What is a real personal and nominal account?

Understanding the Types of Accounting Accounts: Real, Personal, and Nominal

In accounting, accounts are used to classify and track financial transactions. There are three main types of accounts: real, personal, and nominal.

Real Accounts

Real accounts represent the physical assets, liabilities, and equity of a business. These accounts are used to track the value of a business’s assets, the amount it owes to creditors, and the ownership interest of its owners. Examples of real accounts include:

• Cash
• Accounts receivable
• Inventory
• Land
• Buildings
• Equipment
• Accounts payable
• Loans payable
• Owner’s capital

Personal Accounts

Personal accounts track transactions with specific individuals or organizations. These accounts are used to record amounts owed to or by the business, such as:

• Accounts receivable: Amounts owed to the business from customers
• Accounts payable: Amounts owed by the business to suppliers or other creditors
• Notes receivable: Promissory notes received by the business
• Notes payable: Promissory notes issued by the business

Nominal Accounts

Nominal accounts record a business’s income, expenses, gains, and losses. These accounts are used to determine the profitability or financial performance of the business over a specific period, such as a month or quarter. Examples of nominal accounts include:

• Sales revenue
• Cost of goods sold
• Salaries expense
• Rent expense
• Interest expense
• Depreciation expense
• Gain on sale of assets
• Loss on sale of assets

Distinguishing Between Accounts

The following table provides a summary of the key characteristics of each type of account:

Understanding the different types of accounting accounts is essential for properly classifying financial transactions and generating accurate financial statements. By using real, personal, and nominal accounts effectively, businesses can effectively manage their financial resources and track their financial performance.