andi Leonard Before There are 4 steps to closing the ledger. These are Steps One and Two: Closing entries transfer the balances of all temporary accounts to a permanent account and leave them zeroed out and ready for the next fiscal period. Step 1 Closes the temporary accounts with credit balances to Income Summary. In this example it is the Sales, Purchases Discounts and Purchases Returns and Allowances accounts. You then sum the total of all debits and credit that amount to the Income Summary account Step 2 Closes the temporary accounts with debit balances to Income Summary. In this example it is the Sales Discount, Sales Returns and Allowances, Purchases, Transportation In, and all expense accounts. You then sum all of the credits and debit that amount to the Income Summary.