anticipo

Anticipo is a term used in finance and contracting to describe an amount paid before the delivery of goods or services. It denotes an advance or prepayment and is used in various Romance-language contexts, including Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, where related terms include acconto or adelanto.

In commercial transactions, anticipo can function in several ways. A buyer may pay an anticipo to a supplier before the goods are delivered or the service is performed. Conversely, a supplier may request an anticipo from a client as part of a contract. It can also refer to advances given to employees as salary prepayments. In accounting, these payments create a financial position that is typically recorded as a current asset for the payer and a current liability for the recipient, until the corresponding performance occurs or the revenue is recognized.

Accounting treatment varies by jurisdiction and contract terms. For the payer, the anticipo is recorded as an asset (prepaid amount) and reclassified as an expense or inventory when the goods are received or the service is rendered. For the recipient, the anticipo is recorded as a liability (amount received in advance) and becomes revenue when the obligation is fulfilled. If the contract is terminated or the supplier fails to deliver, the payer may be entitled to a refund or credit, while the liability may be discharged or offset against future revenue.

Beyond business transactions, anticipo also appears as tax prepayments or payroll advances in some countries, where authorities or employers require or permit early payments. See also: advance payment, deposit, down payment, prepayment.