Adjusted trial balance example and explanation — AccountingTools (2024)

What is an Adjusted Trial Balance?

An adjusted trial balance is a listing of the ending balances in all accounts after adjusting entries have been prepared. The intent of adding these entries is to correct errors in the initial version of the trial balance and to bring the entity's financial statements into compliance with an accounting framework, such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or International Financial Reporting Standards.

Once all adjustments have been made, the adjusted trial balance is essentially a summary-balance listing of all the accounts in the general ledger - it does not show any detail transactions that comprise the ending balances in any accounts. The adjusting entries are shown in a separate column, but in aggregate for each account; thus, it may be difficult to discern which specific journal entries impact each account.

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Uses for the Adjusted Trial Balance

The adjusted trial balance is not part of the financial statements - rather, it is an internal report that has two purposes:

  • To verify that the total of the debit balances in all accounts equals the total of all credit balances in all accounts; and

  • To be used to construct financial statements (specifically, the income statement and balance sheet; construction of the statement of cash flows requires additional information).

The second application of the adjusted trial balance has fallen into disuse, since computerized accounting systems automatically construct financial statements. However, it is the source document if you are manually compiling financial statements. In the latter case, the adjusted trial balance is critically important - financial statements cannot be constructed without it.

How to Prepare an Adjusted Trial Balance

The process for preparing an adjusted trial balance is relatively simple. The steps for doing so are as follows:

  1. Print an unadjusted trial balance. This is a standard report in your accounting software, and will provide you with a summary listing of the ending balances in every general ledger account.

  2. Make adjusting entries. Consult your procedure for closing the books, and create adjusting entries based on that procedure. This may include charging off a portion of prepaid expenses, adjusting the reserve for doubtful accounts, recording expense accruals, and recording depreciation and amortization expense.

  3. Repeat as necessary. Print the adjusted trial balance and verify that all adjusting entries have been made. It is quite possible that you will need to make adjustments and re-run the report several times before you are satisfied with the result.

  4. Close the period. Close the period in the accounting software and print your final set of financial statements.

Example of an Adjusted Trial Balance

The following report shows an adjusted trial balance, where the initial, unadjusted balance for all accounts is located in the second column from the left, various adjusting entries are noted in the third column from the left, and the combined, net balance in each account is stated in the far right column.

ABC International
Trial Balance
July 31, 20XX

Adjusted trial balance example and explanation —  AccountingTools (2024)

FAQs

What is adjusted trial balance in accounting with example? ›

In this example, the adjusted trial balance shows the changes that affected both the rent and depreciation accounts. For instance, we expensed rent for the month, so we needed to reduce the prepaid rent amount. For depreciation, depreciation expense increased, while accumulated depreciation increased as well.

How do you adjust trial balance in accounting? ›

Here are some steps you can take to create an adjusted trial balance:
  1. Record all transactions. ...
  2. Run an unadjusted trial balance. ...
  3. Make adjustments to the balance. ...
  4. Run your adjusted trial balance. ...
  5. Post your closing entries.
Oct 17, 2023

What is the adjusted trial balance worksheet? ›

The adjusted trial balance is what you get when you take all of the adjusting entries from the previous step and apply them to the unadjusted trial balance. It should look exactly like your unadjusted trial balance, save for any deferrals, accruals, missing transactions or tax adjustments you made.

Do adjusted trial balance have to equal? ›

The adjusted trial balance (as well as the unadjusted trial balance) must have the total amount of the debit balances equal to the total amount of credit balances.

What is the difference between an adjusted trial balance and an adjusted trial balance? ›

The unadjusted trial balance is created before adjusting entries are made, while the adjusted trial balance is created afterward. The adjusted trial balance includes adjustments for revenues and expenses that have been incurred but are not yet recorded in the accounts, while the unadjusted trial balance does not.

How do you calculate assets from adjusted trial balance? ›

In the adjusted trial balance, assets can be computed by adding together all asset accounts such as cash, receivables, inventories, supplies, investments, property, plant and equipment, land, building, intangible assets, among other.

Is retained earnings on adjusted trial balance? ›

Ending retained earnings information is taken from the statement of retained earnings, and asset, liability, and common stock information is taken from the adjusted trial balance as follows.

What is the basic rule of trial balance? ›

The rules for preparing a trial balance are as follows: All the assets must be recorded on the debit side. All the liabilities must be recorded on the credit side. All incomes or gains must be recorded on the credit side.

What is the amount of total debits on the adjusted trial balance? ›

The Adjusted Trial Balance is a statement prepared at the end of the accounting cycle after adjusting entries have been made. It lists all the accounts with adjusted balances, ensuring that the total debits equal total credits.

What are some examples of transactions that may require adjustments? ›

The following might require adjusting journal entries:
  • Accrue wages earned by employees but not yet paid to them.
  • Accrue employer share of FICA taxes due.
  • Accrue property taxes.
  • Record interest expense paid on a mortgage or loan and update the loan balance.
  • Record prepaid insurance.

What is the first step when making an adjusting entry? ›

How to prepare your adjusting entries
  1. Step 1: Recording accrued revenue. ...
  2. Step 2: Recording accrued expenses. ...
  3. Step 3: Recording deferred revenue. ...
  4. Step 4: Recording prepaid expenses. ...
  5. Step 5: Recording depreciation expenses.
Aug 5, 2022

How to do adjusted trial balance in QuickBooks? ›

Review adjusting journal entries
  1. In QuickBooks Online Accountant, enter Adjusted Trial Balance in the search bar. Or go to the Reports menu and select the Adjusted Trial Balance report.
  2. Select Customize to adjust the report as needed.
  3. Make sure the total debit balances equal the total credit balances.
Jan 29, 2024

What is the purpose of preparing an adjusted trial balance? ›

The purpose of the adjusted trial balance is to ensure that the financial statements are accurate. The adjusted trial balance is used as a tool to prepare the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.

Is an adjusted trial balance prepared before adjusting entries? ›

Explanation on Adjusted Trial Balance

Adjusted trial balance is prepared once the adjusting entries are recorded in the books of accounts. It shows the final balances of all the accounts, including the accounts affected by recording adjusting entries.

What comes after adjusted trial balance? ›

Once the adjusted trial balance has been prepared, we are ready to prepare the financial statements. Preparing financial statements is the seventh step in the accounting cycle.

Does adjusted trial balance show all accounts? ›

Once a book is balanced, an adjusted trial balance can be completed. This trial balance has the final balances in all the accounts, and it is used to prepare the financial statements. The post-closing trial balance shows the balances after the closing entries have been completed.

Does adjusted trial balance include closing entries? ›

This is the adjusted trial balance that will be used to make your closing entries. To begin, you want to run an adjusted trial balance, which is used to prepare your closing entries, moving both the revenue and the expense account balances, as well as drawing account and/or dividend account balances.

How is the adjusted trial balance prepared answer? ›

Adjusted trial balance is prepared once the adjusting entries are recorded in the books of accounts. It shows the final balances of all the accounts, including the accounts affected by recording adjusting entries.

Does adjusted trial balance have net income? ›

The adjusted trial balance can be a tool to help accountants calculate net income or net loss as well as account totals.

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