QuestionSeptember 19, 2025

Question 1: Think of an example from your own life of a deferral (either prepaid expense or unearned revenue). How would you explain its accounting treatment? Question 2: How do deferrals help accountants apply the matching principle?

Question 1: Think of an example from your own life of a deferral (either prepaid expense or unearned revenue). How would you explain its accounting treatment? Question 2: How do deferrals help accountants apply the matching principle?
Question 1: Think of an example from your own life of a deferral (either prepaid expense or unearned revenue). How
would you explain its accounting treatment?
Question 2: How do deferrals help accountants apply the matching principle?

Solution
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Answer

Q1: Paying 1,200 for a 1‑year insurance policy upfront → Record as Prepaid Insurance, expense 100 monthly. ### Q2: Deferrals align recognition with the period of related revenue/expense, ensuring accurate matching. Explanation 1. Example of a deferral and its accounting treatment Example: Paying an annual insurance premium of 1,200 upfront. Initially recorded as **Prepaid Insurance (Asset)**. Each month, 100 is transferred to **Insurance Expense**, reducing the prepaid balance. This matches cost to the period it benefits. 2. How deferrals support the matching principle Deferrals postpone recognition of revenue or expense until the period it is earned/incurred. This ensures expenses match related revenues, producing accurate period results.

Explanation

1. Example of a deferral and its accounting treatment <br /> Example: Paying an annual insurance premium of $1,200 upfront. Initially recorded as **Prepaid Insurance (Asset)**. Each month, $100 is transferred to **Insurance Expense**, reducing the prepaid balance. This matches cost to the period it benefits. <br /><br />2. How deferrals support the matching principle <br /> Deferrals postpone recognition of revenue or expense until the period it is earned/incurred. This ensures expenses match related revenues, producing accurate period results.
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