The method used to account for income and expenses for tax purposes. Most taxpayers use either the cash method or an accrual method. Your accounting method is chosen when you file your first income tax return. Generally, approval is required from the Internal Revenue Service to change accounting methods after then.

The method under which income and expenses are determined for tax purposes. Major accounting methods are the cash method and the accrual method.

The method used by a business or individual to keep records. Most individuals and small businesses use the cash method, although businesses that maintain inventory are required to use the accrual method. See also "Accrual Method" or "Cash Method."

In computational complexity theory, the accounting method is a method of amortized analysis based on accounting. The accounting method often gives a more intuitive account of the amortized cost of an operation than either aggregate analysis or the potential method. Note, however, that this does not guarantee such analysis will be immediately obvious; often, choosing the correct parameters for the accounting method requires as much knowledge of the problem and the complexity bounds one is attempting to prove as the other two methods.