Calculating Deferred Income in Odoo 17 Accounting

Odoo Accounting, an open-source business management software, provides various applications, including accounting modules, facilitating financial operations for businesses. Deferred income, in Odoo, occurs when an organization receives funds in advance for products or services not yet delivered or earned. This prepayment creates a liability on the company's balance sheet, representing the commitment to supply the specified goods or services at a later date.

In accounting practices, effectively managing deferred income stands as a pivotal requirement for businesses aiming at precise financial reporting. Odoo 17, a comprehensive business management software, presents robust accounting functionalities, encompassing tools tailored for deferred income management. This article aims to elucidate the procedures involved in calculating deferred income within Odoo 17 accounting, furnishing businesses with a comprehensive insight into this essential process.

Comprehending Deferred Income

The Odoo accounting module is tailored to handle deferred income, also referred to as unearned or prepaid revenue. To initiate the process, create a designated account for deferred income within Odoo. This account serves to monitor funds received in advance until the associated goods or services are delivered. Through its adaptable accounting capabilities, Odoo provides a structured method for managing this scenario. Rather than immediately recognizing revenue, businesses must defer it until the period when the goods or services are rendered. This practice ensures that income is recorded accurately at the time it is earned, facilitating precise financial reporting.

Setting up and overseeing deferred revenues

Configuring Deferred Entries and accounts is straightforward within the Odoo 17 Accounting Module. Begin by accessing the 'Configuration' menu and navigating to the 'Settings' page to configure your company's accounting settings. Within this window, you can designate different default accounts for various journals. Options include Deferred Expense Account, Deferred Revenue Account, and Journal.

* Journal: The journal used for posting deferral entries.

* Deferred Expense Account: Expenses deferred in Current Assets until they are recognized.

* Deferred Revenue Account: Revenues deferred in Current Liabilities until they are recognized.

Generate Entries: Odoo automatically generates deferral entries upon posting a customer invoice, but users also have the option to manually generate them by selecting the "Manual & Grouped" option.

* Amount Computation: You can calculate the invoice amount using different methods, such as the 'Equal per-month' computation and the 'Based on days' computation, which consider varying amounts based on the number of days.

If the "Generate Entries" field is configured to "On invoice/bill validation," Odoo will automatically generate deferral entries when invoices are validated. After setting up the necessary information, save the settings and proceed to the next step.

Generate a New Invoice

To verify the functionality of deferred income computations, begin by creating a new customer invoice from the ‘Invoice’ window in the ‘Customers’ menu.


From the invoices dashboard, open a new invoice configuration form and proceed to edit the fields such as Customer Name and Invoice Date. The remaining fields, including Delivery Address, Due Date, Journal, etc., will be automatically populated based on the customer's information and the invoicing date.


Next, ensure that the 'Start Date' and 'End Date' fields are visible in the 'Invoice Lines' tab, typically falling within the same month as the Invoice Date.

Afterwards, you can add the invoice goods to the "Invoice Lines" tab by selecting the "Add a line" option. This action will display the journal items in the 'Journal Items' tab. Additionally, you can set any other invoice details within the 'Other Info' tab. Once all necessary information is entered, save the form data and confirm the invoice by using the 'Confirm' button.

On the day of the invoice, the amounts from the Deferred Account are transferred to the Income Account, and subsequent deferral entries are made monthly to recognize revenue.

The Generate Entries field in Odoo is automatically configured to "On invoice/bill validation" within the configuration settings. This setting prompts the generation of deferral entries, indicated by a smart button at the top of the form. Click on the 'Deferred Entries' smart button to view these entries.


​The Generate Entries field in Odoo is automatically configured to "On invoice/bill validation" within the configuration settings. This setting prompts the generation of deferral entries, indicated by a smart button at the top of the form. Click on the 'Deferred Entries' smart button to view these entries.


You have the option to select any deferred journal entries, reconcile them, and create assets using the Reconcile and Create Asset buttons. Additionally, you can utilize the 'Action' menu for tasks such as exporting, duplicating, deleting, unreconciling, and changing periods.

Reports on Deferred Revenue

Odoo offers a range of reporting tools accessible from the "Reporting" menu. Through the "Deferred Revenue" reporting window, users can access or generate reports like profit and loss statements or balance sheets to observe the influence of deferred income on financials.


Deferred revenues can be generated based on different timeframes such as Last Month, Last Quarter, Last Financial Year, This Month, This Quarter, and This Financial Year. It's important to regularly review deferred income entries to ensure accurate financial reporting. Additionally, adjustments can be made as necessary, particularly if there are changes in the expected delivery date of goods or services. This can be done using the various filtering buttons provided at the top of the page.

Utilize the 'Settings' icon located on the right side of the page to configure or generate new reports using the Deferred Revenue Reports configuration form displayed below.


Maintaining compliance with accounting standards and maintaining accurate financial documentation hinge on effective management of deferred revenue. Odoo 17's accounting module streamlines this process, providing businesses with the necessary tools to manage deferred income efficiently. By adhering to the steps outlined in this guide, businesses can ensure that their financial reports accurately reflect their revenue status, facilitating informed decision-making and robust financial management.

An Overview of the Balance Sheet Reporting Section Available in Odoo 17 Accounting