What is Telephone Expense? (2024)

What is Telephone Expense? (1)

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Telephone Expense

“Telephone Expense” refers to the cost incurred by an individual or a business for using telephone services. This expense category includes the cost of landline services, mobile phone services, and other related costs such as long-distance calls, monthly subscription fees, installation and maintenance costs, and even internet services if they are bundled with phone services. For businesses, telephone expenses are typically considered an operating expense.

In financial accounting, telephone expenses are typically reported on the income statement during the period in which they are incurred. If the business pays for future telephone services in advance, that portion might be classified as a prepaid expense on the balance sheet, and then it would be expensed on the income statement over the period the services are used.

For example, if a company pays for a one-year phone service contract upfront, it would record the entire amount as a prepaid expense initially. Then, each month, one-twelfth of that prepaid amount would be moved to the telephone expense category on the income statement, reducing the prepaid amount on the balance sheet correspondingly.

Example of Telephone Expense

Let’s delve into a simple example illustrating how “Telephone Expense” might be accounted for in a business context.

Scenario:

Imagine a small business called “EcoBoutique” which sells sustainable and eco-friendly products. EcoBoutique has both a landline for its storefront and mobile phones for its sales representatives who are often on the road.

Details for the month of January:

  • Landline bill for January: $150
  • Mobile phone bills for three sales representatives: $80 each
  • On January 15th, EcoBoutique paid $1,200 for a one-year premium package deal that includes advanced call features for their landline, working out to $100/month.

Accounting for Telephone Expense:

  • January Landline Cost: $150 (this is straightforward and is directly expensed)
  • Mobile Phone Costs: 3 reps × $80 = $240
  • Premium Package: As this is a prepaid expense for the year, the initial accounting entry in January would debit “Prepaid Telephone Expenses” for $1,200 and credit “Cash” or “Bank” for the same amount. However, for January’s actual telephone expense, only one month’s worth of the service, or $100, will be expensed. The entry would debit “Telephone Expense” for $100 and credit “Prepaid Telephone Expenses” for $100.

Total Telephone Expense for January:

= Landline Cost + Mobile Phone Costs + One month of Premium Package

= $150 + $240 + $100 = $490

So, for the month of January, EcoBoutique would report a “Telephone Expense” of $490 on its income statement. On the balance sheet, the “Prepaid Telephone Expenses” would now be $1,100 (initially $1,200 minus the $100 expensed in January).

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What is Telephone Expense? (14)

What is Telephone Expense? (2024)

FAQs

What is a telephone expense? ›

Telephone expense is the cost associated with all land lines, fax lines, and cell phones during a usage period. If a cost is incurred in advance, then it is initially recorded as a prepaid expense, and later recognized as telephone expense in the period in which the service is actually used.

What expense would a telephone bill be? ›

Miscellaneous Expense

This would include any costs associated with the phone itself, as well as any monthly service fees. This would be a reasonable categorization for a business that uses the telephone for both business and personal purposes.

Where does telephone expense go on a balance sheet? ›

Answer: The telephone expense is reported on the income statement being an expense. The statement of profit and loss considers all the income and expenses incurred during the year to determine the net income earned during the year. All the expenses reduce the net profit while the revenues increase the net profit.

Is a telephone expense a debit or credit? ›

Telephone Expense is debited and Accounts Payable is credited.

Is telephone account an expense? ›

There is a fixed rental for telephone whether you make any call or not. After the free calling limit, there will be charge per call. Therefore, telephone expenses are called as semi variable expenses.

Is telephone expense a utility? ›

Utilities: This category could cover all expenses related to the operation of the business, including electricity, water, gas, and telephone.

What type of cost is a telephone bill? ›

Telephone bills typically having a fixed rental and certain free calls, thereafter every call is chargeable. Hence this is an example of semi-variable cost.

How much can I claim for phone expenses? ›

If the phone was below $300 you can claim the business percentage of that amount as a one-off tax deduction. Or, if it was above $300, you claim the depreciation of the mobile phone over its lifespan, which the ATO states is two years from date of purchase.

Is a cell phone considered a utility? ›

A utility bill is a monthly payment due for essential services. Public utilities include electricity, water, and natural gas, waste management, recycling, and wastewater. Although some may not think of them as essential utilities, bills such as landline, cell phone and Internet services are also considered utilities.

What is a telephone bill in accounting? ›

Telephone bill is bill made for the landline phones, fax, cell phones during the business hours. The journal entry for the telephone bill is that the telephone bill is debited and the cash is credited. The telephone expense is the nominal account and so it recorded in the income statement of the organization.

How do I deduct phone expenses? ›

If you itemize deductions, the IRS allows you to claim depreciation on your phone as an "unreimbursed business expense" if you use it regularly for your job and your use is a common, accepted business practice. You could deduct unreimbursed business expenses that amount to more than 2% of your adjusted gross income.

Is telephone expense a miscellaneous expense? ›

Yes, you can categorise telephone bills as a miscellaneous expense. This includes costs associated with the phone and any monthly service fees.

What is an example of a telephone expense? ›

This expense category includes the cost of landline services, mobile phone services, and other related costs such as long-distance calls, monthly subscription fees, installation and maintenance costs, and even internet services if they are bundled with phone services.

What category is phone expense? ›

If your business views cell phones as a necessary business expense, then they would likely fall under the category of "communication expenses".

Is a cell phone bill an office expense? ›

Also, your cell phone can't be your primary residential phone. Additional cell phone charges like these are considered business expenses: Charges for business-related long-distance calls. Roaming charges related to those business calls.

Is telephone a business expense? ›

If you're self-employed and you use your cellphone for business, you can claim the business use of your phone as a tax deduction. If 30% of your time on the phone is spent on business, you could legitimately deduct 30% of your phone bill.

Is telephone expense a selling expense? ›

What Are Selling Expenses? Selling expenses include both indirect and direct business costs: Indirect selling expenses include advertising and marketing costs, the company's telephone bills and travel costs, and the salaries of its sales personnel.

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