Explain the imprest system of petty cash book

The imprest system is designed to provide a rudimentary manual method for tracking petty cash balances and how cash is being used. The petty cash book usually consists of a columnar book with one side used to record the original receipt of cash to establish the fund, and the other to analyse payments by expense categories, such as. Petty cash or a petty cash fund is a small amount of money available for paying small expenses without writing a check. The petty cash book is a document in business used for recording misclenius expenditure this are the unplanned and shallow demands that may arise in the daily running of the business. Petty cash book explanation, format, example, ordinary and imprest. Under this system, the total petty expenses for a particular period are estimated and that amount is advanced by the head cashier to the petty cashier. Before the rise in the use of credit cards and charge cards, nearly all companies used petty cash accounts to allow employees responsible for purchasing small supplies to do so with minimal hassle. Controllimitkeep track of petty cash expenditure the cash remaining and the vouchers received should equal the imprest can help to reduce fraud or other suitable advantage. First, management has to estimate how many small purchases it will make and much money it will need for these purchases. This is recorded as a separate account in the companys. Generally, petty cash book is maintained on imprest system. The petty cash book is not part of the double entry bookkeeping system, and is used simply to record movements on the petty cash imprest fund. Like columnar petty cash book, it also contains many money columns in the credit side and one money column in the debit side and a particular column and a date column are also similar to that of the columnar or analytical petty cash book.

The most wellknown type of imprest is a petty cash account, which is used to cover smaller transactions. Definition of petty cash petty cash refers to a small amount of currency and coins that a company uses to pay small amounts without writing a check. May 09, 2014 generally, petty cash book is maintained on imprest system. These are expenses which are incurred day after day. Petty cash imprest system is an effective way to manage small day to day expenses. You may learn more about accounting basics from the following articles mark to market accounting explain. Petty cash book is a ledger book, which is used to record petty cash expenses formally in chronological order, with the date. When the petty cash fund is operated as an imprest fund, the recording of the petty expenses paid will be made in the petty cash book. The imprest petty cash float system is an important internal control tool to check cash and its usage or theft. In some cases, a description field is provided to help the petty cashier feed insufficient information about every purchase. Sep 30, 2019 overall, petty cash is a largely outdated and inefficient system. The petty cash book accounts for the cash spent on this short term arising needs of the company and it is necessary for accountability for the expenditure on the.

How the imprest system of petty cash book works azcentral. This system makes it easier to monitor expenses, flag discrepancies, and ultimately detect fraud. The bigger the company, the harder it is to track outgoing petty cash, change and receipts. Jul, 2019 the imprest system is an accounting system for paying out and subsequently replenishing petty cash. How the imprest system of petty cash book works your. The difference between the total of the debit items and that of the total column on the credit represents the balance of the petty cash in hand. An imprest system will be adopted for the petty cash book. The petty cashier makes the small payments and records them in the petty cash book. Nov 27, 2019 the petty cash book is not part of the double entry bookkeeping system, and is used simply to record movements on the petty cash imprest fund. By documenting expenses with receipts and confirming that the cash balance is maintained, the petty cash system is that it helps monitor how the money is being. What are the advantages of maintaining a petty cash book. An imprest system is an accounting system that involves monitoring and managing petty cash payouts and subsequent replenishment. Using imprest, the petty cash of a company is kept at a constant rate. Explain the term imprest system 2 discuss the double entry.

An imprest system is a method to account for petty cash by. The balance of the petty cash book will be shown on the asset side of balance sheet as. The imprest system is a form of financial accounting system. Petty cash book explanation, format, example, ordinary. The imprest system is a system for controlling petty cash.

The petty cash book is to enter how the cash available for daily expenses are spent for example milk, tea, taxi charges and. Under this system, the petty cashier is given a lumpsum amount for meeting petty expenses. An imprest system is used to run and manage a petty cash fund. The cash is given to the petty cashier either on ordinary system or imprest system which are briefly explained below. Overall, petty cash is a largely outdated and inefficient system. Jun 14, 2008 an imprest system of petty cash means that the general ledger account petty cash will remain dormant at a set amount. It relieves the cash book and the chief cashier of the burden of recording tiny and frequent payments. Petty cash book can be expressed as a formal summarization of the petty cash expenditures which refers to the daytoday normal. This is the maximum amount of cash that can be held at any time. This can be handled by a junior member of the staff, making it.

Totals are carried forward from page to page until the end of the periods. Like a general cash book, a petty cash book has a debit and a credit side. When the whole amount of petty cash is spent, the petty cashier submits the account to chief cashier who again pays a lumpsum amount to petty cashier. Such payments are generally handled by a petty cash imprest system whereby an amount of float is fixed.

The most common imprest system is the petty cash system. The daily transactions that use the petty cash are entered into this system which ensures that there is. There are 2 types of petty cash the imprest system and the non imprest system but i wont go into that as i think id run out of room. The petty cash account is used to make small purchases. Under the system, the petty cash fund balance is always maintained at a fixed amount decided on when the fund is first established during an accounting period petty cash is used to pay cash expenses which are supported by petty cash vouchers. Petty cash book definition, types, format, examples. Commission of fraud is reduced as the chief cashier verifies petty cash book alongwith vouchers and the petty cashier is more responsible. Jul 16, 2019 petty cash works on the imprest system, in which there is an initial amount of money put into an account, which is drawn upon for a specific purpose in this case, petty cash. When the account goes below a certain specified amount, the system is replenished. Staff would then be reimbursed back though petty cash.

How the imprest system of petty cash book works your business. The balance of the petty cash book will be shown on the asset side of balance sheet as cash in hand at the end of the year. Accounting for petty cash explanation, related controls. A s the petty cashier has to produce to the chief cashier the petty cash book for inspection, it acts as a healthy check on the petty cashier. This video shows the creation and replenishment of petty cash.

Required a state one advantage of the imprest system of petty cash. The imprest system master principles of accounts poa. A petty cash is a cash book used to enter all small or petty expenses obtained. Imprest system of petty cash is a system where the petty cashier is given a lump sum in cash often called a float keeping in view the possible needs of the business to meet its petty expenses for a stated period, e. Thus, the book is part of a manual recordkeeping system. It is a system of petty cash book where a person is given a fixed amount in the beginning of the period, the petty cashier submits the account of. Each time cash level runs low, the petty cash imprest is injected with cash by drawing a cheque. Petty cash book 2019, imprest system of petty cash. Petty cash book is a formal summarization of petty cash expenditures, sorted by date.

Petty cash book explanation, format, example, ordinary and. The petty cash book is the book for recording small disbursement, the rational behind the system is to reduce the numerous cash payment for small expenses. Every time when the person who control the bank accountdisbursement to petty cash is able to have a closer internal check on the actual petty cash expenditure incurred. Apr 26, 2020 the petty cash book is a formal summarization of petty cash expenditures, sorted by date. This type of book is maintained just like a cash book. This would also avoid recording too many small value transactions in the main cash book. This makes the entire petty cash system susceptible to abuse or fraud. Mar 25, 2018 under this system, the total petty expenses for a particular period are estimated and that amount is advanced by the head cashier to the petty cashier. Required c i state the amount of cash there should have been in the petty cash box. This can be handled by a junior member of the staff, making it simpler for management. It is the system under which, an estimate is made of amount for petty expenses fort a period it could be for a week, a fortnight or a month. The additional analysis columns are used to analyze expenditures as they arise. The petty cash book will be maintained by a separate cashier known as petty cashier in the accounting field.

What are the importance of petty cash imprest system answers. A fixed balance is maintained in the account, and it is replenished routinely to maintain that. An imprest is a cash account that a business uses to pay for small, routine expenses. The general system adopted for the recording of item in the petty cash book is refer to as the imprest systemin this system a specified sum is given to the petty cashier at the start. A petty cash book takes in relevant details concerning purchases. During the period he makes payment out of this money. The petty cash book is a formal summarization of petty cash expenditures, sorted by date. Explain the term imprest system 2 discuss the double entry system applicable to from acc 101 at abe international college of business and accountancy tacloban branch. By watching this video you will understand how to record all the entries in. Imprest system news newspapers books scholar jstor april. A separate column is allotted for each type of expenditure. At the end of the period a petty cash reconciliation is carried out.

Understand how the imprest system works in the petty cash book. Imprest system of petty cash fund the world impress means advance amount which is personal to certain person to make petty expenses. Apr 22, 2007 staff would then be reimbursed back though petty cash. Imprest system petty cash book archives tutorstips. The mount paid by him during the period for expenses. The book has one column to record receipt of cash which is only from the main cashier and other columns to record payments of various types. The imprest system is an accounting system for paying out and subsequently replenishing petty cash. The cash allocated for petty expenditures for a specific period is entered on the credit side of general cash book and on the debit side of petty cash book. The importance of petty cash book imprest system is that it helps in basic bookkeeping. At end the firm reimburses him the amount paid by him so that the balance of cash with him.

Petty cash book is the accounting book that is used for the purpose of recording the petty cash expenditure i. What are the advantages of using the imprest system. Under this imprest system of petty cash book, the head cashier provides a fixed amount of money to the. While convenient for small purchases, it is not a realistic solution for larger expenses. Accounting for petty cash explanation, related controls and. The petty cash book cashier will record any payments. Petty cash works on the imprest system, in which there is an initial amount of money put into an account, which is drawn upon for a specific purpose in this case, petty cash. To record such expenses, a different book known as a petty cash book is maintained. The base characteristic of an imprest system is that a fixed amount is reserved, which after a certain period of time or when circumstances require, because money was spent, it will be replenished.

Petty cash is also the title of the general ledger current asset account that reports the amount of the companys petty cash. By watching this video you will understand how to record all the entries in the petty cash voucherreceipt book. An imprest system of petty cash means that the general ledger account petty cash will remain dormant at a constant amount. The system is a form of managing petty cash in a business. Sales day book is where a company will record sale transactions for a particular day, this will enable them to keep track on how well the business is doing. Petty cash book format example definition explanation. Recording of transaction in cash book and journal with specimen. One key component of the system is the need for documentation of all expenditures, which provides an excellent means of maintaining tight control over cash.

From the following particulars prepare a petty cash book under imprest system. The general description of imprest involves establishing a fund or account for the payment of specific or miscellaneous expenses. Under the imprest system, the chief cashier replenishes the cash such that the petty cash box always has the same amount. The main advantages of imprest system of petty cash are as follows. An imprest system of petty cash means that the general ledger account petty cash will remain dormant at a set amount. There are two primary types of entries in the petty cash book, which are a debit to record cash received. Petty cash is a small reserve of used for transactions and expenditures where it doesnt make sense to write cheques. Such a system is known as the imprest system of pettycash. Here we discuss the format of petty cash book, types of petty cash systems including the ordinary and imprest system along with its advantages and disadvantages. Below is a breakdown of all columns and information contained in a petty cash book. However, since cash is the most liquid resource of the entity, strong controls over it are necessary to avoid possible misappropriation. The person petty cashier is given an amount in advance of expenditure.

It may be maintained by ordinary or by the imprest system. Petty cash is a small reserve of cash kept onsite at a business location for incidental cash needs. Jan 08, 2015 the petty cash account is used to make small purchases. The imprest petty cash system is a method of accounting for petty cash expenses. The system is very useful specially if an analytical petty cash book is used.

The petty cashier is given a sum of money in the beginning of the period. In the beginning of new period, a fixed amount will be reimbursed again. The petty cash book is ruled in the form of the single column cash book with an amount column and addition oat columns for the more usual classes of expenditure. There are 2 types of petty cash the imprest system and the nonimprest system but i wont go into that as i think id run out of room. Under this system an estimate is made of the amount required for small payments for a certain period, say, a week or a month and this amount is paid to the petty cashier in advance. Second, a check is written for this amount, and the cash is given to the cashier in charge of the petty cash fund. The amount of reimbursement is equal to the expenses paid through petty cash.

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