What is the meaning of deferred revenue?

Deferred revenue is a liability on a company’s balance sheet that represents a prepayment by its customers for goods or services that have yet to be delivered. Deferred revenue is recognized as earned revenue on the income statement as the good or service is delivered to the customer.

Why is deferred revenue?

When a company accrues deferred revenue, it is because a buyer or customer paid in advance for a good or service that is to be delivered at some future date. The payment is considered a liability because there is still the possibility that the good or service may not be delivered, or the buyer might cancel the order.

What is the difference between unearned revenue and deferred revenue?

There is no difference between unearned revenue and deferred revenue because they both refer to advance payments a business receives for its products or services it’s yet to deliver or perform.

Where is deferred revenue on the balance sheet?

liabilities
What is Deferred Revenue? Deferred revenue is commonly known as unearned revenue. When a company receives advance payment from a customer before the product/service has been delivered; it is considered as deferred revenue. Deferred revenue is listed as liabilities on the balance sheet.

How do you record deferred revenue?

Since deferred revenues are not considered revenue until they are earned, they are not reported on the income statement. Instead they are reported on the balance sheet as a liability. As the income is earned, the liability is decreased and recognized as income.

How do you calculate deferred revenue?

Deferred revenue is relatively simple to calculate. It is the sum of the amounts paid as customer deposits, retainers and other advance payments. The deferred revenue amounts increase by any additional deposits and advance payments and decrease by the amount of revenue earned during the accounting period.

What is the difference between accounts receivable and deferred revenue?

Balance Sheet: The accounts receivable balance is reduced by the amount of cash received, in this case $100. Deferred revenue remains a liability because the company has not yet delivered the product.

Is deferred revenue a credit or debit?

Recognition of Deferred Revenue As the recipient earns revenue over time, it reduces the balance in the deferred revenue account (with a debit) and increases the balance in the revenue account (with a credit). The deferred revenue account is normally classified as a current liability on the balance sheet.