unit 8 – source documents

Unit 8 – Source Documents

Source Document

• Is any business form that serves as the original source of information that a transaction has occurred.

• A source document must be prepared for every business transaction.– A concrete object that proves that a business transaction

did, in fact, occur.– At least two copies: the seller and the buyer receive an exact copy

Source Documents continued…• Number of business transactions are started outside the

accounting department.– Initiated by owner, sales-people, department heads, managers,

etc.

• Accounting departments informed of transactions– Business papers sent to them = Source document

• Source Document: is a business paper that shows the nature of a transaction and provides all of the information needed to account for it properly.

Source Document continued…

• Almost every accounting entry should be based on a source document.

• A company is required to keep source documents on file.– Used as reference purposes (locating errors)– Factual evidence (verify transactions)– Proof – records prepared accurately & honestly.

#1 – Cash Sales Slips

• is prepared for all cash sales by a business.

• GST and PST shown on example on page 136 – will not be journalizing and posting tax amounts until later in the book.

• Often generated by sales clerk by hand. Page 136 – Another Example

#1 – Cash Sales Slips Cont.

• Three copies are prepared. (original & two copies)

– Copy 1: Given to the customer– Copy 2: Accounting Department of seller (record

the transaction)– Copy 3: Numerical file: record of all cash sales.

Example

General Journal Page:

Date Particulars P.R. Debit Credit

May 21 Cash 46000

Sales 46000

Sales slip 43785



May 21 Maintenance Expense 46000

Cash 46000

Paid for painting services

Entry (Seller’s accountant) – Copy #2

- In actual practice, groups of sales slips would be combined and an entry similar to the following one would be made to record the total of the group of slips.

Entry (Buyer’s accountant) – Copy #1

#2 – Sales Invoices• is the bill completed by the

seller and given to the buyer as a record of a credit sale.

• Credit sale – one for which the customer agrees to pay at a later date.

• “Charge sale, “sale on account”

• Often generated by a computer

#2 – Sales Invoices Cont.

• Selling company makes several copies of the invoice:

– Copies 1 & 2: Sent to the customer– Copy 3: Accounting Department of seller (record

the transaction)– Copy 4: Sales department (record of sale)

Example – Page 138-39



Jun. 1 Consulting Services Expense 235400

Acc. Pay./Sanne Consulting 235400

Purchase Invoice 5870



Jun. 1 Acc. Rec./Warrendon Sports 235400

Consulting Revenue 235400

Invoice 5870, consulting services, net 30 days

Entry (Seller’s accountant) – Copy #3

Entry (Buyer’s accountant) – Copy #1

#3 – Purchase Invoices

- Is the bill received by the purchaser as proof of a purchase on account.

Example – Page 138-39• Sanne consultants – Sales invoice (seller)• Warrendon Sports Ltd. – Purchase invoice (buyer)– Copies 1 and 2 are records of what Warrendon has

purchased and indicate how much is owed to the seller



Jun. 1 Training Expense 235400

Acc. Pay./Sanne Consulting 235400

Purchased consulting services, Invoice 5870, net 30 days.

#4 – Cheques

• Cheques Issued: are issued to make cash purchases and to pay bills.

• Original (sent to Sanne Consultants)• Copy (kept by Warrendon Sports)

– Two Parts• Cheque itself• Attached portion (details on why cheque was written)

Example - 0

• Cheque copy used by Warrendon’s accountant to record this entry:



Jun. 30 Acc. Pay./Sanne Consultants 235400

Cash 235400

Issued Cheque 1624 to pay Invoice 5870

#4 – Cheques• Cheques Received: are received as payments for amounts owed or

when customers buy something for cash.

• When received by Sanne Consultants.– Cheque separated from record portion.– Cheque endorsed with a restrictive endorsement (deposit only to the account

of Sanne Consultants)– Immediately deposited in Sanne Consultants’ bank account

• Endorsement: the signature placed on the back of a cheque by the person or company depositing the cheque.

• Restrictive Endorsement: is used to control with will happen to the funds from the cheque.

Example – Page 140

• Record portion of the cheque is used to prepare the following entry:



Jul. 2 Cash 235400

Acc. Receivable/Warr. Sports 235400

Received Cheque 1624 for Invoice 5870

• Companies that receive a large number of cheques – create a list – cheques immediately deposited in the bank, list used by the accountant to prepare the journal entries.

Bank Source Documents

• Bank credit memo – gives notice of an increase in a customer’s bank account.– Ex: Interest or other amounts are added to the

account

• Bank debit memo – gives notice of a decrease in a customer’s bank account.– Ex: Interest on a loan deducted from a company’s

account.

Other Source Document Facts

• Pre-numbered Source Documents– Designed to prevent errors and losses due to theft or to

the use of false documents– Are kept on file and must be made available to persons

who have the authority to check a company’s records.• Owners & managers of the business• Outside accountants hired to check the records• Federal income tax and GST personnel (Canada customs and

revenue agency)• Provincial sales tax and Ministry of Labour personnel• Court officials

Other Source Document Facts

• Source Documents – Evidence for Transactions– Provide evidence that a transaction has actually

occurred.– Company Accounting record checks• Source documents (cash sales slips, sales invoices, and

purchase invoices provide proof that the transactions did happen)• Comparing source document copies of both seller and

buyer. (info should be the same)

The Principle of Objectivity

• Requires objective evidence to support the value used to record transactions.– Source documents help accountant satisfy this

principle. (provide verifiable evidence to support the value placed on transactions)

** A company could overstate the value of its assets by recording them at a high value.- Company would appear more valuable than it really is.

SummarySource Document Business Transaction

Cash sales slipBank debit memoBank credit memoSales invoicePurchase invoiceCheque issued

Cheque received

Cash sale to customerDeduction from a company’s bank accountIncrease in a company’s bank accountSale on account to a customerPurchase on account by the businessPayment made to a creditor (account payable) or for a cash purchasePayment received from a customer (account receivable)