When a new partner pays for Goodwill in cash, where the amount should be debited in partnership accounts?

Cash Account

The correct answer is option 1- Cash Account.

Premium for goodwill is the additional amount brought in by the incoming partner to compensate for the loss in share of the super profits of the old partners. This extra amount is debited to cash account and  credited to the premium for goodwill account The accounting entry is:
Cash A/c Dr.
     To Premium for Goodwill A/c
(Being premium for goodwill brought in by the new partner)

When a new partner is admitted to the partnership, the existing partners may need to make a sacrifice in their profit-sharing ratios to accommodate the new partner. The sacrifice ratio is the ratio in which existing partners agree to reduce their shares in favor of the new partner. It is calculated by deducting new new ratio from old ratio. When the new Partner brings goodwill in cash. The amount of premium brought in by the new partner is shared by the existing partners in their ratio of sacrifice. If this amount is paid to the old partners directly (privately) by the new partner, no entry is passed in the books of the firm.

The following journal entries will be passed-

(A) Capital & goodwill brought in by new partner -
         Cash A/c Dr.
             To Partner's Capital A/c
             To premium for goodwill A/c

(B) Goodwill share brought by new partner is transferred to sacrificers-
            Premium for goodwill A/c Dr.
                To Partner's Current/Capital A/c