What balance should be reported for internal balances in the primary government total column of the government-wide statement of net assets?

The balance reported for internal balances in the primary government total column of the government-wide statement of net assets should be a zero balance. This is due to the way internal balances are accounted for in government-wide financial statements. Internal balances represent transactions between different governmental activities and should not result in a net overall balance at the government-wide level; essentially, receivables and payables from inter-fund transactions offset each other.

In the context of government-wide reporting, the focus is on the net position of the government as a whole, and any internal transactions do not affect this total. Hence, reporting a zero balance provides a clearer picture of the overall financial position without the complexities introduced by inter-fund transactions. This practice aligns with the principle of eliminating inter-fund activity to prevent double-counting and ensure that the financial statements accurately reflect the resources available to the government as a single entity.