Class 11 DK Goel Solutions Chapter 19 - Rectification of Errors
FAQs on DK Goel Class 11 Accountancy Solutions: Chapter 19 Overview
1. What is the correct step-by-step method to rectify errors using a Suspense Account in Class 11 Accountancy?
When a Trial Balance does not agree, the difference is temporarily placed in a Suspense Account. The correct method to rectify the one-sided errors that caused this difference is as follows:
- Step 1: Identify the specific account that has been incorrectly posted (e.g., short debit, excess credit).
- Step 2: Determine the amount of the error.
- Step 3: Pass a rectifying journal entry. Debit or credit the affected account to correct it.
- Step 4: Use the Suspense Account for the corresponding debit or credit to complete the journal entry.
- Step 5: After all one-sided errors are rectified, the balance in the Suspense Account should become zero.
2. How do you solve a problem involving an error of principle, for instance, if the installation charges for new machinery were debited to the Wages Account?
An error of principle occurs when a transaction is recorded without following accounting principles, such as treating a capital expenditure as a revenue expense. To solve this:
- Identify the error: Installation charges (a capital expenditure) should be added to the cost of the asset (Machinery Account) but were incorrectly debited to an expense account (Wages Account).
- Determine the correction: The Wages Account was wrongly debited and needs to be credited. The Machinery Account should have been debited and now needs to be.
- Pass the rectifying entry: The correct journal entry would be:
Machinery A/c Dr.
To Wages A/c
(Being installation charges wrongly debited to wages, now rectified).
3. What is the solution for an error of commission, for example, if a credit sale to 'Raman' for ₹10,000 was correctly recorded in the Sales Book but posted to 'Rohan's' account?
An error of commission is a clerical error where the correct amount is posted to the correct side, but in the wrong account. The step-by-step solution is:
- Identify the error: 'Rohan's' account was incorrectly debited instead of 'Raman's' account.
- Determine the correction: The incorrect debit to 'Rohan' needs to be reversed by crediting his account. The correct debit to 'Raman' needs to be made.
- Pass the rectifying journal entry:
Raman A/c Dr. ₹10,000
To Rohan A/c ₹10,000
(Being credit sale to Raman wrongly debited to Rohan, now rectified).
4. Why is a Suspense Account used to rectify some errors but not others?
A Suspense Account is used exclusively to rectify one-sided errors. These are mistakes that affect only one account, causing the debit and credit totals of the Trial Balance to disagree. The Suspense Account holds this difference temporarily. In contrast, two-sided errors (like errors of principle, complete omission, or compensating errors) affect two or more accounts in such a way that the Trial Balance still agrees. Since there is no disagreement in totals, there is no need for a Suspense Account; these errors are corrected with a direct journal entry between the affected accounts.
5. How does the method for rectifying an error affecting a nominal account change if it is discovered after preparing the final accounts?
The method changes significantly. If an error affecting a nominal account (like Sales, Purchases, or any expense/income account) is found before preparing final accounts, you rectify it using the nominal account itself. However, if it's found after preparing the final accounts for the year 2025-26, all nominal accounts are already closed and their balances transferred to the Trading and Profit & Loss Account. Therefore, you cannot use the nominal account directly. Instead, you must use a special account called the 'Profit & Loss Adjustment Account' to make the correction, ensuring the capital account reflects the true profit or loss from the previous period.
6. If a compensating error does not affect the Trial Balance totals, why is it still necessary to find and solve it?
While a compensating error (where one error's effect is cancelled out by another) does not cause the Trial Balance to disagree, it is crucial to rectify it. The primary reason is that although the totals are correct, the individual account balances are wrong. This leads to inaccurate and misleading financial statements. For example, an overstatement in a sales account compensated by an overstatement in a wages account would result in an incorrect Gross Profit and Net Profit, presenting a false picture of the business's profitability and financial position.
7. Can the rectification of an error of complete omission ever require a Suspense Account? Explain the correct method.
No, rectifying an error of complete omission never requires a Suspense Account. This is because the error involves completely failing to record a transaction. Since both the debit and credit aspects of the transaction were missed, the Trial Balance remains in agreement. The correct method to solve this is simply to pass the journal entry that should have been recorded in the first place, debiting the appropriate account and crediting the other, with no involvement of the Suspense Account.
8. How would you solve a problem where goods worth ₹5,000 were sold on credit but were recorded in the Sales Book as ₹500?
This is an error of recording in the books of original entry, which affects both the customer's account and the sales account. To solve this:
- Identify the error: Both the Sales account and the Customer's personal account are under-credited and under-debited, respectively, by ₹4,500 (₹5,000 - ₹500).
- Determine the correction: You need to debit the customer's account and credit the sales account with the shortfall amount.
- Pass the rectifying entry: A supplementary entry is passed to correct the shortfall:
Customer's A/c Dr. ₹4,500
To Sales A/c ₹4,500
(Being shortfall in sales recording, now rectified).






















