A supporting voucher is ________.

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:
a documentary evidence of business transcations having taken place
A supporting voucher, also known as a source document, is the absolutely foundational record in the accounting cycle. It is the initial, concrete documentary evidence that a specific business transaction—such as a sale, purchase, or payment—has actually occurred, detailing the date, amount, and parties involved. This document is crucial because the accounting principle of verifiability requires every financial entry in the books of accounts (like the Journal and Ledger) to be backed by verifiable proof. Examples include invoices for credit sales, receipts for cash payments, and cash memos for purchases. The supporting voucher therefore authenticates the transaction, provides the raw data for financial records, and serves as a necessary audit trail.

The incorrect option is 2:
secondary voucher
The term "supporting voucher" refers to the *primary* source document upon which a business record is based, not a secondary one. Secondary vouchers are internal documents, often prepared by the accounting department itself, which are created when the original external source document is lost, missing, or when an entry is being made based on a summary or internal adjustment. Since the question asks for the definition of a standard "supporting voucher," which is the original evidence, classifying it as "secondary" is inaccurate in the context of its foundational role.

The incorrect option is 3:
prepared by an accountant
A supporting voucher is not exclusively or even primarily prepared by an accountant. The source document is created by the person or entity completing the transaction. For instance, a cash receipt is prepared by the cashier, and a purchase invoice is prepared by the supplier. The accountant's primary function is to *receive* and *verify* these externally generated or business-generated documents before they are used as the basis for journal entries, making this option an incomplete and misleading definition of its origin.

The incorrect option is 4:
a proof
While a supporting voucher certainly acts as "a proof," this description is overly simplistic and non-specific for an accounting concept. Many items in business could be called "a proof," but the technical and precise definition of a supporting voucher requires the explicit mention that it is a *documentary evidence* related to a *business transaction*. Option 1 provides the complete and accurate description required in the subject of commerce and accounting by specifying its nature (documentary evidence) and its purpose (of business transactions).