Is the balance on a credit card a liability or an expense?

The balance on a credit card is considered a liability because it represents money that you owe to the credit card issuer. It reflects the total amount of credit used but not yet paid back. In contrast, an expense is a cost incurred for goods or services consumed, which affects your income statement. Therefore, while the credit card balance may stem from expenses, the balance itself is classified as a liability on the balance sheet.