The economic nature of deferred income and the accuracy of the assessment of financial condition ratios

Abstract

Purpose: Deferred income is one of the elements that may affect the accuracy of financial analysis. In many countries, it is recognized as a liability. The purpose of this article is to assess whether the economic nature of deferred income items is closer to equity or liabili-ties and to evaluate how their different treatment affects the accuracy of the assessment of the entity’s financial condition. The research hypothesis assumes that certain categories of deferred income are, by their economic nature, closer to equity than to liabilities, and their different treatment significantly affects the accuracy of the assessment of the entity’s fi-nancial condition. Methodology/approach: The research methodology includes a critical analysis of the literature data and legal acts, the induction method, the descriptive method, and statistical methods. Findings: The analysis showed that the economic character of deferred income varies; some items of deferred income can be classified as liabilities while the others are equity-type. The latter constitute a considerable share in the balance sheets of some entities. It has been found that treating them as equity while calculating financial ratios significantly affected their values. Research limitations/implications: There are no grounds to reject the hypothesis. The study indicates the necessity to analyze the financial condition using modified financial ratios. Originality/value: The study broadens the discussion of the economic nature of deferred income and improves the methodology and accuracy of the entity’s financial analysis.