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gnucash/doc/sgml/C/xacc-chartofaccts.sgml

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<ARTICLE ID="XACC-CHARTOFACCTS">
<ARTHEADER>
<TITLE>Chart of Accounts and Account Numbering</TITLE>
</ARTHEADER>
<SECT1>
<TITLE> Chart of Accounts</TITLE>
<PARA> </PARA>
<PARA>Typically accounts are arranged as a tree, in hierarchical
form.
</PARA>
<PARA>The main branches represent entire categories or groups,
while the leaves of the tree denote individual bank accounts or
expense categories.
</PARA>
<PARA>When a summary report is requested, typically only the main
branches are shown in the report, rather than the individual
accounts. For example, a chart of accounts might look like the
following:
<LITERAL REMAP="TT"><MSGTEXT>
<LITERALLAYOUT> 300 Expenses
|
+--310 Living Expenses
| |
| +--311 Beer
| |
| +--312 Cable
|
+--320 Business Expenses
| |
| +--321 8-inch Floppies
| |
: :</LITERALLAYOUT>
</MSGTEXT></LITERAL>
</PARA>
<PARA>Note that accounts not only have names; they have <EMPHASIS> codes,</EMPHASIS> in order to provide <EMPHASIS>order.</EMPHASIS> When a report is
generated, the <ANCHOR ID="SORTORDER">sort order is determined by
the numbering.
</PARA>
<PARA>A sensible hierarchy generally will have the "leaf" accounts
end in non-zero digits, whilst parent nodes have increasing
numbers of zeros. For instance, "cash" accounts might logically
be arranged thus:
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Overall Assets: <SCREEN>100</SCREEN>
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Overall Cash: <SCREEN>110</SCREEN>
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Cash in Wallet: <SCREEN>111</SCREEN>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Cash in Sock in Closet: <SCREEN>112</SCREEN>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Cash in Mattress: <SCREEN>113</SCREEN>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Petty Cash Box: <SCREEN>114</SCREEN>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Overall Banking Assets <SCREEN>120</SCREEN>
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Checking Account <SCREEN>121</SCREEN>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Savings Account <SCREEN>122</SCREEN>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
<PARA>When you <LINK LINKEND="XACC-NEWACCTWIN">create a new
account</LINK>, GnuCash offers a guess at what an appropriate
account code might be; you are free to change this. GnuCash
does not prevent duplicate numbering, although we would
encourage you to avoid this. Account codes are treated as
numbers in base-36, thus, if you run out of numbers, you
can use the letters, <KEYSYM>a</KEYSYM> through <KEYSYM>z</KEYSYM>.</PARA>
</SECT1>
<SECT1 ID="XACC-SAMPLECHART">
<TITLE> A Sample Chart of Accounts</TITLE>
<PARA>A "typical" chart of accounts is shown below. Each
account is of a given <LINK LINKEND="XACC-ACCTYPES">account
type</LINK>. This example is a combination of some typical
business and personal accounts.
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Assets
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Cash On Hand
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Checking account
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Money Market Account
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Certificate of Deposit
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Fixed Assets
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Furniture
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Computers
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Jewelry, Collectibles
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Tools, Machinery
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Investments
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Stocks
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Bonds
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Mutual Funds
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Real Estate
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Liabilities
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Taxes
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Federal Income Tax
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Social Security
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Medicare
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>FUTA
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>State Income Tax
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Accounts Payable
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>MasterCard
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Visa
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>American Express
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Diner's Club
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Loans
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Debentures
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>School Loan
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Uncle Harry's Tide-me-over
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Equity
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Retained Earnings
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Current Year Earnings
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Historical Adjustments
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Income
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Interest Income
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Bank Account Interest
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Certificate of Deposit
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Bond Interest
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Dividends
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Stock
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Mutual Fund
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Consulting
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>ABC Design
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>PQR Infomatics
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Salary
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>My Day Job
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Commissions
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Royalties
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Expenses
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Rent and Utilities
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Rent
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Rent Late Fees
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Electricity
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Gas
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Phone
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Internet
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Cable TV
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Office Expenses
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Accounting
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Legal
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Software
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Postage
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Bank Charges
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Credit Card Charges
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Toner, Paper, Paper Clips
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Auto Expenses
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Gas
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Insurance
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Repair
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Rental
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Taxes
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Social Security
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Unemployment
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>IRS penalties
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Wages and Salaries
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Consulting
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Wages
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Health Insurance
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Travel
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Air
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Hotel
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Meals
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Auto
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA> Marketing
<ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Advertising
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Trade Shows
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Give Aways
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>
</PARA>
</SECT1>
</ARTICLE>