What are some reasons that cause the balance on the bank statement to differ from the cash balance on the books?
The reasons for the difference between the balance on the bank statement and the balance on the books include outstanding checks, deposits in transit, bank service charges, check printing charges, errors on the books, errors by the bank, electronic charges on the bank statement not yet recorded on the books, and electronic deposits on the bank statement that are not yet recorded on the books.
If an item is on the books but has not yet appeared on the bank statement (outstanding checks, deposits in transit), the items are entered as an adjustment to the balance per bank statement. Outstanding checks are a deduction to the balance per bank; deposits in transit are an addition to the balance per bank.
If an item is on the bank statement but has not yet been entered on the books, the items are entered as an adjustment to the balance per books. Bank service charges, check printing charges, and other electronic deductions that are not yet recorded on the books are deductions from the cash balance on the books. Electronic deposits not yet on the books are added to the cash balance per books.
