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December 20, 2006

What are the journal entries for a stock split?

The only journal entry needed for a stock split is a memo entry to note that the number of shares changed and that the par value per share has changed (if the stock has a par value). However, a typical journal entry with debits and credits is not needed since the total dollar amounts for the par value and other components of paid-in capital and stockholders’ equity do not change.

For example, if a corporation has 100,000 shares of $1.00 par value stock and it declares a 2-for-1 stock split, the corporation will have 200,000 shares with a par value of $0.50 per share. Before and after the stock split, the total par value is $100,000. Other account balances within stockholders’ equity also remain the same.

Learn more about Stockholders’ Equity.

the accounting coach

About the Author: Harold Averkamp (CPA) has worked as an accountant, consultant, and university accounting instructor for more than 25 years.

He is the author of the 2010 Master Accounting Download Package which has been praised for it's ability to simplify accounting in a way that anybody can understand.



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Comments

6 Responses to “What are the journal entries for a stock split?”

  1. Sandra on February 12th, 2008 12:48 am

    can you show me the journal entry to issuing stock

  2. Sandra on February 12th, 2008 12:49 am

    can you show me how to calculate retained earnings

  3. Tim on January 27th, 2009 9:17 pm

    Dear Coach,

    Do the number of treasury shares also split, that is increase, in a stock split, assuming the both the outstanding and treasure shares are the same legally (e.g. both are common shares)?

    Does it depend on whether the split was granted to the treasury? Wouldn’t it have to be, or the treasury would “lose” market value, at least at the time of the split?

  4. mike on March 13th, 2009 1:34 am

    when treasury stock is sold, does it have the right of dividends?

  5. Jeanette Johnson on March 23rd, 2009 4:10 pm

    how do i see an example of journal entries?

  6. faky on July 29th, 2009 5:47 am

    how can we journalize the issued of share in discount?

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