Three accounting treatments for cash discounts under the new revenue standard and tax treatment

Mondo Finance Updated on 2024-01-31

The encyclopedic definition of cash discount is "the ** deduction given to encourage the buyer to pay as soon as possible within a certain period of time".

The accounting encyclopedia definition of cash discount is "cash discount, which refers to the debt deduction provided by the creditor to the debtor to encourage the debtor to pay within the specified time limit, and there are generally two treatment methods: the total price method and the net price method. "In practice, China's practice usually adopts the total price method, which recognizes revenue in full and recognizes cash discounts as financial expenses when they are actually incurred.

According to the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on Several Issues Concerning the Recognition of Enterprise Income Tax No. 2008 No. 875, "the debt deduction provided by the creditor to the debtor to encourage the debtor to pay within the specified period is a cash discount. ”

According to the Guide to the Application of Accounting Standard for Business Enterprises No. 14 - Revenue, "the amount of consideration that an enterprise is entitled to receive will vary depending on the occurrence of one or more contingencies, which is also a case of variable consideration". This is the case with cash discounts.

The cash discount provided to customers is generally understood, that is, selling things, the other party is on credit, and if the other party repays the money in advance, it can be repaid a little less. For example, if you sell 1 million yuan of goods to a customer and ask for payment within 60 days, if you pay within 10 days, you can only pay 980,000 yuan, and if you pay within 30 days, you can only pay 990,000 yuan. Receiving cash discounts from ** merchants is also this concept.

According to the Q&A on the Implementation of the Revenue Standards, "Q: When an enterprise implements the Accounting Standard for Business Enterprises No. 14 - Revenue" (Cai Hui 2017 No. 22), how should an enterprise account for the cash discount given to customers?

Answer: The cash discount given to customers by enterprises when selling goods should be in accordance with the Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises No. 14 - Revenue (Cai Hui 2017 No. 22).About Variable Considerationof the relevant provisions. According to Accounting Standard for Business Enterprises No. 14 – Revenue, it is as follows: "A business should determine transactions in accordance with the terms of the contract and in conjunction with its past practices**. When determining the transaction**, the enterprise should consider the impact of factors such as variable consideration, material financing elements in the contract, non-cash consideration, and consideration payable to customers. When the consideration is variable consideration, the amount of consideration that the enterprise is entitled to receive may be less than the contract price because the enterprise may provide a discount to the customer. If an enterprise provides a discount to a customer, it should be considered when estimating the transaction. When determining whether there is variable consideration in the contract, the enterprise should not only consider the agreement of the contract terms, but also the amount of consideration in the contract is variable even if it is not expressly stipulated in the contract under the following circumstances:

One isAccording to the company's publicly announced policies, specific statements or past practices, etc., the customer can reasonably expect that the company will accept a lower amount of consideration than the contract, that is, the company will provide ** discount in the form of discounts, rebates, etc.

The second isOther relevant facts and circumstances indicate that the enterprise intends to provide the customer with a discount at the time of entering into the contract with the customer. ”The specific accounting treatment can be divided into the following three types of situations:

1. The specific content of the cash discount is stipulated in the sales contract signed by the enterprise or although there is no agreement in the transaction contract, it can be reasonably judged that there is a cash discount arrangement in the transaction.

1.1 Income is offset against income based on the best estimate and recognized as a liability. (Reference case: Huibo New Materials GEM IPO inquiry reply, Pawa shares science and technology innovation board IPO manual, from the annual report view, most listed companies adopt this treatment method).

Debit: Accounts receivable

Credit: main business income

Tax Payable - VAT Payable (Output Tax).

Projected Liabilities Other current liabilities.

When the cash discount actually occurs:

Borrow: Projected Liabilities Other Current Liabilities

Credit: Accounts receivable

Income from principal business (difference, or debit).

1.2. However, in practice, there may be situations where it is not possible to reasonably estimate the best estimate of the variable consideration of this part, and the impact of the amount is small (detailed argumentation is required). It can be treated as a way to reduce sales revenue when the cash discount actually occurs. (Reference case: Hongxi Technology's reply to the IPO inquiry of the Beijing Stock Exchange) recognizes revenue and accounts receivable in accordance with the contract transaction**.

Debit: Accounts receivable

Credit: main business income

Tax Payable - VAT Payable (Output Tax).

When the cash discount actually occurs:

Borrow: main business income

Credit: Accounts receivable

2. If the company and the customer do not agree on the relevant policy of cash discount in the contract when signing the sales contract, and there is no other evidence to prove that the company intends to provide the first discount when signing the contract with the customer, the cash discount does not belong to the contract right that the customer can exercise, nor does it belong to the variable consideration of the contract transaction. The handling of the cash discount shall refer to the provisions on debt restructuring, and the debt restructuring loss shall be recognized when the cash discount occurs. (Reference cases: reply to the IPO inquiry of the Science and Technology Innovation Board, reply to the IPO inquiry of Huami New Materials Beijing Stock Exchange, 2021 annual report of Hongyu Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Main Board, and 2022 annual report of Foster Shanghai Main Board).

Borrow: Bank deposit

Investment income - gains and losses on debt restructuring

Credit: Accounts receivable

3. After the new revenue standard, there are changes in the accounting treatment of cash discounts provided to customers, but the cash discounts received by enterprises from ** merchants for the purchase of goods are still included in financial expenses when they are actually incurred.

Borrow: Bank deposit

Credit: Finance Expense.

The article is for personal understanding, for reference only, in case of errors or omissions, thank you for your guidance. If you find it helpful, follow, like, **

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