What is a list of accounts and their balances at the end of the period?

Asked by: Helena Bailey  |  Last update: September 9, 2026
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A trial balance is a report that lists all general ledger accounts—including assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses—and their respective debit or credit balances at a specific point in time. Prepared at the end of an accounting period, its primary purpose is to ensure that total debits equal total credits, verifying mathematical accuracy before preparing financial statements.

What is a list of accounts and their balances called?

A trial balance is a financial report that helps you check the accuracy of your bookkeeping. It lists every account in your general ledger along with their balances, split into two columns: debits and credits. Its purpose is to confirm these totals match, showing your records follow double-entry accounting.

What lists the ending balances of each account?

The unadjusted trial balance is the preliminary trial balance report or document that lists all ending balances or totals of accounts to determine if total debits and credit balances for account totals in the general ledger are equal. The trial balance includes balance sheet and income statement accounts.

Which accounts are balanced at the end of the year?

All types of transaction accounts are balanced and closed at the end of the financial year.

What is the final list of balances?

The final list of balances, totaled and combined is called Trial Balance.

ACCOUNTING BASICS: Debits and Credits Explained

34 related questions found

What is a list of accounts and balances at a given time?

A trial balance is a report that lists the balances of all general ledger accounts of a company at a certain point in time. The accounts reflected on a trial balance are related to all major accounting items, including assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, expenses, gains, and losses.

Which are the final accounts?

Final accounts are financial statements prepared at the end of an accounting period to determine a business's results and financial position. They typically include the Trading Account, Profit & Loss Account, and Balance Sheet to summarize profitability and the values of assets and liabilities.

What are end of year accounts called?

The term 'final accounts' is usually used to describe the accounts filed by limited companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) after the end of every accounting year. These are sometimes also called year-end or statutory accounts.

What are three types of accounts?

The three primary types of accounts in the traditional accounting system are Personal, Real, and Nominal, each governed by specific debit/credit rules to record financial transactions accurately: Personal accounts deal with people/entities (Debit Receiver, Credit Giver), Real accounts cover assets/property (Debit What Comes In, Credit What Goes Out), and Nominal accounts relate to incomes/expenses (Debit Expenses/Losses, Credit Incomes/Gains).

What is a list of closing balances of ledger accounts called?

A trial balance is a financial statement that records the final balances of ledger accounts at the end of a financial year. It is prepared to ensure all bookkeeping system entries are accurate and to help identify accounting errors.

What is a list of accounts called in accounting?

Chart of Accounts. A company's Chart of Accounts is a list of all Asset, Liability, Equity, Revenue, and Expense accounts included in the company's General Ledger. The number of accounts included in the Chart of Accounts varies depending on the size of the company.

What is a list of all accounts and their balances after posting closing entries called?

A post-closing trial balance is a list of all permanent accounts and their balances after closing entries have been made, ensuring that total debits equal total credits.

What is ending balance?

The ending balance is the net residual balance in an account. It is usually measured at the end of a reporting period, as part of the closing process. An ending balance is derived by adding up the transaction totals in an account and then adding this total to the beginning balance.

What is another name for a balance sheet?

A balance sheet is also known as a Statement of Financial Position or a Statement of Financial Condition, summarizing a company's assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time, like a financial "snapshot". It's a core financial report alongside the income statement and cash flow statement, showing what a business owns versus what it owes.
 

What is a list of each account and its balance at any given time and is used to verify that debits equal credits?

A trial balance is a financial report that lists all account balances from your general ledger at a specific point in time. It ensures your debits equal your credits, helping you catch errors before preparing financial statements.

Which one is the list of all account balances?

A trial balance is a list of all the balances in the nominal ledger accounts.

What are the 5 main account types?

The five major account types in a chart of accounts—assets, liabilities, equity, income/revenue, and expenses—are reflected in these financial statements: Balance sheet. Displays assets, liabilities, and equity, showing the company's financial position at a specific point in time.

What is the list of account names used in the general ledger?

  • Distribution Accounts (DD/DC accounts) ...
  • Revenue Accounts (402xxx, 4030xx, 4031xx accounts)
  • Budget Accounts used in research funds.
  • Budget Allocation Accounts (43xxxx accounts)
  • Expense Accounts. ...
  • Transfer Revenue and Expense Accounts (specific TD/TC accounts)
  • Internal Sales (401001 revenue and 50235X expense accounts)

What are final accounts also called?

The term 'final accounts' is usually used to describe the accounts filed by limited companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) after the end of every accounting year. These are sometimes also called year-end or statutory accounts.

What are the 4 types of financial statements?

The four core financial statements are the Balance Sheet (snapshot of assets, liabilities, equity), the Income Statement (revenues, expenses, profit over time), the Cash Flow Statement (cash inflows/outflows over time), and the Statement of Shareholders' Equity (changes in owner investment over time), all crucial for understanding a company's financial health.
 

What is an end of year balance sheet?

A balance sheet is a financial statement that provides a snapshot of what a company owns and owes, as well as the amount invested by shareholders. It consists of three key components: assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity.

What are the 7 current assets?

The 7 common current assets are Cash & Equivalents, Marketable Securities, Accounts Receivable, Inventory, Operating Supplies, Prepaid Expenses, and Other Liquid Assets, representing items easily converted to cash (within a year) for short-term operations, crucial for liquidity. 

What is a final balance sheet?

Assets, liabilities and ownership equity are listed as of a specific date, such as the end of its financial year. A balance sheet is often described as a "snapshot of a company's financial condition". It is the summary of each and every financial statement of an organization.

What are the 5 assets and 5 liabilities?

Examples of assets include cash, inventory, accounts receivable, property, equipment, investments, patents, trademarks, and goodwill. Liabilities encompass loans, mortgages, accounts payable, accrued expenses, deferred revenue, bonds payable, and lease obligations.