Question

Which of the following is true regarding the trial balance? Select all that apply. The trial balance includes all of the accounts needed to create the balance sheet and the income statement.

Answer 1

Complete Question:

Which of the following is true regarding the trial balance? Select all that apply.

a) The trial balance includes all of the accounts needed to create the balance sheet and the income statement.

b) The trial balance is much less detailed than the balance sheet and income statement.

c) The accounting principle of materiality says that the information on the trial balance can be combined and simplified into more general reporting items.

d) The accounting principle of money measurement says that the information on the trial balance can be combined and simplified into more general reporting items.

e) The trial balance shows only nominal accounts.

Answer:

a) The trial balance includes all of the accounts needed to create the balance sheet and the income statement.

Explanation:

Company XYZ's trial balance summarizes all the general ledger account balances with the assets and expenses on the debit side and the liabilities, equity, and income on the credit side.  It is extracted from the general ledger for all accounts that do not have equal debit and credit sides.  It is one of the ways to ensure that proper double entry system of bookkeeping has been followed.  That the two sides are in balance does not mean that the trial balance or the general ledger from which it is prepared is error-free.  It simply means that the two sides agree in total.  XYZ can prepare the trial balance at any time, not necessarily at the end of the period.