rebates are very common in US. number 1 reason for rebates is to fool investors and meet Wall Street expectations (by revenue) . Where the FULL sale price is recorded under (total sales). And rebates are recorded under (write-offs, expenses, … )
Interesting way of accounting !
The German accounting system is IMO the best there is - although I'm not too enchanted with the German tendancy to complicate matters - as in rediculous burocracy.
The "account-names" in "German double-bookkeeping" are very finely divided. For example, if you give a customer discounts, these are booked to a special "Sachkonto" which describes exactly this ( "discount on customer revenue" ) and appear as a negative on the revenue account - which is the way it should be.
Such activities are not write-offs and IMO should appear as described above.
In the same way, discounts on "costs" ( like buying-in equipment ) are booked onto a seperate account - also correct.
I didn't know that these were booked as write-offs in the US !
Gives a wrong picture of revenue as you say !
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