Question

Explain errors are not detected by a trial balance ​

Answer 1

Answer:

Errors not detected by a trial balance ​ are:

1. Posting to Wrong Account

2. Error of Amounts in Original Book

3. Compensating Errors

4. Errors of Principle

5. Errors of Omission

Explanation:

The Trial Balance does not provide absolute assurance of ledger account accuracy. It is just an evidence of the postings' arithmetical accuracy. Even though the amount of debits equals the amount of credits, there may be inaccuracies.

A trial balance will not reveal such errors, and they are:

1. Posting to Wrong Account: IF accidentally posted something to the wrong account, but it was on the right side, the Trial Balance agreement will not be affected. For example, if a $200 purchase from John was credited to Joshua instead of John. As a result, Trial Balance will miss such an error.

2. Error of Amounts in Original Book: The Trial Balance will come out appropriately if an invoice for $632 is filed in Sales Book as $623, because the debit and credit have been recorded as $623. The arithmetical precision is there, yet there is a flaw.

3. Compensating Errors: This occurs one mistake is offset by a similar mistake on the other side. These errors are cancelled if one account in the ledger is debited $500 less and another account in the ledger is credited $500 less.

4. Errors of Principle:  An errors of Principle is one that breaches the foundations of bookkeeping. Purchases of furniture, for example, are debited to the Purchase Account rather than the Furniture Account; wages paid for the erection of plant are debited to the Wages Account rather than the Plant Account; and the amount spent on a building extension is debited to the Repairs Account rather than the Building Account, and so on. These kind of errors do not alter the total debits and credits, but they do impair the bookkeeping principle.

5. Errors of Omission: There will be no effect on the Trial Balance if a transaction is completely omitted. An error of omission occurs when a transaction is fully unreported in both aspects, or when a transaction is documented in the books of primary entry but never entered in the ledger. For example, if a credit purchase is not recorded in the Purchase Day Book, it will not be posted to both the Purchase Account and the Supplier's Account. This error, on the other hand, will not cause Trial Balance to disagree.