Restricted cash definition

What is Restricted Cash?

Restricted cash is a designation placed on a certain amount of cash by the board of directors. This restriction is intended to keep those funds from being used for general operating activities. Instead, the designated funds are reserved for a specific purpose, such as paying for a constructed asset, a dividend payment, a bond payment, or an anticipated payout resulting from a lawsuit. It is not necessary to maintain restricted cash in a separate bank account; the restriction is only within the accounting records of the reporting entity.

It is possible that a designated amount of restricted cash will eventually be returned to an organization’s general cash reserves. This action depends on the outcome of the underlying transaction. For example, a reserve of $10 million to pay for a constructed asset results in a return of $400,000 of cash that was not needed for the construction project. As another example, a reserve of $2 million to pay for an expected adverse outcome to a lawsuit is returned to the general fund when the company unexpectedly wins the lawsuit.

Presentation of Restricted Cash

The amount of any cash restrictions and the reasons for them are stated either in the financial statements of an organization, or in the accompanying footnotes. If restricted funds are to be used within one year, they are classified as current assets. Otherwise, they are classified as long-term assets.