arrow Kick Start Your Accounting Journey, We Help You to Start from Scratch

What Are the Account Titles in Accounting?

Account titles are the designations given to the different divisions used to monitor a company’s finances in accounting.

These profiles are updated to reflect what transpired in an orderly and reasonable way for any and all transactions.

The account titles are found on the company’s ledger accounts, a constant list of all these transactions.

An accountant combines the general ledger accounts to create the financial statement of the company.

It is crucial to remember that two account titles are changed when an accountant submits an entry into the accounting system.

For example, when a company buys products in cash from a supplier, the cash leaves the company and the commodities enter.

As a result, we must record this transaction of cash and commodities in the books of accounts.

So, two account titles (cash and goods) are changed. It is often necessary to change more than two account titles for a single transaction.

Millions of businesses throughout the world utilize an almost limitless number of account titles.

We can, nevertheless, narrow that list down to the most frequent accounts, which are grouped below by their placement on the accounting records.

Read Also: What is Responsibility Accounting? Explained with Example

What are the Types of Account Titles?

The five types of Account titles are Revenue, Expense, Liability, Equity, and Assets. These are classified under different circumstances and the nature of the demands. For example, the sale comes under the Revenue section in types of accounts.

List of Account Titles: Income Statement

Account Title Type Of Account
Sales Revenue
Cost of Goods Sold Cost of Goods Sold
Advertising Expense Operating expense
Amortization Expense Operating expense
Insurance Expense Operating expense
Rent Expense Operating expense
Salaries and Wages Operating expense
Utilities Expense Operating expense
Marketing Expense Operating expense
Gain on sale Other Income
Interest Income Other Income
Loss on sale Other Expense
Interest Expense Other Expenses
Income Tax Taxes
Cash Current Assets
Marketable Securities Current Assets
Accounts Receivable Current Asset
Inventory Current Assets
Prepaid expenses Current Assets
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Current Assets
Buildings Fixed Assets
Equipment Fixed Assets
Leasehold Improvements Fixed Assets
Accumulated Depreciation Fixed Assets
Land Fixed Assets
Investment in Bonds Investments
Investment in Stocks Investments
Goodwill Intangible Assets
Intellectual Property Intangible Assets
Accounts Payable Current liability
Cash Dividends Payable Current Liability
Income Tax Payable Current liability
Capital Stock Shareholders’ Equity
Common Stock Shareholders’ Equity
Dividends Shareholders’ Equity
Paid-In Capital Shareholders’ Equity
Preferred Stock Shareholders’ Equity
Retained Earnings Shareholders’ Equity
Treasury Stock Shareholders’ Equity

 

There can be an endless number of account titles, and the industry determines their use.

That is why, when you established your firm in accounting software, you must input the industry of your business.

As a result, the accounting software may create account titles that correspond to the firm’s sector. Furthermore, particular account titles are linked in the specific declarations.

Types of Accounts in Accounting and Account Titles Explained

Asset Category

When an accounting transaction represents anything supposed to bring immediate or potential economic advantages; these account names are changed.

The purchase of company assets is intended to enhance income or minimize expenditures.

For example, if the company purchases some equipment as an asset account is updated, and this item is projected to raise revenue accounts, the company’s profitability will improve.

Equity Category

Share capital retained profits and dividend accounts are examples of equity account names.

These are not intended to be modified regularly but only in response to specific events such as equity raises or share repurchases.

For example, the share capital account is modified when share capital is raised or recalled, the retained earnings account is changed when the financial period ends, and the pay-out is adjusted when it is declared.

Modifications to these account titles request authorization from the firm’s higher authorities.

Revenue Category

The number of income sources determines the number of account titles in the revenue division. If the company just has one source of revenue, a single account title will suffice.

These account names are modified in accrual accounting when the firm obtains a financial advantage or has the right to earn economic benefits in the future. For cash-based accounting, nevertheless, the timing of updating is distinct.

Expense Category

When the following activities are represented in financial transactions, these account titles are changed.

Throughout an accounting cycle, the company’s economic advantages decline. It happens when a financial power flows out of a firm or when the obligation that will be satisfied when the economic benefit flows out of the business increases.

The transaction might result in a rise in liabilities or a loss in assets. For example, when a corporation incurs expenditures, it must pay cash, and one option is to expand the obligation. A rise in spending is a debit, whereas paying cash/increasing obligation is a credit.

Increases in expenditure accounts reduce equity since all expenses are closed in retained profits. Dividends and withdrawals, on the other hand, minimize equity but are not expenditures. A reduction in equity that is not due to a withdrawal or dividend payment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the 5 Account Classifications?

The chart of accounts divides your money into five key areas, which are known as accounts: liabilities, assets, equity, revenue, and costs.

What Accounts are in the General Ledger?

A GL usually records the following accounts: assets, liabilities, equity, costs, and income or revenue. The concept of a general ledger would include a digital or physical track of such data, which may be integrated into a more complex accounting software system.

What is an Example of an Account Title in Accounting?

Examples of account title in accounting are as below:

  • Rent Expense- Operating expense
  • Salaries and Wages- Operating expense
  • Sales- Revenue
  • Cash- Current Asset
  • Land- Fixed Assets

Final Words

So, this was all about accounting titles in Accounting. Millions of businesses throughout the world utilize an almost limitless number of account titles.

However, you can narrow that list down to the most frequent accounts grouped by their placement on the financial statements.