When is a warranty considered a separate performance obligation?

A warranty is considered a separate performance obligation when it provides an additional service that the customer would not otherwise receive with the standard product. When a warranty is optional, it implies that the customer can choose to purchase it, adding extra value beyond the basic product. This additional service is treated as a separate performance obligation under the revenue recognition principle, requiring companies to account for the warranty separately from the sale of the product itself.

In scenarios where the warranty is included automatically with the sale, or guarantees that the product meets certain specifications, it typically does not qualify as a separate performance obligation, as these aspects are seen as intrinsic to the product's sale and do not provide additional services. If a warranty is offered only to certain customers, it doesn't inherently change its nature as part of the product's sale or service—it's the optionality and added service aspect that solidifies it as a distinct performance obligation.