Class 12 Accountancy All Formats — Journal to Balance Sheet Complete Guide | Padhaao Blog

In short: Every accounting format you need for Class 12 CBSE board exams — from basic Journal entries to Company Financial Statements and Cash Flow. Each format is shown with correct column headings, structure, and notes on what examiners look for. No theory explanations. Just the formats you need to write in the exam. Bookmark this and use it for daily practice.

How to Use This Page

Step	Action
1	Go through each format and check if you know the correct column headings
2	Practice writing each format from memory on blank paper
3	Focus on formats you get wrong — column order and headings matter
4	Before the exam, do a quick format-recall test for all 12 formats below
5	In the exam, always draw the format first, then fill in the numbers

Format 1 — Journal Entry

Date	Particulars	Debit (₹)	Credit (₹)
2027
April 1	Cash A/c ... Dr.	XXX
	To Capital A/c		XXX
	(Being capital introduced)

Journal — Key Rules

Rule	Details
Debit entry first	Always write the debit account on the first line with "Dr."
Credit entry indented	Credit account written on the next line, indented, with "To" prefix
Narration	Always write narration in brackets below the entry
L.F. (Ledger Folio)	Leave blank in exams unless specifically asked
Multiple debits/credits	Compound entry — list all debits first, then all credits

Format 2 — Ledger Account (T-Format)

Dr. [Name of Account] Cr.

Date	Particulars	Amount (₹)	Date	Particulars	Amount (₹)
2027			2027
April 1	To Cash A/c	XXX	April 30	By Purchases A/c	XXX
			April 30	By Balance c/d	XXX
	Total	XXX		Total	XXX

Ledger — Key Rules

Rule	Details
Dr. side	"To" prefix for all entries on the debit side
Cr. side	"By" prefix for all entries on the credit side
Balancing	"By Balance c/d" on the heavier side, "To Balance b/d" brought down next period
Total must match	Both sides of the ledger must show the same total

Format 3 — Trial Balance

Trial Balance of [Firm Name] as on [Date]

S.No.	Name of Account	Debit Balance (₹)	Credit Balance (₹)
1	Cash/Bank	XXX
2	Capital A/c		XXX
3	Purchases	XXX
4	Sales		XXX
5	Sundry Debtors	XXX
6	Sundry Creditors		XXX
	Total	XXX	XXX

Trial Balance — Key Rules

Rule	Details
Debit balances	Assets, Expenses, Drawings, Purchases, Debtors
Credit balances	Liabilities, Income, Capital, Sales, Creditors, Reserves
Totals must match	If debit ≠ credit, there is an error in posting

Format 4 — Trading Account

Trading Account of [Firm Name] for the year ended [Date]

Dr. Side	Amount (₹)	Cr. Side	Amount (₹)
To Opening Stock	XXX	By Sales	XXX
To Purchases	XXX	Less: Sales Returns	(XXX)
Less: Purchase Returns	(XXX)		Net Sales: XXX
	Net Purchases: XXX	By Closing Stock	XXX
To Direct Expenses:		By Gross Loss (if any)	XXX
Wages	XXX
Carriage Inwards	XXX
Manufacturing Expenses	XXX
To Gross Profit (transferred to P&L)	XXX
Total	XXX	Total	XXX

Trading Account — Key Rules

Rule	Details
Direct expenses only	Only expenses directly related to purchase/manufacturing go here
Gross Profit	Sales - Cost of Goods Sold. Transferred to Profit and Loss Account
Closing Stock	Always on the credit side of Trading Account
Returns	Deducted from respective items (Purchase Returns from Purchases, Sales Returns from Sales)

Practice CBSE Accountancy on Padhaao

AI tutor with 10 learning modes · Quiz, Flashcards, Exam Practice & more · 3 free chapters daily

Start practicing Accountancy

Format 5 — Profit and Loss Account

Profit and Loss Account of [Firm Name] for the year ended [Date]

Dr. Side	Amount (₹)	Cr. Side	Amount (₹)
To Gross Loss (if any)	XXX	By Gross Profit (from Trading A/c)	XXX
To Salaries	XXX	By Interest Received	XXX
To Rent	XXX	By Commission Received	XXX
To Insurance	XXX	By Discount Received	XXX
To Depreciation	XXX	By Bad Debts Recovered	XXX
To Office Expenses	XXX	By Net Loss (if any)	XXX
To Bad Debts	XXX
To Discount Allowed	XXX
To Interest on Loan	XXX
To Commission Paid	XXX
To Net Profit (transferred to Capital/P&L Appropriation)	XXX
Total	XXX	Total	XXX

Profit and Loss — Key Rules

Rule	Details
Indirect expenses only	Selling, admin, financial expenses go here — not direct manufacturing costs
Net Profit	Gross Profit + Other Income - Indirect Expenses
Appropriation	For partnership firms, Net Profit is transferred to P&L Appropriation Account

Format 6 — Profit and Loss Appropriation Account (Partnership)

Profit and Loss Appropriation Account of [Firm Name] for the year ended [Date]

Dr. Side	Amount (₹)	Cr. Side	Amount (₹)
To Interest on Capital:		By Net Profit (from P&L A/c)	XXX
A's Interest on Capital	XXX	By Interest on Drawings:
B's Interest on Capital	XXX	A's Interest on Drawings	XXX
To Salary/Commission:		B's Interest on Drawings	XXX
A's Salary	XXX
B's Commission	XXX
To Profit transferred to:
A's Capital A/c	XXX
B's Capital A/c	XXX
Total	XXX	Total	XXX

P&L Appropriation — Key Rules

Rule	Details
Interest on Capital	Charge against profit — goes on debit side
Interest on Drawings	Added back to profit — goes on credit side
Salary/Commission	As per partnership deed — debit side
Remaining profit	Distributed in the profit-sharing ratio
If no deed exists	Equal sharing, no salary/commission/interest

Format 7 — Partners' Capital Account (Fluctuating Method)

Partners' Capital Accounts

Particulars	A (₹)	B (₹)	Particulars	A (₹)	B (₹)
To Drawings	XXX	XXX	By Balance b/d	XXX	XXX
To Interest on Drawings	XXX	XXX	By Salary/Commission	XXX	XXX
To Share of Loss (if any)	XXX	XXX	By Interest on Capital	XXX	XXX
To Balance c/d	XXX	XXX	By Share of Profit	XXX	XXX
			By Additional Capital	XXX	XXX
Total	XXX	XXX	Total	XXX	XXX

Capital Account — Key Rules

Rule	Details
Fluctuating method	All adjustments (salary, interest, profit, drawings) shown in Capital Account
Fixed method	Only additional capital and withdrawals of capital in Capital Account; rest in Current Account
Debit side	Drawings, Interest on Drawings, Share of Loss, Balance c/d
Credit side	Balance b/d, Salary, Interest on Capital, Share of Profit, Additional Capital

Format 8 — Revaluation Account (Admission/Retirement)

Revaluation Account

Dr. Side	Amount (₹)	Cr. Side	Amount (₹)
To Increase in Liabilities:		By Increase in Assets:
Creditors (increase)	XXX	Land (increase)	XXX
To Decrease in Assets:		By Decrease in Liabilities:
Stock (decrease)	XXX	Provision (decrease)	XXX
Machinery (decrease)	XXX
To Profit on Revaluation:		By Loss on Revaluation:
Transferred to A's Capital	XXX	Transferred to A's Capital	XXX
Transferred to B's Capital	XXX	Transferred to B's Capital	XXX
Total	XXX	Total	XXX

Revaluation — Key Rules

Rule	Details
When prepared	Admission, Retirement, or Death of a partner
Increase in Asset	Credit side (gain)
Decrease in Asset	Debit side (loss)
Increase in Liability	Debit side (loss)
Decrease in Liability	Credit side (gain)
Profit/Loss distribution	Old profit-sharing ratio (not new)

Format 9 — Company Balance Sheet (Schedule III, Part I)

Balance Sheet of [Company Name] as on [Date]

Particulars	Note No.	Current Year (₹)	Previous Year (₹)
I. EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
(1) Shareholders' Funds
(a) Share Capital	1	XXX	XXX
(b) Reserves and Surplus	2	XXX	XXX
(2) Non-Current Liabilities
(a) Long-term Borrowings	3	XXX	XXX
(3) Current Liabilities
(a) Short-term Borrowings		XXX	XXX
(b) Trade Payables		XXX	XXX
(c) Other Current Liabilities		XXX	XXX
(d) Short-term Provisions		XXX	XXX
Total		XXX	XXX
II. ASSETS
(1) Non-Current Assets
(a) Fixed Assets
(i) Tangible Assets	4	XXX	XXX
(ii) Intangible Assets		XXX	XXX
(b) Non-Current Investments		XXX	XXX
(c) Long-term Loans and Advances		XXX	XXX
(2) Current Assets
(a) Inventories		XXX	XXX
(b) Trade Receivables		XXX	XXX
(c) Cash and Cash Equivalents		XXX	XXX
(d) Short-term Loans and Advances		XXX	XXX
Total		XXX	XXX

Company Balance Sheet — Key Rules

Rule	Details
Schedule III format	Compulsory for all companies as per Companies Act, 2013
Vertical format only	Horizontal (T-format) not used for companies
Note numbers	Each major item refers to a detailed "Note to Accounts"
Two columns	Current year and previous year comparison mandatory
Total Assets = Total Equity + Liabilities	Both sides must match

Format 10 — Statement of Profit and Loss (Company)

Statement of Profit and Loss of [Company Name] for the year ended [Date]

Particulars	Current Year (₹)	Previous Year (₹)
I. Revenue from Operations	XXX	XXX
II. Other Income	XXX	XXX
III. Total Revenue (I + II)	XXX	XXX
IV. Expenses:
(a) Cost of Materials Consumed	XXX	XXX
(b) Purchases of Stock-in-Trade	XXX	XXX
(c) Changes in Inventories	XXX	XXX
(d) Employee Benefit Expenses	XXX	XXX
(e) Finance Costs	XXX	XXX
(f) Depreciation and Amortisation	XXX	XXX
(g) Other Expenses	XXX	XXX
Total Expenses	XXX	XXX
V. Profit before Tax (III - IV)	XXX	XXX
VI. Tax Expense	XXX	XXX
VII. Profit after Tax (V - VI)	XXX	XXX

Statement of Profit and Loss — Key Rules

Rule	Details
Revenue from Operations	Main business revenue (sales of goods/services)
Other Income	Interest, rent, dividend — non-core income
Finance Costs	Interest on debentures, loans — not trade discounts
Changes in Inventories	Opening stock - Closing stock (can be positive or negative)
Tax Expense	Current tax + Deferred tax

Format 11 — Cash Flow Statement (Indirect Method)

Cash Flow Statement of [Company Name] for the year ended [Date]

Particulars	Amount (₹)	Amount (₹)
A. Cash Flow from Operating Activities
Net Profit before Tax		XXX
Adjustments for:
Depreciation	XXX
Loss on Sale of Asset	XXX
Interest Expense	XXX
Dividend Income	(XXX)
Interest Income	(XXX)
Profit on Sale of Asset	(XXX)
Operating Profit before Working Capital Changes		XXX
Adjustments for:
Increase in Current Assets	(XXX)
Decrease in Current Assets	XXX
Increase in Current Liabilities	XXX
Decrease in Current Liabilities	(XXX)
Cash Generated from Operations		XXX
Less: Income Tax Paid		(XXX)
Net Cash from Operating Activities		XXX
B. Cash Flow from Investing Activities
Purchase of Fixed Assets	(XXX)
Sale of Fixed Assets	XXX
Purchase of Investments	(XXX)
Sale of Investments	XXX
Interest Received	XXX
Dividend Received	XXX
Net Cash from Investing Activities		XXX
C. Cash Flow from Financing Activities
Issue of Share Capital	XXX
Proceeds from Long-term Borrowings	XXX
Repayment of Long-term Borrowings	(XXX)
Interest Paid	(XXX)
Dividend Paid	(XXX)
Net Cash from Financing Activities		XXX
Net Increase/Decrease in Cash (A + B + C)		XXX
Add: Opening Cash and Cash Equivalents		XXX
Closing Cash and Cash Equivalents		XXX

Cash Flow Statement — Key Rules

Rule	Details
Three activities	Operating, Investing, Financing — always in this order
Operating (Indirect Method)	Start from Net Profit, adjust non-cash items and working capital changes
Non-cash items added back	Depreciation, loss on sale, provisions — these are not cash outflows
Non-operating income removed	Interest income, dividend income — moved to Investing/Financing
Working capital rule	Increase in CA = cash outflow, Increase in CL = cash inflow
Investing	Asset purchase/sale, investment purchase/sale, interest/dividend received
Financing	Share issue, borrowings, repayment, interest paid, dividend paid
Verification	Net change + Opening Cash = Closing Cash (must match Balance Sheet)

Format 12 — Comparative and Common-Size Statements

Comparative Statement of Profit and Loss

Particulars	Previous Year (₹)	Current Year (₹)	Absolute Change (₹)	Percentage Change (%)
Revenue from Operations	XXX	XXX	XXX	XX%
Other Income	XXX	XXX	XXX	XX%
Total Revenue	XXX	XXX	XXX	XX%
Total Expenses	XXX	XXX	XXX	XX%
Profit before Tax	XXX	XXX	XXX	XX%
Profit after Tax	XXX	XXX	XXX	XX%

Common-Size Balance Sheet

Particulars	Amount (₹)	Percentage of Total (%)
Shareholders' Funds	XXX	XX%
Non-Current Liabilities	XXX	XX%
Current Liabilities	XXX	XX%
Total Equity and Liabilities	XXX	100%
Non-Current Assets	XXX	XX%
Current Assets	XXX	XX%
Total Assets	XXX	100%

Analysis Statements — Key Rules

Rule	Details
Comparative	Shows absolute change and percentage change between two years
Common-Size	Each item as a percentage of total (Revenue for P&L, Total Assets for BS)
Percentage change formula	(Change / Base Year) × 100
Common-size base	Total Revenue = 100% (for P&L), Total Assets = 100% (for BS)

Important Accounting Ratios (Quick Reference)

Ratio	Formula	Ideal/Standard
Current Ratio	Current Assets / Current Liabilities	2:1
Liquid/Quick Ratio	(Current Assets - Stock - Prepaid) / Current Liabilities	1:1
Debt-Equity Ratio	Long-term Debt / Shareholders' Funds	Lower is better (below 2:1)
Gross Profit Ratio	(Gross Profit / Revenue) × 100	Higher is better
Net Profit Ratio	(Net Profit / Revenue) × 100	Higher is better
Operating Ratio	(Operating Cost / Revenue) × 100	Lower is better
Stock Turnover Ratio	Cost of Revenue / Average Stock	Higher is better
Debtors Turnover Ratio	Net Credit Sales / Average Debtors	Higher is better
Working Capital Turnover	Revenue from Operations / Working Capital	Higher is better
Return on Investment	(Net Profit before Interest and Tax / Capital Employed) × 100	Higher is better

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many marks come from formats in the Class 12 Accountancy exam? Approximately 60-70 percent of the Accountancy paper involves writing in specific formats — Journal entries, Ledger, Balance Sheet, P&L Statement, Cash Flow Statement. Knowing the correct format is worth as much as knowing the calculations.

Q2. Will I lose marks if the format is wrong but calculations are correct? Yes. CBSE marking schemes allocate marks for correct format presentation. Typically 1-2 marks per question are specifically for format. If your format is wrong, you can lose those marks even with correct numbers.

Q3. Which formats are most important for the board exam? Company Balance Sheet (Schedule III), Statement of Profit and Loss, Cash Flow Statement, and Partners' Capital Account are the highest-value formats. These appear in 6-mark and 8-mark questions.

Q4. Is the Cash Flow Statement always in Indirect Method for CBSE? Yes. CBSE Class 12 exam only tests the Indirect Method for Cash Flow Statement from Operating Activities. Direct Method is not in the syllabus.

Q5. Should I use a ruler to draw format tables in the exam? Yes. Clean, ruled tables look professional and make it easier for the examiner to read your answers. This indirectly helps your scores.

Q6. Are these formats the same for ISC and CBSE? The core formats are similar, but ISC may have slight variations in presentation. The Company Balance Sheet format (Schedule III) is the same as it follows the Companies Act. Always refer to your specific board's sample papers.

Start Learning for Free →

Class 12 Accountancy All Formats — Journal to Balance Sheet Complete Guide