As the name suggests, a suspense account is an account that temporarily records amounts that are yet to have their proper accounts determined. In balance sheet terms, a suspense account is not ideal, as it can prevent you from accurately balancing the books. However, in your day-to-day business activities, using a suspense account in accounting is much like placing a document on a “to file” pile. The purpose of suspense account entries is to temporarily hold uncategorized transactions. Close the account after moving the entry to the correct permanent account.

Create, review, and approve journals, then electronically certify, post them to and store them with all supporting documentation. Automatically create, populate, and post journals to your ERP based on your rules. INVESTMENT BANKING RESOURCESLearn the foundation of Investment banking, financial modeling, valuations and more. DebitsDebit represents either an increase in a company’s expenses or a decline in its revenue.

Example of using suspense accounts

For example, sender sends Suspense Account In Accounting from US ACH account to a BB mobile number in Japan. The customer receives an alert on their mobile to withdraw this money from a BB agent. Until they withdraw, the remittance stays in a suspense account, earning the financial institute or the BB enabler float/interest on that money.

In the business world generally, a suspense account is a section of a company’s financial books where it can record ambiguous entries that need further analysis to determine their proper classification. In mortgage servicing, the servicer can use a suspense account to park funds temporarily if a borrower has made only a partial payment for that month. In investing, a suspense account is a type of brokerage account where a customer’s proceeds from selling an investment may be recorded until the customer uses the money to invest in something else. Finally, suspense accounts help to ensure that all transactions are properly classified and recorded in the general ledger. This helps to ensure that the financial statements are accurate and complete. It is like a temporary shelf where all the “miscellaneous” items can be parked until their actual nature can be ascertained.

What is a Suspense Account?

An accounting error is an error in an accounting entry that was not intentional, and when spotted is immediately fixed. Accruals are revenues earned or expenses incurred which impact a company’s net income, although cash has not yet exchanged hands. Our team of reviewers are established professionals with decades of experience in areas of personal finance and hold many advanced degrees and certifications.

• Kristen has her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with certificates in finance, marketing, and graphic design.
• A suspense account will be managed by the finance team and serve as a catch-all for unknown amounts.
• Otherwise, the balances in the suspense account may increase to significant proportions and become difficult to manage over time.
• A suspense account is used to temporarily record transactions that lack the normal, detailed information that accountants require to make proper journal entries into the business’s accounting records.
• When a total of debit and credit does not match – once closing balance from the ledgers is obtained and trial balance is compiled if there is any difference in the debit and credit, it can be posted in the suspense account.