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Are there no unearned revenues in accrual accounting?

Author

Jackson Reed

Updated on January 02, 2026

Under the cash basis of accounting, no adjustments are made for prepaid, unearned and accrued items. Since the revenue recognition principle requires that revenues be earned, there are no unearned revenues in accrual accounting.

How is unearned revenue accrued?

Unearned revenue is a liability for the recipient of the payment, so the initial entry is a debit to the cash account and a credit to the unearned revenue account.

What is included in accrual accounting?

Accrual accounting is an accounting method where revenue or expenses are recorded when a transaction occurs rather than when payment is received or made. The method follows the matching principle, which says that revenues and expenses should be recognized in the same period.

How is revenue recorded under accrual accounting?

Under the accrual basis of accounting, revenues and expenses are recorded as soon as transactions occur. This process runs counter to the cash basis of accounting, where transactions are reported only when cash actually changes hands.

How is unearned revenue treated in accounting?

Unearned revenue is recorded on a company’s balance sheet as a liability. It is treated as a liability because the revenue has still not been earned and represents products or services owed to a customer.

Is accounts payable an accrual?

Accounts payable is a specific type of accrual. It occurs when a company receives a good or service prior to paying for it, incurring a financial obligation to a supplier or creditor. Accounts payable represents debts that must be paid off within a given period, usually a short-term one (under a year).

Definition: Accounting method that records revenues and expenses when they are incurred, regardless of when cash is exchanged. The term “accrual” refers to any individual entry recording revenue or expense in the absence of a cash transaction.

What is accrued revenue journal entry?

On the financial statements, accrued revenue is reported as an adjusting journal entry under current assets on the balance sheet and as earned revenue on the income statement of a company. When the payment is made, it is recorded as an adjusting entry to the asset account for accrued revenue.

What does Unearned Revenue mean in accounting terms?

Unearned revenue, also known as unearned income, deferred revenue, or deferred income, represents revenue already collected but not yet earned. Hence, they are also called “advances from customers”. Following the accrual concept of accounting, unearned revenues are considered as liabilities. Unearned revenues normally are current liabilities.

When is revenue recognized under accrual accounting?

A: Under the accrual accounting method, revenue is recognized and reported when a product is shipped or a service is provided. If there are expenses incurred to provide a product or service, those expenses must be matched with the period in which the revenue was recognized.

How are bonus expenses recorded in an accrual account?

Therefore, to carry an accurate recording of Joe’s bonuses, the company must make a bonus liability record to record these bonus expenses. When the company pays out Joe’s owed bonuses, the transaction will be recorded by the company crediting its liability account and debiting its cash account.

Which is the liability method of recording unearned revenue?

Liability Method of Recording Unearned Revenue. Under the liability method, a liability account is recorded when the amount is collected. The common accounts used are: Unearned Revenue, Deferred Income, Advances from Customers, etc.