An overview of basic theoretical ideas devised to support the activity of accounting. These concepts form the fundamental principles needed for producing comparable, relevant, reliable, and understandable financial information.
The accruals concept is a fundamental accounting principle that requires revenue and costs to be recognized as they are earned or incurred, rather than when money is received or paid. This concept ensures that income and expenses are matched with one another in the correct accounting period.
Accrued income, also known as accrued revenue, is income that has been earned during an accounting period but has not yet been received by the end of the period. It adheres to the accruals concept and is vital for accurate financial reporting.
Deferred Credit represents income received or recorded before it is earned, and it adheres to the accruals concept by being carried forward on the balance sheet until it is matched with the period in which it is earned.
An item of expenditure incurred in an accounting period but, under the accruals concept, not matched with the income it will generate. Instead of being treated as an operating cost for that period, it is treated as an asset with the intention of treating it as an operating cost to be charged against the income it will generate in a future period.
An independent organization, operating under the auspices of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), that aims to enhance the quality and transparency of public sector financial reporting worldwide. The Board issues International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) that place a particularly strong emphasis on the accruals concept.
A prepayment, also referred to as a payment in advance, is a payment made for goods or services before they are actually received. In accounting, it is treated as a deferred debit under the accruals concept and is shown as a debit balance under debtors in the current assets section of the balance sheet.
