Is credit notes payable or accounts payable?
Andrew Campbell
Updated on February 13, 2026
The Differences Between Notes Payable and Accounts Payable Notes payable are written agreements mostly created and issued for debt arrangements and are payable to credit companies and financial institutions. Accounts payable are generally the suppliers of services and inventory.
What does a credit to notes payable mean?
When a company borrows money under a note payable, it debits a cash account for the amount of cash received, and credits a notes payable account to record the liability.
What’s the difference between accounts payable and notes payable?
While both accounts payable and notes payable are liability accounts and both represent the amount due and payable to a vendor or financial institution, there are several major differences between these two liability accounts. Accounts payable are always considered short-term liabilities which are due and payable within one year.
When do notes payable become a current liability?
This note transfers the liability for the loan agreement from accounts payable into notes payable. If the amount is due before the end of the year after the date that the balance sheet was prepared, the notes payable is classified as a current liability. Accounts payable and notes payable have the same purpose.
Can a note payable be used as collateral?
There is no collateral for accounts payable, and it’s not usually necessary anyway. Notes payable, however, frequently use the purchased assets as collateral for the loan amount. Many companies are fine with the risks involved when they give short-term credit to their trusted customers.
Do you get a discount on notes payable?
Accounts payable might even offer a small discount on the payment if the invoice is paid quicker than usual, like within 10 days instead of the usual 30. Notes payables provide maturity dates for the loan and can extend over months and even years.