closing entries definition

These journal entries are made after the financial statements have been prepared at the end of the accounting year. Most of the closing entries involve the income statement accounts (revenues, expenses, gains, losses, and summary/clearing accounts) whose balances will be transferred to the owner’s capital account or the corporation’s retained earnings account. A closing entry also transfers the owner’s drawing account (a temporary balance sheet account) balance to the owner’s capital account. The closing entries will mean that the temporary accounts (income statement accounts and drawing account) will start the new accounting year with zero balances.