What is an accrued expense?

Accrued expenses, also known as accrued liabilities, occur when a company incurs an expense it hasn't yet been billed for. Essentially, the company received a good or service that it will pay for in the future. In the meantime, the expense is an accrued liability.

What happens when something financial accrues?

When something financial accrues, it essentially builds up to be paid or received in a future period. Accrue most often refers to the concepts of accrual accounting, where there are accrued revenue sand accrued expenses. Accrued revenue is when a company has sold a product or service but has yet to be paid for it.

What is the accrual method of accounting?

The accrual method of accounting requires revenues and expenses to be recorded in the period that they are incurred, regardless of the time of payment or receiving cash. Since the accrued expenses or revenues recorded in that period may differ from the actual cash amount paid or received in the later period, the records are merely an estimate.

When is accrued revenue recognized?

Under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), accrued revenue is recognized when the performing party satisfies a performance obligation. For example, revenue is recognized when a sales transaction is made and the customer takes possession of a good, regardless of whether the customer paid cash or credit at that time.