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What comes after the trial balance in the accounting cycle? What types of errors are NOT revealed by a trial balance? What types of errors ARE revealed by a trial balance? How is the trial balance used to prepare financial statements? What is the difference between a trial balance and a balance sheet? Why do assets and expenses have debit balances while income, liabilities, and capital have credit balances? How do accruals and prepayments affect the figures taken to the financial statements from the trial balance? What is the effect of depreciation on the trial balance and statements? What is the difference between a trial balance error being 'in the trial balance' versus 'in the ledger'? What is an extended trial balance (ETB)?
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How do you locate the difference when a trial balance does not balance?

Intermediate

Answer

Check the difference for clues: if divisible by 9, suspect a transposition; if it equals a round figure or a specific balance, look for an omitted or misplaced item; if it's twice a figure, a balance may be on the wrong side. Re-cast the totals, verify each balance is listed on the correct side, and re-check postings, using the control accounts to narrow the search.
Difference 90 (divisible by 9) -> likely a transposition,
e.g., 54 written as 45.
Real-world example A difference divisible by 9 leads the bookkeeper straight to a transposed figure in a ledger balance.

Common follow-ups: Why does divisibility by 9 suggest transposition? | What does a doubled figure suggest?

Correcting Errors Control Accounts Trial Balance
All 25 Trial Balance questions