Question 4: What are the different types of errors that are usually committed in recording business transactions?
Answer:
Keeping in view the nature of errors, all the errors can be classified into the following four categories :-
(i) Errors of Omission: The errors of omission are generally committed at the time of recording the transaction in the books of original entry or while posting to the ledger. This can further be classified in two different categories
(a) Error of complete omission
(b) Error of partial omission
When a transaction is completely omitted from recording in the books of original record, it is an error of complete omission and when the recording of transaction is partly omitted from the books, it is an error of partial omission.
(ii) Errors of Commission: These are the errors which are committed due to wrong posting of transactions, wrong totaling or balancing of the accounts, wrong casting of the subsidiary books or wrong recording of amount in the books of original entry etc.
(iii) Errors of Principle: Accounting entries are recorded as per the generally accepted accounting principles. If any of these principles are violated or ignored, errors resulting from such violation are known as errors of principle. An error of principle may occur due to incorrect classification of expenditure or receipt between capital and revenue. This is very important because it will have an impact on financial statements. It may lead to under/over stating of income or assets or liabilities etc.
(iv) Compensating Errors: When two or more errors are committed in such a way that the net effect of these errors on the debits and credits of accounts is nil, such errors are called compensating errors.
Add Comment