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Revenue recognition is a GAAP principle that determines when and how revenue is recognized. It requires recognizing revenue when goods or services are realized and earned, regardless of cash receipt. The matching principle ensures that revenue and associated costs are reported in the same accounting period.

Recognizing revenue

When booking an invoice, the total amount is recognized. Recognition split total amount into sales income, tax and deferred.
sales incometaxdeferred
12.0002.400subject to a strategy
As every month close, revenue is shifted from deferred revenue to income by debitting income and credit deferred revenue.

Strategies

All of the following examples are based on a total of 12.000 sold on the 20th of january.
strategydescriptionexample
noneno revenue is recognized
even distributionrevenue is recognized evenly every month1.000 is booked as income in january. 1.000 is deferred monthly for the following 11 months.
exact daily accrualrevenue is recognized by the exact number of days per month1.019 is booked as income in january (31 days). 921 is deferred in february (28 days) etc.
daily accrualrevenue is recognized by the exact number of days remaining per month362 is booked as income in january (11 days). 921 is deferred in february (28 days) etc. 656 is deferred (20 days) will fall onto january the following year.
Each strategy is examplified below.

Even distribution

Algorithm will be calculated as 12.000 / 12.
monthjanfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdec
days312831303130313130313031
income1.00000000000000
deferred01.0001.0001.0001.0001.0001.0001.0001.0001.0001.0001.000

Exact daily accrual

Algorithm will be calculated as 12.000 / 365 x days.
monthjanfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdec
days312831303130313130313031
income1.01900000000000
deferred09211.0199861.0199861.0191.0199861.0199861.019

Daily accrual

Algorithm will be calculated as 12.000 / 365 x days.
monthjanfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdecjan
days11283130313031313031303131
income362000000000000
deferred09211.0199861.0199861.0191.0199861.0199861.019658