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Business wiki · Accounting and business finance

Accounts payable

Amounts a business owes suppliers for goods or services received on credit.

Search terms: AP creditors trade payables

A business example

A retailer receives a ₹70,000 supplier invoice and pays ₹25,000 against it.

Worked calculationFictional business scenario
  1. Supplier invoice

    ₹70,000 is recorded as payable for goods received.

  2. Part payment

    The ₹25,000 payment reduces the supplier balance.

  3. Balance due

    ₹45,000 remains payable under the agreed terms.

What this shows

The unpaid balance is a liability even though some cash has already left the bank. The example excludes tax and other adjustments.

What it is often confused with

A payable is different from a purchase order for goods that have not yet been received.

What to look at in your business

Match supplier statements, invoices, receipt evidence and payment records.

Context and further reading

This entry explains the business term. The related guide below provides the next layer of context; any applicable legal test depends on the transaction and relevant period.

Accounting and finance →

Related terms

Working capital

The operating funding tied up in items such as receivables, inventory and payables.

Cash flow

The movement of money into and out of a business over a period.