Put simply, on-balance sheet items are items that are recorded on a company's balance sheet. Off-balance sheet items are not recorded on a company's balance sheet. (On) Balance sheet items are considered assets or liabilities of a company, and can affect the financial overview of the business.

What does obs mean in accounting?

Off-balance sheet (OBS) items is a term for assets or liabilities that do not appear on a company's balance sheet. Although not recorded on the balance sheet, they are still assets and liabilities of the company. Off-balance sheet items are typically those not owned by or are a direct obligation of the company.

What is an off-balance?

1 : not well proportioned : out of balance the plans are off-balance their military is off-balance. 2 : not standing, sitting, or resting in normal physical equilibrium caught off-balance and knocked down— Jack Dempsey.