been overcast by $ 800. The business maintains control accounts as
part of the double entry bookkeeping system. The effect of correcting this error will be to make adjustments
to the
A. control account, with a decrease in profit of $ 800
B. control account, with no effect on profit
C. ledger balances of the individual debtors, with a decrease in profit of $ 800
D. ledger balances of the individual debtors, with no effect on profit
J 98 P1 Q 7

5. The Purchases Ledger Control Account for the year showed the following transactions

$
Opening Balances : credit 20,000
debit 4,000
Transactions for the year
suppliers’ invoices 45,000
discount received 500
credit notes received 1,500
sales ledger contra 5,000
closing balances: credit 23,000
debit nil
How much cash did the company pay its creditors during the year ?
A. $ 31,000 B. $ 34,000 C. $ 35,000 D. $ 54,000 J 99 P1 Q 8

6. An extract from a company’s trial balance is shown.

Debit Credit
Debtors Control Account – debit balances $ 225,000
Debtors Control Account – credit balances $ 2800
Creditors Control Account – debit balances $ 3,200
Creditors Control Account – credit balances $ 261,000
Directors Loan Account $ 12,000
How much should be disclosed as trade debtors in the company’s financial statements?
A. $ 222,200 B. $228,200 C. $ 237,400 D. $ 240,200 N 99 P1 Q 6

7. A Purchases Ledger Control account has a closing balance of $ 92,460. A debtor for 4 720 transferred from
the sales ledger has been entered on the wrong side of the Purchases Ledger Control account. What is the
correct balance on the Purchases Ledger Control account?
A. $ 91,020 B. $ 91,740 C. $ 93,180 D. $ 93,900 J00 P1 Q 2

8. What would not appear in the Sales Ledger Control account

A. cash received from customers C. provision for doubtful debts
B. discount allowed D. return inwards
J00 P1 Q 8

9. X Ltd maintains control accounts. The total of the Sales Day Book for a month has been overstated. Which
adjustments are required as a result of this error?

Sales Ledger Control account List of Sales Ledger balances

A Dr reduce
B Dr no change
C Cr reduce
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 D Cr no change
N00 P1 Q 9
10. The table shows an extract from the trial balance At 30th April 2000

Debit Credit
$ $
Debtors Control Account 38,600 800
Creditors Control Account 1,300 26,800
In addition, a purchase invoice for goods received on 30th April 2000 for $ 1,000 was omitted from the
creditors control account. Which figure for creditors should appear in the Balance Sheet at 30th April 2000?
A. $ 22,500 B. $ 27,600 C. $ 27,800 D. $ 28,600 J01 P1 Q 9

11. The balance on a Sales Ledger Control account is $ 40,000 The following items are then discovered:
$
Total of sales day book understated 500
Discounts allowed not entered in Sales Ledger Control 1,200
account
Bad Debts written off not recorded in Sales Ledger Control 400
account
Provision for bad debts 2,500
What is the total of the balances in the sales ledger?
A. $ 37,900 B. $ 38,600 C. $ 38,900 D. $ 41,100 J02 P1 Q 9

STRUCTURED QUESTIONS

1 The following information was extracted from the books of Pet Shop Boys for the month of April 2002.
2002 $
April Debit Balance Sales Ledger Control Account 12,470
1
Credit Balance Sales Ledger Control Account 160
Debit Balance Purchases Ledger Control Account 110
Credit Balance Purchases Ledger Control Account 9,280

April Purchases for April (including $ 7,280 for cash 28,880

30 purchases)
Sales for April (including $ 12,600 for cash sales) 37,960
Payment to creditors. 20,600
Receipts including $ 460 bad debts recovered 26,340
Customer’s cheques returned by bank 350
Discount received 500
Discount allowed 260
Sales Return 730
Bad debt written off 530
Decrease in provision for doubtful debts 160
Transfer of debit balance from sales ledger to 600
purchases ledger
Credit balance as per sales ledger 470
Debit balances as per purchases ledger 560

You are required to prepare:

a) Sales Ledger Control Account, and [7marks]
b) Purchases Ledger Control Account as they would appear in the General ledger.
[7marks]

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c) State what does the figure in the debit balance of the Sales Ledger Account represents.
[1 mark]

2.The Trial Balance as at 31 October 1996 of Buzz Products Limited included the following balances.
Dr Cr
$ $
Sales Ledger Control Account 12 440 371
Purchases Ledger Control Account 214 9 846
Provision for Doubtful Debts - 311
The company’s transactions during the year ended 31 October 1997 are summarized as follows:
$
Credit Sales 23 740
Credit Sales Returns 783
Credit Purchases 13 471
Credit Purchases Returns 183
Discounts Allowed 832
Discounts Received 610
Bad Debts Written Off 540
Payments to Credit Suppliers 12 307
Receipts from Credit Customers 16 357
Receipts from Cash Customers 3 100
Additional information:
1. Payments to suppliers incorrectly included $1 630 for wages paid to the employees of Buzz
Products Limited.
2. The Sales Ledger Control Account included credit balances at 31 October 1997 for the
following customers:
$
T King 131
B Lamb 22
3. The Purchases Ledger Control Account included a debit balance at 31 October 1997 of $85 for
T dent.
4. J Patel is both a supplier and customer of Buzz Products Limited. On the completion of each
year’s final accounts, an appropriate transfer is made in the company’s accounts so that J Patel
has a year-end balance in either the Purchases Ledger or the Sales Ledger. At 31 October
1997, the balances of J Patel’s accounts were as follows:
$
Purchases Ledger 550 credit
Sales Ledger 710 debit
5. The Company has decided that the Provision for Doubtful Debts at 31 October 1997 should be
4% of the amount due from customers.
Bad debts written off are not passed through the Provision for Doubtful Debts Account.
REQUIRED
(a) Write up the following accounts in the books of Buzz Products Limited for the year ended 31
October 1997:
(i) Sales Ledger Control Account; [9] (ii) Purchases Ledger Control Account; [9]
(iii) Provision for Doubtful Debts Account. [2]
(b) State two reasons for maintaining a Provision for Doubtful Debts Account. [2]
(c) State two reasons for preparing control accounts. [3]
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3. The following information has been extracted from the books of G. Elm, trader, for the month
of October 1994.
$
Sales Ledger Balances at 1 October DR 72 950
CR 1 075
Purchases Ledger Balances at 1 October DR 835
CR 64 410
Sales - Cash 550
Purchases - Cash 620
Sales - Credit 127 220
Purchases - Credit 90 330
Sales Returns (Credit Customers) 970
Purchases Returns (Credit Customers) 1 250
Balance on Bad Debts Provision at 1 October 2 520
Bad Debts Written off 805
Cheque Dishonoured 1 240
Discounts Allowed 1 790
Discount Received 1 350
Interest Charged on Debtors Overdue Accounts 210
Receipts from Debtors 104 500
Payment to Creditors 81 960
Sales Ledger Credit Balance at 31 October 1 110
Purchase Ledger Debit Balance at 31 October 440

You should note that:

1. the provision for bad debts is to be adjusted to $2 900;
2. on the 31 October the balances on P Reid’s account were:
- Purchase Ledger $1 450
- Sales Ledger $ 910
The balance in the Sales Ledger is to be offset against the Purchase Ledger balance.
REQUIRED:
(a) Prepare Sales Ledger and purchase Ledger Control Accounts for October 1994.
(b) List briefly the uses and advantages of Control Accounts.
(c) Explain briefly how a contra entry might arise. [20 mks]

4. (a) Outline three reasons for keeping control accounts. [3]

(b) The following information was extracted from the books of William Noel for the year ended 30
April 2001.

$
Purchase ledger Balance at 1 May 2000 43120
Credit purchases for the year 824140
Credit purchases returns 12400
Cheques paid to creditors 745980
Cash purchases 8940
Discount received on credit purchases 31400
Credit balances transferred to sales ledger accounts 5210

Draw up the purchases ledger control account for the year ended 30 April 2001. [5]

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 The total of the balances in Noel’s purchases ledger amounts to $67660 which does not agree with the
closing balance in the control account.

The following errors were then discovered.

1 Discount received had been overstated by $1000.

2 A credit purchases invoice for $2040 had been completely omitted from the books.
3 A purchases ledger account had been understated by $100.
4 A credit balance of $850 in the purchases ledger had been set off against a contra entry no the
sales ledger, but no entry had been made in the control accounts.
5 A payment of $1450 had been debited to the creditor’s account but was omitted from the bank
account.
6 A credit balance of $3210 had been omitted from the list of creditors.

(c) (i) Extract the necessary information from the above list and draw up an amended Purchases Ledger
Control Account for the year ended 30 April 2001. [5]

(ii) Beginning with the given total of $67660, draw up a table showing the changes to be made in the
Purchases Ledger to reconcile it with the new control account balance. [5]

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