Cash book
The cash book records all cash receipts and payments chronologically with date, amount, description and running balance; in businesses where cash predominates, the Federal Tax Administration requires daily keeping with a cash count.
Definition
The cash count means counting the cash and comparing it with the booked balance. Differences are to be recorded, not smoothed away: a till that never shows a difference is treated as evidence that nobody counts.
A negative cash balance is arithmetically impossible and therefore a sure sign of a missing or wrong entry. Programs should not permit it, or at least should flag it.
Where to read it
What the software must be able to do
Check: daily balance keeping, recording of differences and a block on negative balances. For till systems, additionally the unalterable filing of the daily closes.
Checked Aug 2026
More terms under Bookkeeping and retention: Accrual principle Accrued liabilities Annual accounts Association accounting Balance sheet Balance sheet total Book value Break-even point Business assets Business expenses Cash flow statement Cash receipts Contribution margin Cost centre Current assets Debit and credit Depreciation Double-entry bookkeeping Duty to keep accounts EBIT EBITDA Equity Equity ratio Financial year Fixed assets Fixed costs Foreign currency General ledger Gross profit Hidden reserves Income statement Inventory count Journal Journal entry Liabilities Liquidity Loss carry-forward Membership dues Net profit Opening balance sheet Overheads Pass-through item Prepaid expenses Provision Record-keeping ordinance Reserves Retained profit Simple accounts Swiss SME chart of accounts Tamper resistance Turnover Value adjustment Variable costs Volunteer-run structure Voucher Year-end closing modules