GAO Glossary of Terms and Definitions (September 2005)

Surplus

Budget Surplus

The amount by which the government’s budget receipts exceed its budget outlays for a given period, usually a fiscal year. Sometimes a deficit is called a negative surplus and is shown in parentheses in budget tables.

Unified Surplus/Total Surplus

Used interchangeably to refer to the amount by which the sum of the government’s on-budget and off-budget receipts exceed the sum of its on-budget and off-budget outlays for a given period, usually a fiscal year. (See also Unified Deficit/Total Deficit under Deficit.)

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