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Revenue: Common Journal Entries

Updated: Sep 1, 2019

This article reviews some common journal entries used when recording transactions related to Revenue.


Scenario 1:


If Cash has been received, but Revenue cannot yet be recognized (e.g.: product has not yet been shipped, service has not been rendered):


This journal entry creates a liability account called “Unearned Revenue”. Because we received cash for something they has not yet been earned, we must book this as a liability - we owe the client something.


Once the revenue can be recognized (e.g.: the services have been rendered/goods have been delivered):


This journal entry empties out the liability account “Unearned Revenue” and appropriately records the Revenue earned.


Scenario 2:


Revenue can be recognized, but no cash has been received:

This journal entry creates an asset “Accounts Receivable”.


Once Cash has been received:

This empties out the Accounts Receivable account and adds to the Cash balance.


Scenario 3:


A 5% discount is applied to Revenue earned.


Option 1:

This journal entry simply books the Revenue net of the 5% discount.


Option 2:

Revenue is first recognized at full price.


The discount is then deducted from the Revenue account and included in the contra-Revenue account, entitled "Sales Discounts". Note that a contra-revenue account is not an account that is shown on the entity’s Financial Statements. It is simply a placeholder account that the entity uses to keep track of their discounts.


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