Inventory Impairment: debit or credit?

Inventory Impairment increases on the credit side and decreases on the debit side: its normal balance is a credit.

A contra-asset reduces the value of an asset shown elsewhere, such as accumulated depreciation or an allowance. It increases with a credit.

Name in each convention

Account names and codes follow each convention; an account that does not exist in a convention is not offered there.

ConventionAccount
United States (US textbooks)—
Spain (PGC 2007)390 Deterioro de valor de las mercaderías
France (PCG 2025)397 Dépréciations des stocks de marchandises
Germany (generic accounts)—

Practice entries that use this account