Revision: Subsidiary Books Accounts HSC Commerce (English Medium) 11th Standard Maharashtra State Board

Subsidiary books are special accounting books used to record similar types of transactions in an organized and chronological manner before posting them to the ledger.

A cash book is a special account book where all business cash and bank transactions (money received and paid) are recorded each day.

A simple cash book is a special accounting book that records only cash transactions (cash receipts and cash payments) of an organization, acting both as a journal and a ledger for these entries.

A two column cash book is a special accounting book that has two money columns—one for cash and one for bank—on each side, used to record all cash and bank transactions (including cheques, deposits, and withdrawals) using the double-entry system.

A contra entry is an accounting transaction where funds are transferred between a business’s cash and bank accounts—both aspects (debit and credit) are recorded within the same cash book but in different columns, and such entries do not affect the overall financial position of the business.

A petty cash book is a type of cash book in accounting that records all minor, routine cash payments and receipts separately from the main cash book.

A petty cashier is responsible for handling petty cash and maintaining the petty cash book.

A simple petty cash book is a special accounting record where small and routine cash expenses—like stationery, bus fares, tips, or refreshments—are written down as they happen each day.

The imprest system is an accounting method where a fixed amount of money is set aside in a petty cash fund to pay for small, routine expenses. The fund is regularly replenished so that it always returns to its original set amount after expenses are checked and recorded, making this system easy to monitor and control.

An Analytical Petty Cash Book is a special type of petty cash book used to record all small cash payments in separate columns for each expense category, like postage, stationery, or travel, making it easy to track exactly how much is spent on each type of petty expense

A Purchase Book (also called Bought Day Book or Purchase Journal) is used to record only credit purchases of goods intended for resale or production. 

A credit note is a document given by a seller to a buyer when goods are returned, showing the amount to reduce or cancel what the buyer has to pay; it acts like a “refund slip” that adjusts the buyer’s account and proves the return happened.

A debit note is a brief statement prepared by the buyer when returning goods, showing the details and amount of goods returned, and letting the supplier know to reduce the buyer’s amount owed.

A purchase return book is a special accounting book where a business records goods sent back to suppliers because they are the wrong quality, damaged, or not needed—only returns from credit purchases are included. 

A sales book is a special accounting record used to write down all the credit sales of goods made by a business, while cash sales or sales of assets are recorded elsewhere.

The Sales Return Book is a special accounting book used to record goods that were sold to customers on credit but are returned to the business because they are not as ordered, damaged, or defective.

Journal Proper is a special accounting book where rare or miscellaneous transactions, not recorded in other subsidiary books, are entered.