When engaged in accounting tasks, precision in documenting a company’s revenue and expenditures is paramount to guarantee precise financial reporting. A crucial facet to acquaint oneself with is the concept of deferred earnings and the necessary adjustments made through journal entries in the general ledger. Acquiring knowledge about deferred earnings aids in executing financial transactions precisely within a general ledger. Within the following article, we shall delve into the meaning and significance of deferred revenue journal entries, outline the proper method of recording them on a balance sheet, offer an illustrative example of formulating an adjusting journal entry for deferred earnings, and address a series of frequently posed inquiries.
What Constitutes a Deferred Revenue Journal Entry?
A deferred revenue journal entry is a financial transaction that documents income received but pertains to an undelivered product or service. This monetary phenomenon is often referred to as deferred, unearned, or unearned income and typically arises when a consumer produces in advance for a by-product or assistance. This transaction is registered as a liability on the company’s balance sheet because the organization still owes the customer the product or service. Unearned income is expected in financial accounting, and employing a deferred revenue journal entry ensures this action is transparently reflected in the company’s financial statements.
Several instances illustrate scenarios where deferred revenue is encountered in business:
- A customer submits an upfront payment to a company for a custom-made item, encompassing planning, material expenses, and production costs.
- A customer subscribes to an annual magazine service and remits payment, even though they receive the magazines every month.
- A customer provides a deposit to a company for work that is yet to be completed.
How to Document Deferred Revenue
When a company acquires deferred revenue, it is crucial to document the transaction accurately by employing the appropriate journal entry procedures. Calculating deferred revenue is a straightforward process. When a customer provides payment before obtaining a product or service, the deferred revenue account in the general ledger is augmented. Subsequently, as the company fulfills its obligations by delivering the goods or services, an adjusting journal entry is made, causing the deferred revenue account to diminish. By adhering to the subsequent recording guidelines, you can guarantee precise reflection of these transactions.
Establish the Timeline for Product or Service Delivery
The initial step in addressing deferred revenue in accounting involves determining the timeframe within which the company plans to provide the product or service to a customer who has made an advance payment. Deferred revenue presents two potential scenarios. The first scenario arises when the company anticipates delivering the product or service within the next 12 months.
In such cases, it is appropriate to record the deferred revenue as a current liability. The second scenario occurs when the company intends to furnish the item to the customer after 12 months. In this scenario, the correct accounting treatment is to classify the deferred revenue as a long-term liability on the company’s balance sheet.
Documenting the Customer’s Payment
The subsequent step entails recording the payment made by the customer through a journal entry. In the preceding stage, you discern whether the deferred revenue qualifies as a current or long-term liability. This determination is the foundation for constructing the appropriate financial transaction and placing it in the relevant sections of the company’s balance sheet.
Scenario: Delivery Within 12 Months
When establishing journal entries for deferred revenue concerning goods or services anticipated to be delivered within 12 months, you should:
- Debit the cash account.
- Credit the deferred revenue account.
Scenario: Delivery Beyond 12 Months
The approach for recording journal entries for deferred revenue when the company expects to provide the goods or services after a 12-month time frame closely mirrors the previous scenario but with distinct attributes. In such cases, you should:
- Debit the cash account.
- Credit the non-current deferred revenue account.
Scenario: Mixed Delivery
In situations where the company anticipates delivering goods or services both within and beyond 12 months, you can bifurcate the deferred revenue into two categories. For instance, if a customer pre-pays for a two-year magazine subscription valued at $300, you would:
- Debit the cash account for $300.
- Credit the deferred revenue account for $150.
- Credit the non-current deferred revenue account for $150
Modify Revenue as Goods Are Delivered
The final stage involves modifying the deferred revenue account to reflect the delivery of goods or services by the company. As the company fulfills its obligations, it aims to recognize the corresponding revenue. This entails crafting an additional journal entry within the general ledger. For instance, an adjusting entry is warranted if a buyer delivers in advancement for an object and the corporation subsequently delivers the product at the agreed-upon price. In cases where the customer provided a deposit, it may be necessary to reconcile any remaining balance or process a refund if applicable.
Example of a Deferred Revenue Journal Entry
To grasp the seamless integration of all the procedural steps involved in accurately accounting for deferred revenue, let’s delve into an illustrative scenario. Consider a customer who prepays a company $500 to design their website and marketing materials.
- Debit the cash account by $500.
- Credit the deferred revenue account by $500.
Now, let’s explore two potential outcomes:
Outcome 1: Refunding Excess Payment
If the company successfully completes the project at a cost of only $450, resulting in an excess of $50 from the initial deposit, a refund to the customer is in order. The adjusting entry for this scenario would appear as follows:
- Debit the deferred revenue account by $500.
- Credit the revenue account by $450.
- Credit the cash account by $50.
Outcome 2: Additional Work Requested
In an alternative situation where the customer requests additional work after making the initial deposit, and the total project cost rises to $700, with the customer agreeing to be invoiced for the remaining balance, the adjusting entries to recognize the revenue and establish the accounts receivable would be as follows:
- Debit the deferred revenue account by $500.
- Debit the accounts receivable account by $200.
- Credit the revenue account by $700.
These examples elucidate how to navigate different deferred revenue scenarios, ensuring accurate accounting and adherence to financial standards.
Does Deferred Revenue Appear on a Company’s Income Statement?
Deferred revenue does not feature on a company’s income statement. The income statement is a critical financial document used to assess an organization’s financial performance. It details revenues and expenses, offering insights into the company’s profitability over a specified period. Deferred revenue remains absent from the income statement because it represents income the company has yet to recognize.
This revenue has not been earned because the company has not fulfilled its obligations by delivering the corresponding products or services at the time of reporting. Conversely, deferred revenue does make an appearance on the balance sheet.