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How to record a loan payment that includes interest and principal

August 9, 2023
Bill Kimball

The interest rate on a loan can vary depending on factors such as the creditworthiness of the borrower, the term of the loan, and the market interest rates. An unsecured loan is money that you borrow without using collateral. Common examples of unsecured loans include credit cards and personal loans. Loan is shown as liability in the balance sheet of the company. Obtaining a loan from a bank or other financial institution is a common way for companies to access the financial resources they need to fund their operations and support their growth. There are many different reasons why a company might need to borrow money, such as to purchase new equipment, hire and pay employees, or purchase inventory.

A loan payment usually contains two parts, which are an interest payment and a principal payment. During the early years of a loan, the interest portion of this payment will be quite large. Later, as the principal balance is gradually paid down, the interest portion of the payment will decline, while the principal portion increases.

Journal Entries of Loan

At a minimum, this comparison should be conducted at the end of a firm’s fiscal year, since the outside auditors will be confirming this information with the lender as part of their audit procedures. As per the accounting equation, Total Assets of a company are the sum of its Total Capital and Total Liabilities. Amy is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), having worked in the accounting industry for 14 years. She is a seasoned finance executive having held various positions both in public accounting and most recently as the Chief Financial Officer of a large manufacturing company based out of Michigan. On December 31, 2022, the interest accrued on the loan must be recognized.

loan journal entries

A long-term liability account is used to record liabilities that are due more than one year in the future. This could include loans with a repayment term of several years or more. A short-term liability account, on the other hand, is used to record liabilities that are due within one year. This could include loans with a repayment term of less than a year or any other short-term obligations that the company has. The repayment of a secured or an unsecured loan depends on the payment schedule agreed upon between both the parties.

How to record a loan payment that includes interest and principal

This means that the principal portion of the payment will gradually increase over the term of the loan. Procuring a loan means acquiring a liability, it is an obligation for the business which is supposed to be repaid. Long-Term loans are shown on the liability side of a balance sheet. When a company obtains a loan, it is required to repay the loan over a period of time, typically in the form of regular payments that include both the principal amount of the loan and an interest component. Interest is the cost of borrowing money and is typically expressed as a percentage of the loan amount.

loan journal entries

Secured loans are loans backed with something of value that you own. Common examples of collateral include your vehicle or other valuable property such as jewelry,land etc.. Banks and NBFCs provide additional cash to businesses in form of loans. A business can take an amount of money as a loan from a bank or outsider. The accountant can verify that this entry is correct by periodically comparing the balance in the Loans Payable account to the remaining principal balance reported by the lender.

Loan

‘Interest on loan’ account is debited in the journal entry for loan payment. The net impact on the company’s balance sheet is the same regardless of whether the liability is recorded in a long-term or short-term account. However, the distinction between long-term and short-term liabilities can be important for financial reporting purposes. This can provide valuable information to stakeholders, such as investors and creditors, about the company’s financial position and the nature of its obligations. ‘Loan’ account is debited in the journal entry for a loan payment.

loan journal entries

A short-term loan is categorized as a current liability whereas the unpaid portion of a long-term loan is shown in the balance sheet as a liability and classified as a long-term liability. The first of two equal instalments are paid from the company’s bank for 1,00,000 against an unsecured loan of 2,00,000 at 10% p.a. Loan received from a bank may be payable in short-term or long-term depending on the terms set by the bank.

Journal entry for a loan received from a bank

As at December 31, 2022, interest in the amount of $30,000 [$600,000 x 5%] has been accrued on the Royal Trust Bank loan. There can be a situation where the interest is charged first and then received. There can be a situation where the interest is charged first and then paid.

  • The net impact on the company’s balance sheet is the same regardless of whether the liability is recorded in a long-term or short-term account.
  • Common examples of collateral include your vehicle or other valuable property such as jewelry,land etc..
  • The accountant can verify that this entry is correct by periodically comparing the balance in the Loans Payable account to the remaining principal balance reported by the lender.

The repayment of loan depends on the schedule agreed upon between both parties. A short-term loan is categorized as a current liability whereas a long-term loan is capitalized and classified as a long-term liability. A short-term loan is categorized as a current liability whereas the unpaid portion of a long-term loan is shown in the balance sheet as a liability and classified as a long-term liability.