Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2025

First exams 2027

Cash & Credit Transactions (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Accounting): Revision Note

Exam code: 0452 & 0985

Dan Finlay

Written by: Dan Finlay

Reviewed by: Lucy Kirkham

Updated on

Cash or credit

How can goods be sold or purchased?

  • Goods can be sold or purchased using cash or credit

  • A cash transaction involves cash in hand or money in the bank

    • A cash sale is when the business sells goods or a service and receives cash in hand or money in the bank

    • A cash purchase is when the business buys goods or a service and pays using cash in hand or money from their bank

  • Cash is normally used for lower cost transactions or when the business has a large amount of cash available

  • A credit transaction involves an agreement to pay money at a later date

    • A credit sale is when the business sells goods or a service to a customer who will pay in the future

    • A credit purchase is when the business buys goods or a service from a supplier and will pay in the future

  • Credit is normally used for higher cost transactions or when the business has limited cash available

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using cash and credit for sales?

Advantages

Disadvantages

Cash

  • Customers pay upfront

  • Simple to track

  • Might reduce sales as customers might not be able to afford the goods straightaway

  • Cash can be lost or stolen

  • Cash needs to be deposited into the bank regularly

Credit

  • Increase sales as gives customers more opportunities to buy goods or a service

  • Builds relationships and customer loyalty

  • Need to issue statements of account and chase customers

  • There is a risk that customers do not pay their balances

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using cash and credit for purchases?

Advantages

Disadvantages

Cash

  • Might get a discount

  • Form a good relationship with the suppliers

  • No risk of interest for late payments

  • Affects cash flow in the short-term

  • Less working capital

  • Might limit how much can be purchased

Credit

  • Improves cash flow

  • Flexible short-term source of finance

  • Risk of interest or penalties for not paying on time

  • Increases liabilities

Examiner Tips and Tricks

You might be asked to advise a business on cash and credit decisions such as

  • whether they should offer credit to their customers

  • whether they should buy goods using cash or take advantage of credit offered

Trade & cash discount

What is a trade discount?

  • A trade discount is a reduction in the selling price of goods or services

  • Trade discount might be offered

    • If the customer buys in bulk

    • If the customer is a loyal and regular customer

  • Trade discount is applied before a transaction takes place

  • The discounted amount is the value that is entered into the books of prime entry

    • The value of the trade discount is not entered into the books of prime entry

    • Trade discount is not part of the double entry system

What is a cash discount?

  • A cash discount is offered to credit customers for early repayment of an invoice

  • The supplier will state the deadline for payment in order to claim the cash discount

  • The amount before the cash discount is entered into the books of prime entry

  • When the customer pays early and claims the cash discount

    • The amount of cash discount is recorded in the books of prime entry

What are the advantages and disadvantages of offering trade and cash discount?

Advantages

Disadvantages

Trade discount

  • Can encourage customers to buy in bulk and regularly

  • Less revenue

  • Customers might grow to expect a discount

Cash discount

  • Encourages early repayments

  • Reduces the risk of balances not being paid

  • Less revenue

  • Lowers profit

  • Customers might only repay early if a discount is offered

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Dan Finlay

Author: Dan Finlay

Expertise: Maths Subject Lead

Dan graduated from the University of Oxford with a First class degree in mathematics. As well as teaching maths for over 8 years, Dan has marked a range of exams for Edexcel, tutored students and taught A Level Accounting. Dan has a keen interest in statistics and probability and their real-life applications.

Lucy Kirkham

Reviewer: Lucy Kirkham

Expertise: Head of Content Creation

Lucy has been a passionate Maths teacher for over 12 years, teaching maths across the UK and abroad helping to engage, interest and develop confidence in the subject at all levels.Working as a Head of Department and then Director of Maths, Lucy has advised schools and academy trusts in both Scotland and the East Midlands, where her role was to support and coach teachers to improve Maths teaching for all.