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The Global Insight

What are general funds used for?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on February 12, 2026

As “America’s Checkbook,” the General Fund of the Government consists of assets and liabilities used to finance the daily and long-term operations of the U.S. Government as a whole. It also includes accounts used in management of the budget of the U.S. Government.

What does general fund mean in accounting?

A general fund is the primary fund used by a government entity. This fund is used to record all resource inflows and outflows that are not associated with special-purpose funds. The activities being paid for through the general fund constitute the core administrative and operational tasks of the government entity.

How do you find the general fund?

Showcase the amounts paid in advance and amount due on the assets and liabilities side. Post the closing balances of the assets and liabilities on the respective side of the balance sheet. To calculate the amount of the fund, deduct the value of total liabilities from the value of assets.

What is a general fund balance?

Most simply, fund balance is the difference between assets and liabilities in a governmental fund. The general fund, where a government accounts for everything not reported in another fund. Special revenue funds, for reporting specific revenue sources that are limited to being used for a particular purpose.

Who funds the general fund?

Revenues are received from broad-based state taxes.” The three primary sources of general fund revenue are personal income tax, sales tax, and corporate income tax collections.

What is capital fund in balance sheet?

Capital fund is the excess of NPOs’ assets over its liabilities. In other words, the excess of assets over the liabilities for a profit earning organisation is termed as capital and the same for an NPO is termed as capital fund.

What is general fund investment?

General Fund means a Trust Fund maintained by the Trustee as required to hold and administer any assets of the Trust that are not allocated among any separate Investment Funds as may be provided in the Plan or the Trust Agreement.

What are the 5 types of government funds?

According to the GAAFR (the Blue Book), governmental funds are “used to account for activities primarily supported by taxes, grants, and similar revenue sources.” Within the category of Governmental Funds, there are five types: General Fund, special revenue funds, debt service funds, capital projects funds, and …