Current account (running account)

A current account (cari hesap) is a written agreement under which two parties in an ongoing business relationship stop demanding their mutual claims individually, record them as items in an account and claim only the balance at the end of each period. The agreement is valid only if made in writing.

Continuous supply relationships between sellers and buyers are the typical field of application. Claims entered into the account lose their independent character, and only the balance becomes due at the end of the accounting period. Acceptance of the balance implies acceptance of the underlying items.

In everyday commercial usage any open account is loosely called cari hesap, yet the statutory concept requires a written contract. The distinction matters for when the claim becomes due and when limitation periods start to run.