Is Salary Payable a Liability?
Salary payable is a type of liability that refers to the amount of money owed by an employer to an employee for the employee’s work performed. It is recorded in a company’s balance sheet as either a short-term obligation as it is highly likely due within one year.
Salary payable is an amount an employer has promised to pay their employees for employment rendered during a certain period of time. This liability increases at the end of the accounting period and decreases as the money gets paid out.
Salary payable is an important element of a business’s financial statements, as it indicates how much an employer owes its employees. It should be taken into consideration while creating budget plans, understanding cash flow needs, and determining future cash outflow.
In addition, it establishes credibility among investors, customers, and other stakeholders who can deem the organization reliable if salary payments are made on time.
Is Salary Payable the Liability?
Salary payable is a current liability on a company’s balance sheet, meaning it must be paid within one year. This type of liability typically represents wages and payroll owed to employees.
From the employer’s perspective, payroll obligations have to be taken care of in a timely manner but since money is not always immediately available, the company sets up the accrual of the expenses by way of recording them as liabilities. It gives them additional time to make payments when cash is available. While this can provide immediate relief for cash flow situations, this practice should not be abused as there will be a problem if company keeps delaying the salary.
Salary payable should always be tracked separately from accounts payable because salaries represent wages and benefits that are owed specifically to employees while other accounts payable represent goods or services provided by vendors. The tracking and monitoring of both ensure compliance and streamline operations even further with accurate record keeping.
Additionally managing these two portions separately within accounting practices helps lend support against potential legal issues such as wage disputes or labor claims later down the line due to mismanagement.
Difference Between Salary Expense and Salary Payable
Salary expense and salary payable are two very different concepts. Salary expense is the total amount of money that an employer pays out in salaries each month or year, including taxes, deductions, and other withholdings.
Salary payable is the amount of salary owed by a company to its employees. This can be thought of as an account payable typically shown on a balance sheet.
The distinction between these two accounts is important to understand when accounting for employee payments. The salary expense will reflect the cost of labor to the business, while the salary payable represents both current obligations and future wages.
Salary expense is recorded on the income statement as a business cost and must be accurately tracked each period. Salary payable shows up on the liability side of a balance sheet and changes as payments for salaries are made. In order to best track these accounts it is helpful to have an accurate payroll system in place that automatically updates both accounts each time.
Understanding the difference between these two accounts can help businesses track their employee-related expenses more accurately, allowing them to make informed decisions about managing cash flow properly and staying in compliance with relevant regulations.
Journal Entry for Salary Payable
The company records salary payable on the balance sheet when the employees already perform the work, but not yet receive payment.
The journal entry is debiting salary expense and crediting salary payable.
| Account | Debit | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Salary Expense | $$$ | |
| Salary Payable | $$$ |
The salary expense will be recorded on the income statement as the expense which will reduce the company profit. The salary payable is the current liability that company owes to the employees.
On the payment date, the company settles the salary with employees based on the agreement between both parties. The salary payable will be reduced from the balance sheet with cash paid.
The journal entry is debiting salary payable and crediting cash.
| Account | Debit | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Salary Payable | $$$ | |
| Cash | $$$ |
Example
Company ABC is preparing the monthly financial statement, but the company is not yet paid the employee. The total amount of salary for the month is $ 50,000. One week after the month’s end, the company settled the amount with the employees. Please prepare a journal entry for salary payable and payment.
At the end of the accounting period, the company needs to accrue salary expenses on the income statement. The journal entry is debiting salary expense $ 50,000 and credit salary payable $ 50,000.
| Account | Debit | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Salary Expense | 50,000 | |
| Salary Payable | 50,000 |
The entry increases salary expense on the income statement which will reduce the company’s profit. The salary payable is the current liability on the balance sheet.
When the company makes a payment to the employee, the accountant needs to reverse the salary payable from the balances sheet. The journal entry is debiting salary payable $ 50,000 and credit cash $ 50,000.
| Account | Debit | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Salary Payable | 50,000 | |
| Cash | 50,000 |
The entry will decrease the salary payable from the balance sheet and it also reduces the cash balance.
Settle Salary Payable
Making payments to settle salary payable is an important part of running a successful business. When your employees have fulfilled their obligations and performed their duties, it is important to pay them in a timely manner. This not only shows appreciation for employee hard work but also helps maintain good relations between the employer and employee.
When making payments to settle salary payable, it is best to use software that automates this process. This will help ensure accuracy when calculating the total amount due and also make sure payment is made on time to avoid late charges. Additionally, automated systems can reduce paperwork associated with manual payroll calculations data into forms or calculating taxes prior to submitting payment transactions.
For checks, employers should include a payslip along with the check detailing all relevant information such as taxes withheld and deductions made. If any deductions have been made for advances against future wages or other reasons, employers should note this on the payslip in addition to providing the employee with appropriate documentation explaining why these deductions have been taken from their salary.
Making prompt payments on settled salaries ensures that employees stay satisfied and productive in their job roles over time. Moreover, it reduces instances of disputes which can arise if payments are delayed or employees are not paid correctly according to their contracts. By paying regular salaries on time, you are taking responsibility for fulfilling your obligations as a fair employer who values its workforce properly.
Accrued Salary Expense
Accrual is an accounting practice by which income or expenses are recognized based on occurrence instead of when cash was received or paid. Accrued salary is the expense that company record on the income statement as the payment not yet made to the employees as the work has been done over a period of time.
Accrued salary is the salary that an employee has earned but has not yet been paid. This means that the employee has worked for a certain period of time, but their paycheque has not arrived yet. The employer is keeping a record of the amount of money owed to the employee until it can be paid out. The employer will typically withhold taxes from an employee’s accrued salary when they finally receive payment. The paycheck will then reflect what they actually owe in taxes after all deductions have been taken.
The accrued salary will record both expenses and payable at the same time. The expense will be present on the income statement and it will deduct the company’s profit. At the same time, the company needs to record salary payable as it is not yet made payment to the employee.
A failure by an employer to pay accrued salary on time may result in fines or other legal action for non-payment – making it important for both parties to understand what is due and when it’s expected to be paid out.
