liability

Liability

A legal debt or obligation estimated via accrual accounting.

Notes:

Recorded on the balance sheet, liabilities include loans, accounts payable, mortgages, deferred revenues, and accrued expenses. For example, the unpaid value of a mortgage or outstanding money owed to suppliers would be considered a liability. Current liabilities are debts payable within one year, while long-term liabilities are debts payable over a longer period.

See also: Asset, Balance Sheet, Current Liability, Debt

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Liability

A financial obligation, or the cash outlay that must be made at a specific time to satisfy the contractual terms of such an obligation.

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liability

An obligation to pay an amount in money, goods, or services to another party. The balance sheet lists the liabilities. Also called debt. Compare asset. See also contingent liability, current liability.