Source Documents

Source documents are business papers from which information is obtained for a transaction and provides proof that the transaction occurred.

When the source document arrives in a business, a transaction is assigned to it.

Some examples of source documents include:

Cheques – Usually indicate that you have paid cash for something. (Credit Cash)

Receipt – Receipts will usually indicate that you have received cash for something (Debit Cash)

Cash Register Tape – Usually indicate that you had some type of sale (Debit Cash, Credit Sales)

Sales Invoice (bill) – Usually means that you have sold something on account (Debit A/R, Credit Sales)

Purchase Invoice – Usually means that you have bought something and put it on account. (Credit Accounts Payable)

Bank Memo – Bank did something that will affect your account. (debit/credit cash)

It is important to remember that all source documents will have a. Date Amount Trade (debit/credit) Document number