Meaning:
‘Voucher’ is the original documentary evidence in support of any payment or receipt of money by the business. It would be with the help of the voucher that the accuracy of entry can be checked. Voucher alone can tell us about the nature and sources of the transaction, its value and authority. It substantiates the book entries and confirms their reality. Such evidence may be primary and collateral. Certain Vouchers provide primary evidence while others constitute collateral evidence.
The following may be a few of the examples of vouchers for certain transactions:
1) Cash Received: Counterfoils of Receipts issued, Contracts, Minutes, Correspondence, Confirmation of balances by Debtors etc,
2) Cash Paid: Original receipts from Payees, Invoice Bills, Demand Notes, Wages Books, Salaries Books, Contracts, Correspondence, Confirmation by Creditors etc,
3) Purchases: Invoices, Books, Copies of Orders, Correspondence etc.
4) Sales: Copies of Invoices, Orders Record, Goods Outward Book, Correspondence etc.
similarly, evidence can be had with regard to transactions like Purchases and Sales Returns, Bills Receivable and Payable and Journal Entries.
All vouchers relating to business transactions should be carefully preserved and properly filed.