Journal Entries of Unearned Revenue

The following unearned revenue journal entry example provides an understanding of the most common type of situations where such a Journal Entry accounts for and how one can record the same as there are many situations where the Journal Entry for Unearned Revenue pass, it is not possible to provide all the types of examples.Unearned revenue is the advance payment received by the firm for goods or services that have yet to be delivered. In other words, it comprises the amount received for the goods delivery that will take place at a future date.read more Unearned RevenueUnearned RevenueUnearned revenue is the advance payment received by the firm for goods or services that have yet to be delivered. In other words, it comprises the amount received for the goods delivery that will take place at a future date.read more is where the money is received, but the goods and services are yet to be delivered. As per the revenue recognition conceptRevenue Recognition ConceptThe revenue recognition principle falls under GAAP, which outlines the specific conditions under which the revenue is recognized and recorded. A business may receive payment early or later after delivering the goods and services to the customer, and still, revenue gets recognized.read more, it cannot be treated as revenue until the goods or services are provided. Therefore it is treated as a current liabilityCurrent LiabilityCurrent Liabilities are the payables which are likely to settled within twelve months of reporting. They’re usually salaries payable, expense payable, short term loans etc.read more.

Steps to Unearned Revenue Journal Entries

How to Record?

  • When the unearned revenue is received – In this situation, cash is received, and a current revenue arises. It is recorded as under:

  • When the unearned revenue is earned –In this situation, the liability of unearned revenue decreases, and revenue increases, the entry is recorded as under:

The unearned revenue concept is common in industries where payments are received in advance. Some common examples of unearned income are service contracts like housekeeping, insurance contracts, rent agreements, appliance services like refrigerator repair, tickets sold for events, etc.

  • Divide the amount received for providing goods or rendering services by the number of months of services/goods for which the amount is received. For example, professional fees of $6,000 are received for six months. Therefore $6,000 divided by 6, which is $1,000, would be recognized as monthly income. Debit the cash/bank account with the total amount received, i.e., $6,000, and create a current liability of unearned revenue by crediting the same amount. The revenue is yet to be earned by the business, and hence the same is credited as a liability. Since the cash is received, it is the creation of the asset. Therefore, the corresponding debits. At the end of each month, the liability of unearned revenue would be reduced by $1,000 by debiting the amount, and revenue would be increased by crediting the same amount.

Unearned Revenue Journal Entry Examples

A few examples of unearned revenue journal entries are stated below:

Example #1

On 1st April, a customer paid $5,000 for installation services, which will render in the next five months. The amount received would be recorded as boo’s unearned incomeUnearned IncomeUnearned income refers to any additional earnings made from the sources other than employment, such as returns on investments, dividends on bonds and equities, interest on savings, etc.read more (current liability). Subsequently, unearned revenue liability would decrease, and revenue would be recognized monthly.

Following journal entries will be recorded:

Example #2

On 1st March, the landlord receives rent 12 months in advance, amounting to $12,000. The rent received would be recognized in books as advance rent, and $1,000 would be treated as rental income each month. Following journal entries will be recorded:

Example #3

On 31st May, a contractor received $100,000 for a project to be executed over ten months. The $10,000 would be recognized as income for the next ten months in the contractor’s books. The total amount received would be recorded as unearned income as the project is yet to be completed.

Example #4

On 5th June, an insurance company received a premium of $24,000 from Mr. XYZ for 12 months. Since the period covered is 12 months, the initial amount received would be recorded as a liability in the books of insurance providers. Subsequently, every month $2,000 would be recognized as income. The following journal entries will be recorded:

Example #5

On 10th June, a chartered accountant received $20,000 to fill half-yearly returns for the year. Since the amount pertains to two returns to be filled every six months, the revenue ($10,000) would be recognized at the end of each six months in the books. The following journal entries will be recorded:

Example #6

On 10th August, a trader received advance paymentAdvance PaymentAdvance payment is made by a buyer to the seller before the actual scheduled time of receiving the goods and services. It protects the seller from the risk of non-payment. Additionally, it helps sellers financially in the production of the goods or rendering of services.read more for goods worth $2,000 to be delivered in a subsequent month. The amount received would be treated as unearned revenue until goods are delivered. Post the delivery. The amount would be recognized as income in books. The following journal entries will be recorded:

The above entries are recorded following revenue recognition. The revenue recognition concept states that the revenue should be recognized when the goods are delivered or services are rendered, and there is a certainty of payment realization. Therefore any unearned income should not be recognized as revenue and should be treated as a liability until the mentioned conditions are fulfilled.

This article has been a guide to Unearned Revenue Journal Entry. Here we discuss Unearned Revenue and how to record journal entries of unearned revenue. You can learn more about accounting from the following articles –

  • Examples of Deferred RevenueIncremental RevenueDeferred ExpensesCredit Sales Journal Entry