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US GAAP chart of accounts template (200 accounts, free download)

This US GAAP chart of accounts has 200 accounts in three levels, 161 of them posting accounts, numbered the classic American way: 1000s assets, 2000s liabilities, 3000s stockholders' equity, 4000s revenue, 5000s cost of goods sold, 6000s operating expenses, 7000s other income, 8000s other expenses and 9000s income taxes.

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Accounts: 200
Posting accounts: 161
Levels: 3
Top-level classes: 9

Top-level classes

1
Assets
60 accounts below
2
Liabilities
44 accounts below
3
Stockholders' equity
14 accounts below
4
Revenue
8 accounts below
5
Cost of goods sold
9 accounts below
6
Operating expenses
37 accounts below
7
Other income
7 accounts below
8
Other expenses
8 accounts below
9
Income taxes
4 accounts below

How the 4-digit numbering works

The first digit is the class and the second narrows it down, so every posting account is a 4-digit code in a predictable range. 1000 is cash on hand, 1100 trade receivables, 1230 merchandise inventory and 1610 accumulated depreciation on buildings. Gaps of ten between codes leave room to insert accounts later without renumbering.

Classes 1 to 3 form the balance sheet. Classes 4 to 9 form a multi-step income statement: revenue, cost of goods sold, gross profit, operating expenses, other income and expenses, and income taxes at 9000.

Number ranges in the US GAAP chart
Range	Class	Example posting accounts
1000 to 1899	Assets	1000 Cash on hand, 1100 Accounts receivable: trade, 1230 Merchandise inventory
2000 to 2799	Liabilities	2000 Accounts payable: trade, 2300 Sales tax payable
3000 to 3299	Stockholders' equity	3000 Common stock, 3100 Retained earnings, 3220 Income summary
4000 to 4199	Revenue	4000 Product sales, 4100 Sales returns and allowances
5000s	Cost of goods sold	5000 Cost of goods sold
6000 to 6699	Operating expenses	6100 Salaries and wages, 6500 Depreciation expense
7000 to 9099	Other items and taxes	7030 Foreign currency gain (loss), 9000 Federal income tax expense

Which businesses it fits

US companies and US subsidiaries of foreign groups that report under US GAAP. Payroll gets its own liability group (22 Payroll liabilities) and expense group (61 Payroll expenses), which matches how US payroll taxes and withholdings are remitted.

Sales tax uses 1340 Sales tax receivable and 2300 Sales tax payable. If you sell outside the US where VAT applies, the IFRS template or the GCC template is usually a better start.

Contra accounts and customer or supplier accounts

Fourteen contra accounts reduce their class: 1120 Allowance for doubtful accounts, the 16xx accumulated depreciation accounts and 4100 Sales returns and allowances. Keeping them separate lets the balance sheet show gross amounts and the reserve side by side.

Twelve accounts require a party, including 1100 Accounts receivable: trade and 2000 Accounts payable: trade, so each line names the customer or vendor and per-customer ageing comes straight from the ledger.

Common mistakes when adopting it

Most problems come from changing the structure rather than the names. A few rules keep the chart clean for years.

Use the gaps: add 1030 between 1020 and 1040 instead of renumbering a range.
Do not create one account per customer; use parties on 1100 instead.
Keep 3220 Income summary for closing entries only.
Record depreciation in 6500 and the accumulated balance in 16xx, never as a direct credit to the asset.

Full account list

Indentation shows the hierarchy. Entries are posted to the lowest level; higher levels only add up their children.

US GAAP chart of accounts
Code	Account	Type	Notes
1	Assets	Asset
10	Cash and cash equivalents	Asset
1000	Cash on hand	Asset	Posting
1010	Petty cash	Asset	Posting
1020	Operating checking account	Asset	Posting
1030	Payroll checking account	Asset	Posting
1040	Savings and money market account	Asset	Posting
1050	Foreign currency bank account	Asset	Posting
1060	Certificates of deposit	Asset	Posting
1070	Undeposited funds	Asset	Posting
11	Receivables	Asset
1100	Accounts receivable: trade	Asset	Posting · Customer or supplier required
1110	Notes receivable	Asset	Posting · Customer or supplier required
1120	Allowance for doubtful accounts	Asset	Posting · Contra
1130	Employee advances	Asset	Posting · Customer or supplier required
1140	Due from related parties	Asset	Posting · Customer or supplier required
1150	Other receivables	Asset	Posting · Customer or supplier required
12	Inventory	Asset
1200	Raw materials inventory	Asset	Posting
1210	Work in process inventory	Asset	Posting
1220	Finished goods inventory	Asset	Posting
1230	Merchandise inventory	Asset	Posting
1240	Inventory in transit	Asset	Posting
1250	Inventory reserve for obsolescence	Asset	Posting · Contra
13	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	Asset
1300	Prepaid expenses	Asset	Posting
1310	Prepaid insurance	Asset	Posting
1320	Prepaid rent	Asset	Posting
1330	Vendor deposits and advances	Asset	Posting · Customer or supplier required
1340	Sales tax receivable	Asset	Posting
1350	Prepaid income taxes	Asset	Posting
1360	Marketable securities	Asset	Posting
15	Property and equipment	Asset
1500	Land	Asset	Posting
1510	Buildings	Asset	Posting
1520	Leasehold improvements	Asset	Posting
1530	Machinery and equipment	Asset	Posting
1540	Vehicles	Asset	Posting
1550	Furniture and fixtures	Asset	Posting
1560	Computer equipment	Asset	Posting
1570	Construction in progress	Asset	Posting
16	Accumulated depreciation	Asset
1610	Accumulated depreciation: buildings	Asset	Posting · Contra
1620	Accumulated depreciation: leasehold improvements	Asset	Posting · Contra
1630	Accumulated depreciation: machinery and equipment	Asset	Posting · Contra
1640	Accumulated depreciation: vehicles	Asset	Posting · Contra
1650	Accumulated depreciation: furniture and fixtures	Asset	Posting · Contra
1660	Accumulated depreciation: computer equipment	Asset	Posting · Contra
17	Intangible assets	Asset
1700	Goodwill	Asset	Posting
1710	Capitalized software	Asset	Posting
1720	Patents and trademarks	Asset	Posting
1730	Customer relationships	Asset	Posting
1790	Accumulated amortization	Asset	Posting · Contra
18	Other long-term assets	Asset
1800	Operating lease right-of-use assets	Asset	Posting
1810	Finance lease right-of-use assets	Asset	Posting
1820	Long-term investments	Asset	Posting
1830	Equity-method investments	Asset	Posting
1840	Deferred tax assets	Asset	Posting
1850	Security deposits	Asset	Posting
2	Liabilities	Liability
20	Accounts payable	Liability
2000	Accounts payable: trade	Liability	Posting · Customer or supplier required
2010	Notes payable: current	Liability	Posting · Customer or supplier required
2020	Credit cards payable	Liability	Posting
2030	Due to related parties	Liability	Posting · Customer or supplier required
21	Accrued liabilities	Liability
2100	Accrued expenses	Liability	Posting
2110	Accrued wages and salaries	Liability	Posting
2120	Accrued vacation and PTO	Liability	Posting
2130	Accrued bonuses	Liability	Posting
2140	Accrued interest payable	Liability	Posting
22	Payroll liabilities	Liability
2200	Federal income tax withheld	Liability	Posting
2210	FICA payable (Social Security and Medicare)	Liability	Posting
2220	FUTA payable	Liability	Posting
2230	SUTA payable	Liability	Posting
2240	State income tax withheld	Liability	Posting
2250	401(k) contributions payable	Liability	Posting
2260	Health insurance withholdings payable	Liability	Posting
23	Taxes payable	Liability
2300	Sales tax payable	Liability	Posting
2310	Federal income tax payable	Liability	Posting
2320	State income tax payable	Liability	Posting
2330	Property taxes payable	Liability	Posting
2340	Use tax payable	Liability	Posting
24	Other current liabilities	Liability
2400	Deferred revenue	Liability	Posting
2410	Customer deposits	Liability	Posting · Customer or supplier required
2420	Line of credit	Liability	Posting
2430	Current portion of long-term debt	Liability	Posting
2440	Operating lease liabilities: current	Liability	Posting
2450	Finance lease liabilities: current	Liability	Posting
2460	Dividends payable	Liability	Posting · Customer or supplier required
27	Long-term liabilities	Liability
2700	Long-term notes payable	Liability	Posting
2710	Mortgage payable	Liability	Posting
2720	Bonds payable	Liability	Posting
2730	Loans from shareholders	Liability	Posting · Customer or supplier required
2740	Operating lease liabilities: noncurrent	Liability	Posting
2750	Finance lease liabilities: noncurrent	Liability	Posting
2760	Deferred tax liabilities	Liability	Posting
2770	Accrued pension and postretirement benefits	Liability	Posting
2780	Asset retirement obligations	Liability	Posting
2790	Other long-term liabilities	Liability	Posting
3	Stockholders' equity	Equity
30	Contributed capital	Equity
3000	Common stock	Equity	Posting
3010	Preferred stock	Equity	Posting
3020	Additional paid-in capital	Equity	Posting
3030	Treasury stock	Equity	Posting · Contra
31	Retained earnings	Equity
3100	Retained earnings	Equity	Posting
3110	Current year net income	Equity	Posting
3120	Dividends and distributions	Equity	Posting · Contra
3130	Appropriated retained earnings	Equity	Posting
32	Other equity	Equity
3200	Accumulated other comprehensive income	Equity	Posting
3210	Opening balance equity	Equity	Posting
3220	Income summary	Equity	Posting
4	Revenue	Revenue
40	Operating revenue	Revenue
4000	Product sales	Revenue	Posting
4010	Service revenue	Revenue	Posting
4020	Subscription revenue	Revenue	Posting
4030	Shipping and handling revenue	Revenue	Posting
41	Contra revenue	Revenue
4100	Sales returns and allowances	Revenue	Posting · Contra
4110	Sales discounts	Revenue	Posting · Contra
5	Cost of goods sold	Expense
50	Cost of goods sold	Expense
5000	Cost of goods sold	Expense	Posting
5010	Direct materials	Expense	Posting
5020	Direct labor	Expense	Posting
5030	Manufacturing overhead	Expense	Posting
5040	Freight-in	Expense	Posting
5050	Subcontracted services	Expense	Posting
5060	Inventory shrinkage and adjustments	Expense	Posting
5070	Purchase discounts	Expense	Posting · Contra
6	Operating expenses	Expense
60	Selling expenses	Expense
6000	Sales salaries and commissions	Expense	Posting
6010	Advertising	Expense	Posting
6020	Marketing and promotion	Expense	Posting
6030	Shipping and delivery	Expense	Posting
6040	Merchant and credit card fees	Expense	Posting
61	Payroll expenses	Expense
6100	Salaries and wages	Expense	Posting
6110	Payroll tax expense	Expense	Posting
6120	Employee health benefits	Expense	Posting
6130	401(k) employer match	Expense	Posting
6140	Workers' compensation insurance	Expense	Posting
62	General and administrative expenses	Expense
6200	Rent expense	Expense	Posting
6210	Utilities	Expense	Posting
6220	Insurance: general liability and property	Expense	Posting
6230	Legal fees	Expense	Posting
6240	Accounting and audit fees	Expense	Posting
6250	Office supplies	Expense	Posting
6260	Telephone and internet	Expense	Posting
6270	Travel	Expense	Posting
6280	Meals and entertainment	Expense	Posting
6290	Repairs and maintenance	Expense	Posting
63	Other general and administrative expenses	Expense
6300	Software and subscriptions	Expense	Posting
6310	Dues and memberships	Expense	Posting
6320	Licenses and permits	Expense	Posting
6330	Bad debt expense	Expense	Posting
6340	Training and education	Expense	Posting
6350	Postage and shipping supplies	Expense	Posting
6360	Property taxes	Expense	Posting
65	Depreciation and amortization	Expense
6500	Depreciation expense	Expense	Posting
6510	Amortization expense	Expense	Posting
66	Other operating expenses	Expense
6600	Impairment losses	Expense	Posting
6610	Research and development	Expense	Posting
7	Other income	Revenue
70	Non-operating income	Revenue
7000	Interest income	Revenue	Posting
7010	Dividend income	Revenue	Posting
7020	Gain on sale of assets	Revenue	Posting
7030	Foreign currency gain (loss)	Revenue	Posting
7040	Rental income	Revenue	Posting
7050	Miscellaneous income	Revenue	Posting
8	Other expenses	Expense
80	Interest and finance charges	Expense
8000	Interest expense	Expense	Posting
8010	Bank service charges	Expense	Posting
8020	Loan fees	Expense	Posting
81	Non-operating expenses	Expense
8100	Loss on sale of assets	Expense	Posting
8110	Penalties and fines	Expense	Posting
8120	Charitable contributions	Expense	Posting
9	Income taxes	Expense
90	Income tax expense	Expense
9000	Federal income tax expense	Expense	Posting
9010	State income tax expense	Expense	Posting
9020	Deferred income tax expense	Expense	Posting

Download the template

Free, no signup. The Excel file keeps account codes as text so leading digits survive.

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How to set up the US GAAP chart of accounts

1
Download
Get the Excel file to review it with your accountant or the CSV to import.
2
Trim to your business
Flag the posting accounts you need; a service company can ignore most inventory accounts.
3
Insert accounts in the gaps
Add new accounts at free codes inside the right range, such as 1030 for a second checking account.
4
Install
In Ledgeriano you pick this template when you open a fiscal year and can edit it afterwards.
5
Post opening balances
Record balances against 3210 Opening balance equity and confirm the trial balance is even.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official US GAAP chart of accounts?

No. US GAAP, codified by the FASB, does not prescribe account numbers. The 1000 to 9000 numbering here is a widely used convention, not a requirement.

Why 4-digit codes?

Four digits give room for about 9,000 accounts with readable ranges. Most small and mid-sized US companies never need more, and auditors recognise the layout immediately.

Where do sales tax and payroll taxes go?

Sales tax collected goes to 2300 Sales tax payable. Payroll withholdings and employer taxes go to the 22xx payroll liabilities, with the employer share expensed in the 61xx payroll expenses.

Can I use it for a nonprofit?

As a starting point only. Nonprofits need net asset classes with and without donor restrictions instead of stockholders' equity, so you would replace class 3.

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Last reviewed: Friday, 6 November 2026

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