1. Balance of Payments Accounting
The Balance of Payments is the statistical record of a
country’s international transactions over a certain period of
time presented in the form of double-entry bookkeeping.
N.B. when we say “a country’s balance of payments” we are
referring to the transactions of its citizens and government.

2. A balance of payments (BOP) sheet is
an accounting record of all monetary transactions between a country
and the rest of the world.
These transactions include payments for the country's exports and
imports of goods, services, and financial capital, as well as financial
transfers.
The BOP summarizes international transactions for a specific
period, usually a year, and is prepared in a single currency, typically
the domestic currency for the country concerned.
Sources of funds for a nation, such as exports or the receipts of loans
and investments, are recorded as positive or surplus items. Uses of
funds, such as for imports or to invest in foreign countries, are
recorded as a negative or deficit item.

3. When all components of the BOP sheet are included it must balance
– that is, it must sum to zero – there can be no overall surplus or deficit.
For example, if a country is importing more than it exports, its trade
balance will be in deficit, but the shortfall will have to be counter
balanced in other ways –
such as by funds earned from its foreign investments, by running down
reserves or by receiving loans from other countries.
Important Rules
Credit sales of INDIA goods, services, and assets to foreigners.
Debit purchases of foreign goods, services and assets by INDIAN
residents.

4. Since 1974, the two principal divisions on the BOP have been the
current account and the capital account.
The current account shows the net amount a country is earning if it is in
surplus, or spending if it is in deficit.
It is the sum of the balance of trade (net earnings on exports – payments
for imports) , factor income (earnings on foreign investments – payments
made to foreign investors) and cash transfers.
Its called the current account as it covers transactions in the
"here and now" - those that don't give rise to future claims.
The capital account records the net change in ownership of foreign assets
It includes the reserve account (the international operations of a nation's
central bank), along with loans and investments between the country
and the rest of world (but not the future regular repayments / dividends
that the loans and investments yield, those are earnings and will be
recorded in the current account).

5. Current Account
• Includes transactions dealing with:
– goods
– services = royalties, license
fees, traveling, shipping, banking, insurance, consulting fees
– transfer payments
– income receipts = dividends, interest earnings, repatriated
profits, compensation of employees
• Sub-accounts:
– merchandise trade balance
– balance on goods and services
– income account (old investment income account + compensation of employees)
• Depends on:
– Domestic versus foreign prices
– Exchange rate movements
– Foreign income
– Domestic income
– Market impediments

6. An actual balance sheet will typically have numerous sub headings under the principal
divisions.
For example, entries under Current account might include:
Trade – buying and selling of goods and services
Exports – a credit entry
Imports – a debit entry
Trade balance – the sum of Exports and Imports
Factor income – repayments and dividends from loans and investments
Factor earnings – a credit entry
Factor payments – a debit entry
Factor income balance – the sum of earnings and payments.