Trading partners, such as distributors and retailers, purchase physical goods and sell them to their customers. Manufacturers may offer rebate programs to incentivize partners to purchase more and increase profits. However, the distributor or retailer can only recognize the rebate earnings once the corresponding inventory is sold to the customer.

Given the large volume of products that distributors and retailers handle, it is crucial for them to properly track their rebates as they are earned, rather than at the time of purchase.

That’s why Enable has developed an Inventory Rebate Accounting feature, a software solution that helps accurately calculate rebate in stock and rebate release which are key values for the balance sheet and P&L statements at the time of sale, instead of the time of purchase.

Inventory Rebate Accounting Example

As an operator in the auto parts distribution industry during the month of November, you have an existing rebate contract with a parts manufacturer that requires you to spend $20 million in the year to receive a 5% rebate. By November, you have reached the target spending amount and hold $3 million worth of inventory that will all earn the 5% rebate by year-end. As a result, you should value your inventory at a net amount of $2.85 million in your financial statements and recognize the rebate of $150,000 as the products are sold in the following year.

Having strong accounting controls is critical in ensuring that a business's financial picture is accurately and reliably represented. In this case, proper tracking and recognition of the rebate is essential in reflecting the true financial performance and position of the company.

Inventory Rebate Accounting: Key Inputs and Calculations

Enable’s software can utilize the same mechanisms for inventory rebate accounting as those for standard trading program. By inputting the necessary data, the platform can calculate two essential values:

1. Rebate in stock: This is the amount determined by the distributor to gauge the overall rebate that can be acknowledged on their inventory. It is also known as the inventory rebate provision.

2. Rebate release: This value is computed by the distributor to determine the earned rebate at the point of sale.

For Inventory Rebate Accounting calculations to be performed, the following inputs are necessary:

• Purchases
• Inventory Position
• Transfers ‍
• Sales
  ‍

Both rebate in stock and rebate release calculations require the loading of purchases, transfers and inventory position. Rebate release is calculated using the change in rebate in stock, rebate value of transfers and year to date rebate earnings from all purchases.

Inventory Rebate Accounting Software: Main Features and Benefits

Managing Inventory Rebate Accounting can be a complex and error-prone task, but utilizing software can provide numerous benefits. Here are some of the top advantages to consider:

• Reduce manual processes: Manual calculations and off-system processes can be time-consuming and can place a significant burden on your team. By automating the rebate calculation process, you can reduce the amount of time and effort required to manage this critical accounting function. ‍
• Eliminate miscalculations: Calculating rebates at an aggregated level can result in errors, which can have a significant impact on your financial results. With automated software, you can ensure that rebate earnings are accurately calculated and allocated to the corresponding sales. ‍
• Improve visibility: Lack of visibility into rebate earnings by location and product can lead to poor decision-making. With software, you can gain a clear view of rebate earnings and make informed decisions based on accurate data.

Main features of Inventory Rebate Accounting include:

• Ensure compliance with audit requirements by capturing rebate-in-stock and rebate release values that are released into financial statements.
• Rebate earnings calculation apportions rebate earnings to corresponding sales orders, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Inventory load and transfers supports inventory transfers from the location of the original purchase, streamlining the process of managing rebate-eligible inventory.
• Executive dashboard allows you to monitor key metrics such as total rebate-in-stock and year-to-date rebate release, giving you a clear view of your financial performance.

For a deeper dive into Inventory Rebate Accounting check out our latest blogs:

• Inventory Rebate Accounting: Understanding the Basics
• Enhancing Your Inventory Rebate Accounting Process

If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to us today for a demo!