In performing accounting services for small businesses, you encounter the following situations pertaining to cash sales.

Blossom Company enters sales and sales taxes separately on its cash register. On April $10,$ the register totals are sales $$22,500$ and sales taxes $$1,125.$

Oriole Company does not segregate sales and sales taxes. Its register total for April $15$ is $$10,700,$ which includes a $7\%$ sales tax.

$($a$)$ negative sign $($or parentheses$)$ in front of the amount entered for the particular Asset, Liability or Equity item that was reduced.$)$