Itemize Payment Warranty For Free

To estimate the warranty expense for a company, we need to know three main things: Number of units sold during a particular accounting period. Percentage of the sold products that will probably need a repair or a replacement based on previous experiences. Average cost of repairing or replacing products under warranty.

During the accounting period, the company accrues expenses that reflect the costs of fulfilling product warranty claims. When accounting for warranty expense, companies estimate the amount at the time of product sales to ensure the most accurate cost projection for repairing or replacing defective items.

To record the liability, the company would debit warranty expense and credit accrued warranty, which is a liability on the balance sheet. The purpose of this is to record the cost of the warranty in the same period that the revenue is recognized.

If the defective product needs to be repaired or refunded, the cost incurred reduces the liability account. Warranty expense is recognized in the same period as revenue for the sold products if there is a probability that an expense will be incurred and if the company can estimate the amount of the expense.

Typically, purchased assets have some type of standard warranty (frequently, one year). Extended warranties (two to five years) are not included in the capitalization process. Therefore, the warranty cost should be charged to another appropriate expense account.

Accrue the warranty expense with a debit to the warranty expense account and a credit to the warranty liability account. As actual warranty claims are received, debit the warranty liability account and credit the inventory account for the cost of the replacement parts and products sent to customers.

Recording Warranty Expense If a company provides a warranty on the product, they should repair or replace it if it's defective. It creates a liability when the particular product is sold as the company has a liability, which starts when the product is sold.

Accrue the warranty expense with a debit to the warranty expense account and a credit to the warranty liability account. As actual warranty claims are received, debit the warranty liability account and credit the inventory account for the cost of the replacement parts and products sent to customers.