Difference Between Cash Book and Cash Account

In business, the transaction may occur in two ways, i.e. cash or credit. For recording cash transaction, there are separate books or accounts are maintained by the business entities, which are cash book and cash account. Cash Book is a subsidiary book, which records all the cash related transactions, i.e. receipts or payments. In the same way, Cash Account is an account in which cash receipts and disbursements are entered. These two differ in the fact that cash book is a subsidiary book, while cash account is a ledger account.

Many accounting students, utter confusion in understanding the two, in fact, they juxtapose them. However, there is a fine line of difference between cash book and cash account, which we’ve elaborated in the given article.

Content: Cash Book Vs Cash Account

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Similarities
5. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Cash Book	Cash Account
Meaning	A book that keeps the record of the receipt and payment of cash.	An account that traces cash transactions of the company.
Type	Subsidiary Book	Ledger Account
Narration	Yes	No
Folio	Ledger Folio	Journal Folio

Definition of Cash Book

A cash book is also known as the book of original entry. It is a business journal that records the cash receipts and cash payments of a business for the particular accounting year. The cash book works exactly like a cash account, but when the transactions are enormous, then cash book is preferred.

There are three types of cash books:

1. Single column cash book, i.e. Cash book with cash column only.
2. Double column cash book, i.e. Cash book with cash and bank column.
3. Triple column cash book, i.e. Cash book with cash, bank, and discount column.

Apart from the above three, one more type of cash book is maintained, known as the ‘petty cash book’ used for recording petty cash expenses of the business.

Definition of Cash Account

A cash account is a ledger account used for recording day to day cash transactions of the business. On the debit side of the account, cash receipts are written while on the credit side, cash disbursements are entered. As cash is an asset, so it is a debit account, i.e. a debit entry will increase the cash account whereas credit entry will decrease the same.

Similarities

• Only cash transactions are recorded.
• Debit side for receipts and credit for disbursements.

Conclusion

In business, the use of cash book or a cash account is very common, whether it is a small or a large organization. Cash plays a significant role in the smooth running of the business, so for proper and systematic recording of the cash transactions – companies use either cash book or cash account.