If cash collected is not recorded as revenue, what happens to it?

• A. It goes into the Deferred Revenue balance on the Balance Sheet under Liabilities.
• B. It is recorded as revenue in the same period anyway.
• C. It is recognized as a liability only when the service delivered.
• D. It is recorded as an asset.

Answer: (A)

Cash collected before the related services or goods are delivered is not yet earned, so it isn’t revenue yet. Under accrual accounting, revenue is recognized when it’s earned, not when cash is received. That means the receipt creates an obligation to provide the goods or services in the future, which is recorded as a liability called Deferred Revenue (also known as unearned revenue) on the balance sheet.

The typical entry is to increase cash (an asset) and also increase Deferred Revenue (a liability). Then, when the service is actually performed or the goods are delivered, the company reduces the Deferred Revenue and records Revenue. This keeps the financial statements accurate: assets show the cash on hand, while liabilities show the obligation to perform in the future, and revenue is only recognized when earned.