# Understanding IOUs: Definition, Function, and Practical Examples

## What Is an IOU?

An IOU, derived from the phonetic sound of "I owe you," is a written acknowledgment of a debt between parties. Originating as far back as the 18th century, IOUs remain widely utilized today as a less formal alternative to legally binding contracts. While they serve to document debt, their informal nature often leaves them open to interpretation and lacks the enforceability of formal agreements. Businesses and individuals frequently use IOUs as a precursor to more detailed contracts.

### Key Takeaways

###   

*   An IOU is an informal document acknowledging a debt, often lacking specifics like repayment terms, making it less enforceable in court compared to more formal agreements.
*   Typically used between individuals or businesses with ongoing relationships, IOUs serve as a memorandum of intent to repay loans for goods or services in the future.
*   While IOUs can be legally introduced in court, their binding nature is debated, with enforceability largely hinging on the level of detail and formalization of the document.
*   Promissory notes are similar to IOUs but offer more specifics, such as interest rates and repayment schedules, making them more formal and enforceable.

![IOU](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/ryt6_tOMBJ5Yzo1T2BeHBF6W3_E=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/iou.asp-final-5b81460ada894e64b9ccc32b32b35d3c.png)

*— Investopedia / Jessica Olah*

## The Functioning Process of IOUs

Typically, IOUs are produced on the spur of the moment—towards the end of a business meeting, for example—as a sort of memorandum of intent. They are often followed by a formal agreement or contract.

An IOU lacks a standard format, but should include basic details like the date, amount, repayment date, involved parties, and borrower's signature. Details like interest, payment type, and nonpayment consequences often aren't included.

Due to its informal nature, an IOU may not be legally binding or hold significant weight in court. As a result, legal remedies for nonpayment may be harder to enforce with IOUs than they would be with more formal agreements that deal with debt, such as a promissory note or a bond indenture.

Because of this uncertainty, an IOU is not usually a negotiable instrument and cannot be sold, transferred, or traded. Downloadable templates are available to help create detailed IOUs, potentially making them more enforceable in court.

## Practical Example of an IOU

Say Smithco Bricks places an order for [raw materials](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rawmaterials.asp) and does not have enough cash to pay for the entire order when it is delivered. Instead, it pays a down payment and issues an IOU, promising to pay for the rest of the raw materials within 30 days with or without interest. Assuming that Smithco has an ongoing business relationship with the supplier, this might be quite acceptable to both parties.

> **Important**
>
> IOU is often used in other contexts, like describing bond issues or accounts receivable.

## Special Considerations

A bookkeeper might record an outstanding debt as an IOU, which counts as an accounts receivable asset on the balance sheet, depending on the time frame:

*   If the money is due in one year or less, the IOU is recorded as a current asset.
*   If the payment is due more than a year down the road, it is recorded as a long-term asset.

## Comparing IOUs and Promissory Notes

IOUs have a lot in common with [promissory notes](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/promissorynote.asp). Both are written financial agreements that deal with debt—specifically, the promise of one party to repay another a certain sum, on or by a certain date.

The key difference is that the promissory note is more formal and complete than the IOU. It not only provides a due date for the debt to be repaid, but it also usually outlines other repayment details, including the interest rate of the loan, payment schedule, size of repayments, and often penalties for late or non-payment. The term "promissory note" must appear in the contents. The note is signed by both parties (lender and borrower), and often witnessed and notarized as well.

In short, promissory notes are more specific and serious than IOUs. Though still not as formal (and enforceable) as a loan agreement or contract, they tend to stand up better in court. In fact, promissory notes often accompany mortgage agreements or student loan agreements—it's the signing of this note that obligates the borrower to repay.

If the terms are unconditional enough, promissory notes may be used as negotiable instruments.

> **Warning**
>
> Issuers of promissory notes should know: When it comes to filing a lawsuit for nonpayment, a promissory note is subject to the statute of limitations set by the local state on such agreements. Statutes of limitations can range from three to 15 years; the clock starts ticking from the date of the first breach. However, some courts have ruled that, within a note, each missed payment has its own statute of limitations starting on the date the specific payment became past due.

## How Do I Write an IOU?

IOUs can take many shapes and forms. They can be typed or handwritten, drawn up by either party, and appear on any sort of document—including the proverbial cocktail napkin.

At a bare minimum, an IOU should include the borrower's name, the lender's name, the amount of the debt, the current date, the date the debt is due, and the borrower's signature. In addition, it's recommended that IOUs contain:

*   How the debt is to be repaid (lump sum or installments)
*   A repayment schedule (size and frequency of payments, if in installments)
*   Whether interest is charged, and if so, at what rate
*   A guarantor for the debt, if any
*   The state whose laws govern the agreement
*   Signature of the lender

Increasingly, there are IOU forms and templates that can be accessed online.

## What Is an IOU in Finance?

An IOU is a written, but largely informal, acknowledgement that a debt exists between two parties, and the amount the borrower owes the lender. Signed by the borrower, it often indicates a date for repayment of the debt, but often omits other specifics, like the payment schedule or any interest charged. It can't be sold or transferred to another party and offers the lender little legal recourse if it is not honored by the borrower.

## What Is an Example of an IOU?

Amanda T.'s close friend Karen P. needs $1,500 in cash for a security deposit on a new apartment. She needs to put the money down right away, but won't have that sum available for another few months. Amanda wants to help Karen out, but also wants to have written evidence of the loan she's made to her friend.

Amanda types up a document that stipulates Karen owes her, Amanda T., $1,500, and that Karen will repay that sum on April 1, 2025—three months from the current date. Karen signs the document. In so doing, Karen officially gives Amanda an IOU for the $1,500 she has borrowed.

## Is an IOU a Legal Document?

An IOU is a legal document that can be introduced in a court of law—although whether it is binding is open to dispute. Some authorities feel an IOU isn't binding at all; it's merely the acknowledgement that a debt exists. Others feel it is binding, though whether it can actually be enforced is a different story.

Basically, the more detailed the IOU, the more likely it is to be enforceable. The fewer specifics an IOU has, the harder it is for a court to determine the obligations and rights of the principals involved in the IOU—or perhaps even who they are.

## Does an IOU Need to Be Notarized?

An IOU doesn't have to be notarized. However, some legal authorities feel that having a notary affix their seal to an IOU makes it more official, and thus more likely to be enforceable. Certainly, it formalizes the agreement, indicating a third party witnessed it—making it more likely that the lender would prevail in court, should a dispute over nonpayment occur. Notarizing an IOU makes it closer to a promissory note, a more official (and binding) document.

## The Bottom Line

An IOU is a written, but relatively informal, contract between two parties that records a debt and an agreement to repay it. It outlines the basics of the arrangement, but often little else, such as the terms or repayment schedule of the loan. For that reason, it is not as binding or enforceable as more official contracts that have specifications and are witnessed and/or notarized.

IOUs are often for small sums and between individuals. However, they can be used by businesses as well, often between two firms that have regular, ongoing relationships, like vendors and suppliers. In effect, the company issuing an IOU is taking out a short-term loan or buying on credit, promising to pay in full for goods or services later on, instead of right away.

A firm's accountants may enter any sort of outstanding debt as an IOU. In fact, some bookkeeping systems record any accounts receivable as IOUs.

> **Article Sources**
>
> 1.  Tomlinson Bomsztyk Russ. "[Appellate Court Affirms Calculation of Statue of Limitation on Promissory Notes](https://www.tbr-law.com/appellate-court-reaffirms-calculation-of-statute-of-limitations-on-promissory-notes)."