What is a journal voucher?

A journal voucher is a written statement for every financial transaction a company makes or for every transaction that meets certain criteria. Journal vouchers are important as paper trails when firms go through audits. These vouchers combine to form an overall journal of a company's financial activities.

Transactions include aspects that make financial statements easy to record, such as:

• Serial number
• Transaction date
• Amount
• Accounts affected
• References to documentary evidence
• Description of the transaction
• Signature

Journal vouchers record debits and credits. Documentary evidence of the journal voucher includes invoices and receipts that support the transaction in question.