Which type of account typically has a credit balance?

Liability accounts are typically characterized by having a credit balance, which is integral to the double-entry accounting system. This system maintains that every transaction affects at least two accounts, with debits equaling credits. When a company incurs a liability, such as taking out a loan or purchasing goods on credit, it records a credit in the liability account to reflect the obligation to pay in the future.

In contrast, asset accounts, which reflect resources owned by the company, usually have a debit balance. When assets increase, they are debited, and when they decrease, they are credited. Expense accounts, which track costs incurred by the business, also have a debit balance since expenses reduce equity. Similarly, withdrawal accounts, which represent amounts taken out of the business by owners, also maintain a debit balance.

Understanding the nature of liability accounts and their role in the broader accounting equation—Assets = Liabilities + Equity—clarifies why liabilities have a credit balance, as they signify obligations rather than resources owned or consumed.