What Is a Personal Account? Meaning, Types & Examples

A personal account is a financial account used to record transactions related to individuals, firms, or organisations. It helps track income, expenses, assets, and liabilities of the concerned party.

Let’s consider Rajesh, a freelance designer. He keeps a personal account to manage money owed by clients and his expenses. Suppose he receives payments from two clients and makes a few business-related purchases. His account may look like this:
 

This account shows that Rajesh earned ₹18,000 and spent ₹4,500. By maintaining this account, he can easily track his financial activity, monitor cash flow, and prepare records for tax or budgeting purposes.

Moving further, we will look at how personal accounts work, why they matter, and how they help individuals and businesses manage their money better.

Types of Personal Accounts 

Personal accounts record transactions with individuals, firms, or bodies. These are grouped into three key categories: Natural, Artificial, and Representative. Each type serves a specific role in tracking financial dealings.

1. Natural Personal Account

These accounts relate to real human beings, such as customers, owners, or employees. For example, if a business owes salary to an employee or receives payment from a customer, it records the same under a natural personal account.

Example:
 

The table shows that the business recorded ₹15,000 as salary payable to Suresh and ₹10,000 received from Ramesh, a customer.

2. Artificial Personal Account

These accounts relate to legal entities or organisations, such as banks, companies, or trusts, which are not human but act like persons in law.

Example:
 

The table shows that the business received a ₹50,000 loan from ABC Bank and paid ₹20,000 as rent to XYZ Ltd.

3. Representative Personal Account

These represent a group of people or transactions that belong to a past or future period. It does not show a person’s name but stands for one.

Example:
 

The table shows that the business recorded ₹12,000 as outstanding salary for June and ₹8,000 as prepaid rent for August–September.

These accounts help businesses track all dues and advance payments clearly.

Common Examples of Personal Accounts

Personal accounts help businesses manage financial dealings with people and organisations. Below are some common types, explained in simple terms:

1. Customers' Accounts Receivable (Debtors)
Businesses use these accounts to track money owed by customers who bought goods or services on credit.
Example: If Ramesh buys goods worth ₹20,000 on credit, his account shows ₹20,000 receivable.

2. Suppliers' Accounts Payable (Creditors)
These accounts record the money a business owes to suppliers for purchases made on credit.
Example: If the business buys raw materials worth ₹15,000 from Gupta Traders, it records this amount as payable.

3. Employees' Accounts
These accounts show amounts payable to or recoverable from employees, such as unpaid salary or bonuses.
Example: If the company owes ₹10,000 to Suresh for salary, it enters this in his account.

4. Loan Accounts
They show amounts borrowed by or given out as loans.
Example: A ₹50,000 bank loan appears as a liability in the business account.

5. Capital Accounts
These accounts reflect the investment made by the business owner or shareholder.
Example: If the owner invests ₹1,00,000, it is shown in the capital account.

6. Partners’ Accounts
Used in partnerships, these accounts track each partner’s capital and share of profit or loss.
Example: Raj contributes ₹60,000 to the firm, which goes under his account.

7. Vendors’ Accounts Receivable
These track amounts owed by vendors who received goods or services on credit.
Example: If a vendor owes ₹12,000, the amount appears as receivable in the books.

What Is a Personal Account and Its Golden Rule?

A personal account is like a page in a notebook where we write down money that we give to or get from people or groups. These people can be our customers, friends, shopkeepers, banks, or even our school.

Now, to write it correctly, we use a special rule called the Golden Rule of Accounting for Personal Accounts. It says: “Debit the receiver, Credit the giver.”

This means:

• If you give money to someone, you credit their name.
   
• If you get money from someone, you debit their name.

The rules of personal accounts can be understood easily by looking at simple day-to-day situations.”
 

So, every time money moves between people, we write who gave and who got it using this rule. It helps keep your records neat and clear!

Personal Accounts and Their Importance in Business Records

Personal accounts help a business keep track of all the people and groups it deals with. These accounts show how much the business gives or gets from others, like customers, suppliers, banks, or workers.

Let’s take Reliance Retail, one of India’s largest retail chains.

Reliance sells goods to many small shopkeepers on credit. When a shopkeeper, like Mehta Kirana Store, buys items worth ₹25,000 on credit, Reliance records this under Mehta Store’s personal account.

Later, when the shopkeeper pays ₹10,000, Reliance updates the same account to show that part of the amount is paid. The account now shows a balance of ₹15,000 still due.

Reliance also pays salaries to thousands of employees. Each employee, such as an assistant named Ravi, has a personal account where the company records salary payments, bonuses, or any advances taken.

By using personal accounts, Reliance Retail:

• Tracks how much money it must collect from customers.
   
• Records how much it pays to staff and suppliers.
   
• Keeps its business records organised and up to date.

This system helps Reliance make quick decisions and run its business smoothly without confusion.

Conclusion

A personal account helps a business record its financial dealings with people or organisations, such as customers, suppliers, employees, or banks. It shows who gave money to the business and who received money from it. 

By using personal accounts, a business keeps its records neat, manages cash flow better, and avoids confusion in day-to-day transactions. They play an important role in preparing correct financial statements and making smart business decisions.

FAQ’s

1. Is a bank account a personal account?
Yes, a bank is a legal entity, so transactions with it are recorded under an artificial personal account.

2. Can expenses appear in a personal account?
Yes, if they relate to people or groups, such as “Outstanding Salary” or “Prepaid Rent.”

3. How is a personal account different from a real account?
A personal account tracks dealings with people or entities, while a real account records assets like cash, land, or furniture.

4. Why are representative accounts called personal?
They stand for groups of people or periods, like “Creditors” or “Outstanding Rent,” even though no individual’s name appears.

5. Can personal accounts help during audits?
Yes, they clearly show who owes money and who receives it, making audits and financial checks easier.

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LoansJagat Team

We are a team of writers, editors, and proofreaders with 15+ years of experience in the finance field. We are your personal finance gurus! But, we will explain everything in simplified language. Our aim is to make personal and business finance easier for you. While we help you upgrade your financial knowledge, why don't you read some of our blogs?