What is Contra Revenue?
Contra Revenue is a difference in gross revenue and net revenue, usually has a debit balance and is a helpful tool for the company to know the product specifications, whether it is optimum or not as per customer requirement.
Types of Contra Revenue
- Sales Returns – If the company sells the goods and it returns due to some reasons such as defected goods or if they are not as per customer requirement, sales return decreases the sales and debtors if sales made on credit.
- Sales Allowance/Rebate – If the company sells the goods and it has some minor defects, then the company sells such goods with some rebate/ allowance.
- Sales Discount – When the company sells the goods to a customer who purchases in cash mode, then the company allows the discount to that customer for prompt payment. This discount is also known as a cash discountA Cash DiscountCash discounts are direct incentives and discounts provided by any company to their customers in exchange for paying their bills on time or before the due date. This is a common practice, and the discount may differ from one company to the next depending on the terms and conditions.read more.
Formula
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For eg:
Source: Contra Revenue (wallstreetmojo.com)
Examples of Contra Revenue
Example #1 – Based on Sales Return
M/s L&T Limited sells the construction equipment machines to M/s ABC & Company for $15000.00 on Credit. After some days, M/s ABC & Co. return the construction equipment machines & $2000.00 due to defect in them.
In the above case, the CR amount is $2000.00, which will be adjusted from sales to $15000.00 and in the accounting book sales to be recorded at $13000.00.
Example #2 – Based on Sales Allowance
M/s XYZ Company has some old fashion clothes, and they want to sell the same on an urgent basis. There is a customer in the market who want to purchase such clothes, but he knows the market scenario of the cloth industry. M/s XYZ Company agrees to sell the goods $ 5000 less than from the amount of the original sale, which is $40000.00.
In the above case, the company will bear a loss margin on $5000.00 on clothes, and the same will be adjusted from the sales account. The CR amount is $5000.00
Example #3 – Based on Cash Discount
M/s EFG & Co. sells the Goods $10000.00 with Cash/Sales Discount @ 1% to M/s MNO & Co…
In the above case, the company will bear a loss margin of $100, and the contra revenue amount is $100.00.
Accounting of Contra Revenue
In the above case, the company should minus the sales return/allowance/discount from gross sales.
There is one more method that can be used for accounting which is as below:-
In the above method, we debit the contra revenue account in the trading account, but generally, the company uses the first method of accounting of contra revenue.
Advantages
- The effect of contra revenue in income statementsIncome StatementsThe income statement is one of the company's financial reports that summarizes all of the company's revenues and expenses over time in order to determine the company's profit or loss and measure its business activity over time based on user requirements.read more provides accurate financial information of the company.
- The company can estimate the quality of products basis sales return quantity and amount of product.
- Sale Discount increases the cash inflow and reduces bad debtsBad DebtsBad Debts can be described as unforeseen loss incurred by a business organization on account of non-fulfillment of agreed terms and conditions on account of sale of goods or services or repayment of any loan or other obligation.read more.
- Due to the sale discount, the company gets prompt payment, which reduces the collection efforts of staff.
Disadvantages
- If the company is manufacturing such products that have market competition, then the company will have to maintain the policy of sales return, sales allowance, and sales discount.
- It increases the extra cost and time for accounting for such transactionsAccounting For Such TransactionsAccounting Transactions are business activities which have a direct monetary effect on the finances of a Company. For example, Apple representing nearly $200 billion in cash & cash equivalents in its balance sheet is an accounting transaction. read more.
- It decreases the profit and profit margin of the company.
- Contra Revenue accounting policyAccounting PolicyAccounting policies refer to the framework or procedure followed by the management for bookkeeping and preparation of the financial statements. It involves accounting methods and practices determined at the corporate level.read more is applicable for Small Businesses.
Limitation
- It increases the extra efforts of the company.
- Accounting of contra revenue is very complicated, as the same is increased accounting work. It adversely affects many accounts such as cash account if the company sells the goods on cash, debtors accountDebtors AccountA debtor is a person or entity that owes money to the other party in a transaction. The receiver is referred to as the creditor, and the payment terms vary for each transaction based on the terms and conditions agreed upon by the parties.read more if the company sells the goods on credit, stock account, and sales account as the same as reversed.
- The company will have to maintain separate manpower for such accounting.
Important Points
- A company should have a policy for not to return the goods which have been sold, not provide sales rebates and discounts on products.
- The company should know the reasons for the increase in contra-revenue on a monthly basis so that extra cost and time can be saved.
- The company should use the first method of accounting of contra revenue so that financial statementsFinancial StatementsFinancial statements are written reports prepared by a company's management to present the company's financial affairs over a given period (quarter, six monthly or yearly). These statements, which include the Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flows, and Shareholders Equity Statement, must be prepared in accordance with prescribed and standardized accounting standards to ensure uniformity in reporting at all levels.read more can be representing better and as per accounting guidelines.
Conclusion
The company should maintain a separate accounting of contra revenue for a better presentation of financial statements and can estimate the quality of the product.
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