General Journal Example Entries for Accounting Students

A general journal is the book of original entries in which bookkeeper records all of the business transactions in chronological order. It is the first place where business transactions are recorded. The general journal is prepared under the concept of double entry accounting system where each transaction affects at least two accounts. The general journal is also called Journal Book or Book of Original Entry.

The data in the general journal is taken from the source documents and each entry contains the following:

Transaction date

Description of transaction

Posting reference

Amount to be debited and credit

General Journal Example Entries

Following are some of the examples entries of general journal:

Jan 01 2019, the owner invested cash Rs. 50000 into business.

Jan 02 2019, purchased goods/merchandise for Rs. 20000 on cash.

Jan 02 2019, purchased goods/merchandise for Rs. 20000 on credit.

Jan 03 2019, sold goods/merchandise for Rs.  5000 on cash.

Jan 03 2019, sold goods/merchandise for Rs.  5000 on credit.

Jan 05 2019, defective goods of Rs. 4000 returned to supplier that was purchased on cash.

Jan 05 2019, defective goods of Rs. 4000 returned to supplier that was purchased on credit.

Jan 07 2019, goods of Rs. 2000 returned by customer that was purchased on cash.

Jan 07 2019, goods of Rs. 2000 returned by customer that was purchased on credit.

Feb 09 2019, paid cash to supplier Rs. 20000.

Feb 15 2019, received cash from customer Rs. 3000.

Mar 11 2019, purchased furniture for Rs. 25000.

May 17 2019, paid electric bill Rs. 8000.

July 12 2019, the owner opened a bank account with Rs. 25000.

July 18 2019, deposited a cheque of customer of Rs. 12000 into bank.

Aug 14 2019, withdraw cash from bank Rs. 7000.

Oct 16 2019, withdraw cash from business for office use Rs. 6000.

Nov 15 2019, withdraw cash from business for personal use Rs. 2000.

Dec 05 2019, paid salary by cheque Rs. 30000.

Abc Corporation

General Journal

Date	Description	Debit	Credit
Jan 01, 2019	Cash	50000
	Capital		50000
	To Record:The owner invested cash into business.
Jan 02, 2019	Purchase	20000
	Cash		20000
	To Record:The goods puchased on cash.
Jan 02, 2019	Purchase	20000
	Account Payable		20000
	To Record:The goods puchased on credit.
Jan 03, 2019	Cash	5000
	Sales		5000
	To Record:The sale of goods on cash.
Jan 03, 2019	Account Receivable	5000
	Sales		5000
	To Record:The sale of goods on credit.
Jan 05, 2019	Cash	4000
	Purchase return		4000
	To Record:The defective goods was returned to supplier.
Jan 05, 2019	Account Payable	4000
	Purchase return		4000
	To Record:The defective goods was returned to supplier.
Jan 07, 2019	Sales return	2000
	Cash		2000
	To Record:The defective goods was returned by customer.
Jan 07, 2019	Sales return	2000
	Account Receivable		2000
	To Record:The defective goods was returned by customer.
Feb 09, 2019	Account Payable	20000
	Cash		20000
	To Record:The payment made to supplier.
Feb 15, 2019	Cash	3000
	Account Receivable		3000
	To Record:The payment received from customer.
Mar 11, 2019	Furniture	25000
	Cash		25000
	To Record:The purchase of furniture.
May 17, 2019	Utility Expense	8000
	Cash		8000
	To Record:The payment of electric bill.
July 12, 2019	Bank	25000
	Cash		25000
	To Record:The owner open a bank account.
July 18, 2019	Bank	12000
	Cash		12000
	To Record:The cheque of customer was deposited into bank.
Aug 14, 2019	Cash	7000
	Bank		7000
	To Record:The cash was withdrawn from bank.
Oct 16, 2019	Office Expense	6000
	Cash		6000
	To Record:The cash was withdrawn from business for office use.
Nov 15, 2019	Drawing	2000
	Cash		2000
	To Record:The cash was withdrawn from business for personal use.
Dec 05, 2019	Salary Expense	30000
	Bank		30000
	To Record:The payment of salary expense throuhg cheque.

Some companies prepare special journals such as sales journal and purchase journal that only keeps record of specific types of transactions.