17 August 2025
To close the books of accounts for an individual or a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) and transfer the balances to the capital account, you must pass journal entries that clear out temporary accounts (such as income and expense accounts) and transfer the resulting net profit or loss to the capital account. This process ensures that all the revenue and expense accounts show a zero balance at the start of the next accounting period, and the capital account reflects the updated net position.
Typical Closing Entry Close All Income Accounts to Income Summary:
Debit each income/revenue account.
Credit "Income Summary" account (optional, can directly use capital).
Close All Expense Accounts to Income Summary:
Credit each expense account.
Debit "Income Summary" account (optional, can directly use capital).
Transfer Net Profit/Loss to Capital Account:
If net profit: Debit "Income Summary" (or Profit & Loss Account), Credit "Capital Account".
If net loss: Debit "Capital Account", Credit "Income Summary" (or Profit & Loss Account).
This procedure applies to both individuals and HUFs following standard accounting principles. The end result is that all temporary accounts are closed and the net profit/loss is reflected in the Capital Account for the next year.
These are standard entries regardless of whether the entity is an individual or HUF, as both use the capital account to reflect the final balance. There may be nuances depending on the accounting method (cash or mercantile), but the principle remains the same.