The discount column on the left-hand side of cashbook represents a discount
Answer Details
The discount column on the left-hand side of a cashbook usually represents a discount that is allowed to a debtor. This means that when a debtor pays their invoice or bill within a certain time period, they are eligible for a discount on the total amount owed. This discount is reflected in the cashbook by reducing the amount of cash received from the debtor by the discount amount.
For example, if a debtor owes $100 and they are allowed a 5% discount if they pay within 10 days, they will only need to pay $95 if they pay within the specified time frame. In the cashbook, the total amount of cash received from the debtor would be recorded as $95, with the $5 discount amount recorded in the discount column.
It's important to note that the discount column on the cashbook can also be used to record discounts that are received from a creditor, but this is less common. In this case, the discount column would show the amount of discount received from the creditor when paying an invoice or bill early or on time.