Allocating Discounts

In step four of the ASC 606 revenue model, entities are required to allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract. The transaction price is generally allocated according to the relative standalone selling price method. (For an example of applying this method, see Standalone Selling Prices. The standard includes two exceptions to the relative standalone selling price method: allocating discounts and allocating variable consideration.

This article explores the process of allocating discounts, how to correctly allocate discounts to the transaction price, and diversity in thought. For an in-depth discussion of the second exception, please see Allocating Variable Consideration.

How To

In many transactions, goods or services are bundled together and sold at a lower price than the respective standalone selling prices of the items. These discounts may be variable, contingent upon the customer meeting specified performance thresholds, or fixed amounts granted at contract inception.

Variable Discounts

ASC 606-10-32-41 establishes a hierarchy for allocating variable consideration. As a result, variable discounts are generally evaluated under the guidance for allocating variable consideration. Under this guidance, any form of variable consideration, including variable discounts, is first assessed to determine whether it should be allocated to a specific performance obligation. If, under the variable consideration guidance, the variable discount does not meet the criteria necessary to be allocated to a specific performance obligation in the contract, then the discount is subject to the guidance on allocating discounts. A comprehensive discussion of the guidance on allocating variable consideration is available in Allocating Variable Consideration.

Fixed Discounts

Generally, discounts are allocated to all the performance obligations in the contract using the relative standalone selling price method unless there is observable evidence that the discount relates to only one or more, but not all, of the performance obligations. The discount should be allocated to one or more, but not all, of the performance obligations if the following criteria are met:

All goods or services are regularly sold separately or as part of bundles on a standalone basis.
The entity also regularly sells the separately sold good, service, or bundle at a discount.
The normal discount of the separately sold good, service, or bundle is substantially the same as the overall discount offered in the contract.

Discounts should be allocated to the transaction price before applying the residual approach. The following examples provide an illustration of how to allocate discounts to the transaction price.

Example

An entity enters into a contract to sell customer U a television, home-entertainment center, and stereo system for a price of $1,000. The standalone selling prices of each item are $600, $300, and $200, respectively. The customer receives a $100 discount for purchasing the items as a bundle. The television and home-entertainment system will be delivered in one month, while the stereo system will be taken home by the customer today.

The entity regularly sells the television in a bundle with the home-entertainment center at a discount of $800. The stereo system is rarely bundled with either of the other two items at a discount. Under these circumstances, the entity has observable evidence that the discount should be applied entirely to the television and the home-entertainment center. The discounted price ($800) is allocated to the television and home-entertainment center according to their standalone selling prices as follows:

Item Sold	Standalone Selling Price	Discounted Price Allocation
Television	$600	(600/900)*800 = $533
Home-Entertainment Center	$300	(300/900)*800 = $267
Totals	$900	$800

The total transaction price would be allocated as follows:

Television	$533
Home-Entertainment Center	$267
Stereo System	$200
Total Transaction Price	$1,000

If the stereo system was regularly sold in a bundle with either the television or the home-entertainment center, the discount should be allocated to all three products because there is no observable evidence that the discount is entirely attributable to one of the products or bundles.

Diversity in Thought

While accounting for discounts appears to be a straightforward process, a few issues could potentially lead to diversity in practice.

Issue 1

In transactions that involve a large number of goods or services, there can be multiple combinations of those goods or services that are regularly sold as bundles at a discount. Conflicting viewpoints have been addressed as to whether the discount can be applied to specific performance obligations in these situations.

View A

When multiple combinations of goods or services are possible in a contract, the discount should be allocated to all of the performance obligations. When multiple bundles are regularly sold at a discount, the discount in the transaction could stem from more than one of these bundles and therefore should be allocated evenly across all performance obligations.

View B

When multiple combinations of goods or services are possible in a contract, the discount should be allocated to one or more, but not all of the performance obligations, if any of the bundles regularly provide a similar discount. The discount offered in the transaction should only be allocated to the bundle that is regularly sold at a similar discount.

It seems that the guidance is written to ensure that the discount is applied to the products that are regularly sold as bundles at a similar discount. Consistent with this objective, the entity should perform a thorough analysis to assess whether the transaction-level discount is representative of discounts regularly provided for similar bundles, including combinations of discounts observed across separate contracts. If the discount is representative, it should be allocated to the relevant performance obligations; if not, it should be allocated to all performance obligations on a relative basis.

Issue 2

The standard requires that a bundle of goods or services be “regularly sold” on a stand-alone basis. The term “regularly sold” is ambiguous and will require management to exercise judgment to determine what meets that definition. Companies will need to establish an internal policy with clear guidelines on how they determine what constitutes a good or service being “regularly sold” on a standalone basis. This policy will need to be applied consistently for each bundle.

Conclusion

Discounts are generally allocated to all performance obligations according to relative standalone selling prices. The revenue standard also provides three criteria to determine if the discount may be allocated to one or more, but not all, of the performance obligations. If the three criteria are met, the discount may be allocated to specific performance obligations rather than to all the performance obligations.

Editor’s Note

This article reflects guidance under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as currently codified, including subsequent amendments. The concepts discussed remain relevant as ASC 606 has not undergone substantive changes regarding the allocation of discounts.

Resources Consulted

ASC 606-10-32-36 to 32-38
EY, Financial Reporting Developments: "Revenue from contracts with customers." August 2025. Section 6.4.
FASB TRG Memo 31: "Variable Discounts." March 2015.
KPMG, “Revenue Recognition.” December 2025. Section 6.5.
PWC, “Revenue From Contracts With Customers.” January 2026. Section 5.4. Section 5.4.