Accrued Revenue

It is the revenue recognized by a business for which the invoice is yet to be billed to the customer.

 

Author: Savan Sabu
Savan Sabu
Savan Sabu
Savan Sabu was brought up in Dubai, did Bachelor of Commerce Professional from a prestigious college (Christ College) in India. Later on, he worked as a Finance Research Analyst intern and was promoted to Editor In Chief with WSO where he developed working skills in multi-cultural environments, multi-tasking, improved research, and coordinated teamwork. Also, I could learn different concepts in finance and participate in bootcamps. Currently, pursuing a post-graduate degree in Supply Chain & Logistics.
Reviewed By: Elliot Meade
Elliot Meade
Elliot Meade
Private Equity | Investment Banking

Elliot currently works as a Private Equity Associate at Greenridge Investment Partners, a middle market fund based in Austin, TX. He was previously an Analyst in Piper Jaffray's Leveraged Finance group, working across all industry verticals on LBOs, acquisition financings, refinancings, and recapitalizations. Prior to Piper Jaffray, he spent 2 years at Citi in the Leveraged Finance Credit Portfolio group focused on origination and ongoing credit monitoring of outstanding loans and was also a member of the Columbia recruiting committee for the Investment Banking Division for incoming summer and full-time analysts.

Elliot has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Columbia University.

Last Updated:October 30, 2023

What Is Accrued Revenue?

Revenue that has been earned through the provision of goods or services for which no money has been exchanged is known as accrued revenue.

These revenues are shown as receivables on the balance sheet to reflect the amount customers owe the company for the items or services they purchased.

Accrued expenses and revenue can be compared and contrasted with realized or recognized revenue.

A sale that has been acknowledged by the seller but has not been invoiced to the buyer is considered accrued revenue. Businesses that would otherwise have unreasonable delays in revenue recognition adopt this notion.

Since billings may not be completed until the end of a project or on scheduled milestone billing dates, accrued income is relatively frequent in the service sectors. However, manufacturing companies are far less likely to have accrued income because bills are often given as soon as goods are shipped.

To appropriately match revenues with expenses, accumulated income is required.

A business would typically show disproportionately low starting revenue levels and poor profits in the absence of collected income, which does not accurately reflect the underlying value of the organization.

Additionally, since revenues would only be recognized at longer times when bills are sent, not using accrued revenue tends to produce considerably lumpier revenue and profit recognition.

On the other hand, keeping track of accumulated income tends to level off reported revenue and profit levels on a month-by-month basis.

Key Takeaways

  • It is generated by providing products or services for which no money has been exchanged.
  • Deferred revenue is recorded after payment, whereas Accrued Revenue is recorded ahead of time.
  • The accrued revenue account receives a single entry of all revenue. Deferred revenue is defined as revenue that is spread out over time.
  • Accrued revenue input leads to cash receipts. Deferred revenue occurs when revenues and payments are reported after a cash transaction.
  • Since deferred revenue is unearned, it is regarded as a liability. On the other hand, accounts receivable, or accrued revenue, are viewed as an asset.
  • A company's financial statements reflect accumulated revenue earned on its income statement and as an adjusting journal entry under current assets on its balance sheet.
  • When the payment is paid, it is recorded as an adjusting entry to the asset account for cumulative revenue.
  • It impacts only the balance sheet; the income statement is unaffected.

Accrued Revenue Vs. Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue describes when a corporation receives an upfront payment from a client before providing the product or service. In other words, deferred revenue is recorded after payment is received.

On the other hand, Accrued Revenue is recorded ahead of time.

Let's examine the main distinctions between the terms:

  • First, all revenue is simultaneously entered into the accrued revenue account. When revenue spreads over time, it is referred to as deferred revenue.
  • Cash receipts are the result of accrued revenue input. When receipts and payments are recorded after a cash transaction, it is known as deferred revenue.
  • Deferred revenue is considered a liability because it is unearned revenue. However, this revenue is seen as an asset in the form of accounts receivables.

Recording Accrued Revenue

It is shown on a company's financial accounts as earned revenue on its income statement and as an adjusting journal entry under current assets on the balance sheet.

The payment is recorded as an adjusting entry to the asset account for accumulated revenue at the time it is made. The income statement is unaffected by this; only the balance sheet is.

Let's use an example to understand better.

Travelport LTD IT Services pledges to develop flight navigation software for Delta airlines within a year for a fee of $120,000. The software's first milestone, worth $60,000, is supposed to be delivered by Travelport in six months, per the contract.

After another six months, a second milestone will be delivered, signaling the conclusion of the contract. Unfortunately, the agreement only permits a $120,000 billing after the project. Travelport must therefore make the following notebook entry to reflect attaining the first milestone (the sixth month):

Journal Entry
Particulars Debit Credit
Accrued Revenue A/c. $60,000 -
Revenue A/c. - $60,000

Travelport must enter the following journal entry to reverse the initial accrual after reaching the second milestone and billing the client for $120,000. In addition, the second journal entry for the $120,000 invoice must be entered.

Journal Entry
Particulars Debit Credit
Revenue A/c. $60,000 -
Accrued Revenue A/c. - $60,000
Journal Entry
Particulars Debit Credit
Accrued Revenue A/c. $120,000 -
Accounts Receivables A/c. - $120,000

The income statement shows the change in revenue, whereas the balances relating to accrued revenue are debit balances on the balance sheet.

Researched and authored by Savan SabuLinkedIn

Reviewed and edited by Parul Gupta | LinkedIn

Free Resources

To continue learning and advancing your career, check out these additional helpful WSO resources: