Påløpne

Påløpne is a term of Norwegian origin that translates to "accrued" or "incurred" in English. It refers to expenses or income that have been incurred or earned but not yet paid or received. In accounting and finance, it is crucial for accurately reflecting a company's financial position at a specific point in time.

Accrued expenses, for instance, represent costs that a business has undertaken during an accounting period but has not yet paid. Examples include salaries owed to employees, rent for a current period that will be paid in the next, or interest on a loan. By recognizing these expenses when they are incurred, even if payment hasn't been made, a company can present a more realistic picture of its profitability and liabilities.

Similarly, accrued income refers to revenue that has been earned but not yet collected. This could be from services rendered for which an invoice has not yet been sent, or interest earned on investments that has not yet been paid out. Accrued income is vital for accurately measuring revenue in the period it was earned, adhering to the accrual basis of accounting.

The concept of påløpne is fundamental to accrual accounting, which aims to match revenues with the expenses incurred to generate them, providing a more accurate representation of financial performance over time than cash-basis accounting, which only records transactions when cash changes hands. Understanding påløpne is therefore essential for financial reporting, budgeting, and decision-making.