---
title: "US GAAP chart of accounts template (200 accounts, free download)"
description: "Free US GAAP chart of accounts with 200 accounts and classic 4-digit codes, 1000 cash to 9000 income taxes. View the full list and download CSV or Excel."
canonical: https://ledgeriano.com/templates/us-gaap-chart-of-accounts
language: en
publisher: "Ledgeriano"
updated: 2026-11-06
---

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

> Free US GAAP chart of accounts with 200 accounts and classic 4-digit codes, 1000 cash to 9000 income taxes. View the full list and download CSV or Excel.

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.

Download: [Excel (.xlsx)](https://ledgeriano.com/templates/files/us-gaap-chart-of-accounts.xlsx), [CSV (UTF-8)](https://ledgeriano.com/templates/files/us-gaap-chart-of-accounts.csv)

Accounts: 200. Posting accounts: 161. Levels: 3.

## 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.

| 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](https://ledgeriano.com/templates/ifrs-chart-of-accounts) or the [GCC template](https://ledgeriano.com/templates/gcc-chart-of-accounts) 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.

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

## 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](https://ledgeriano.com/features) 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.

## 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.