Are unfavorable variances credits or debits?

Answer 1

For most accounting entities in the United States, variances are neither debits nor credits, because variances are not recorded on the books of a business. A variance is simply the difference between what we expected the business to earn or spend and what it actually did earn or spend. Only the things that actually did happen are recorded on the books. But the amount we had expected to earn at the beginning of the year can be found in the budgets, forecasts or plans we created for the year when we set up budgets for the year. The difference between what we budgeted for and what actually happened is called the variance from budget. For example, if at the beginning of 2008, we projected that we would have total sales of $5 million dollars for the entire year, but twelve months later, we found that we had had only $4 million in sales in 2008, there is a variance of $1 million dollars, and it is unfavorable, because we actually had less sales revenue than we thought we would earn at the beginning of the year. But if our actual sales for 2008 totalled $6 million, the variance would still be $1 million, but it would be a favorable variance, because we made $1 million more in sales ($6 million) than we originally thought we would (5% million). If actual expenses are higher than the budgeted amount, the difference between the two amounts is an unfavorable variance, because we spent over budget, which reduces our profits. However, if actual expenses are lower than the budgeted amount, the difference is a favorable variance, because we were able to spend less than we thought we would have to, and our profits would be higher.