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Mse Module 5 Ae15 Ia1
Mse Module 5 Ae15 Ia1
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT
MODULE 5
Subject:
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Unit Accounts Receivable
Module Estimation of Doubtful Accounts
AE15-IA1 INTERMEDIATE ACCOUNTING 1 Units: 3 Page |2
Learning objectives:
1. Discuss receivables.
2. Explain how accounts receivable is to be recognized.
3. Illustrate trade discount.
4. Illustrate cash discount.
5. Distinguish gross method and net method on availing sales discount.
6. Discuss valuation of accounts receivables.
7. Explain the treatment on uncollectible accounts receivable.
8. Discuss the underlying concepts on percentage-of-sales method.
9. Discuss aging of accounts receivables.
Receivables
Receivables are classified as accounts receivable and notes receivables. These are further re-
classified as trade and non-trade receivables. Trade receivables pertains to the normal business
transaction while non-trade receivables is not related to normal business operation.
Accounts Receivable
Receivables are claims held against customers and others for money, goods, or services. For
financial statement purposes, companies classify receivables as either current (short-term) or
noncurrent (long-term).
Accounts receivable are oral promises of the purchaser to pay for goods and services sold. They
represent “open accounts” resulting from short-term extensions of credit. A company normally collects
them within 30 to 60 days.
Notes receivable
Notes receivable are written promises to pay a certain sum of money on a specified future date.
They may arise from sales, financing, or other transactions. Notes may be short-term or long-term.
Trade Discount
Prices may be subject to a trade or quantity discount. Companies use such trade discounts to
avoid frequent changes in catalogs, to alter prices for different quantities purchased, or to hide the true
invoice price from competitors.
Trade discounts are commonly quoted in percentages. For example, say your cell phone has a
list price of $90, and the manufacturer sells it to Best Buy for list less a 30 percent trade discount. The
manufacturer then records the receivable at $63 per phone.
Computation: $90 – (90x30%0) = $63
The manufacturer, per normal practice, simply deducts the trade discount from the list price and
bills the customer net.
As another example, Maxwell House at one time sold a 10-ounce jar of its instant coffee listing
at $5.85 to supermarkets for $5.05, a trade discount of approximately 14 percent. Computation: 5.85-
(5.85x.86)=5.031 nearest answer.
The supermarkets in turn sold the instant coffee for $5.20 per jar. Maxwell House records the
receivable and related sales revenue at $5.05 per jar, not $5.85.
Some contend that sales discounts not taken reflect penalties added to an established price to
encourage prompt payment. That is, the seller offers sales on account at a slightly higher price than if
selling for cash. The cash discount offered offsets the increase.
Thus, customers who pay within the discount period actually purchase at the cash price. Those
who pay after expiration of the discount period pay a penalty for the delay—an amount in excess of the
cash price. Per this reasoning, some companies record sales and receivables net. They subsequently
debit any discounts not taken to Accounts Receivable and credit to Sales Discounts Forfeited.
Illustration showing the difference between the gross and net methods to avail the sales
discount.
1) Sales of $10,000, terms 2/10, n/30 1) Sales of $10,000, terms 2/10, n/30
3) Payment on $6,000 of sales received after 3) Payment on $6,000 of sales received after
discount period discount period
If using the gross method, a company reports sales discounts as a deduction from sales in the
income statement. Proper expense recognition dictates that the company also reasonably estimates the
expected discounts to be taken and charges that amount against sales. If using the net method, a
company considers Sales Discounts Forfeited as an “Other revenue” item.
Theoretically, the recognition of Sales Discounts Forfeited is correct. The receivable is stated
closer to its realizable value, and the net sales figure measures the revenue recognized from the sale. As
a practical matter, however, companies seldom use the net method because it requires additional
analysis and bookkeeping. For example, the net method requires adjusting entries to record sales
discounts forfeited on accounts receivable that have passed the discount period.
Reporting of receivables involves (1) classification and (2) valuation on the balance sheet.
Classification involves determining the length of time each receivable will be outstanding.
Companies classify receivables intended to be collected within a year or the operating cycle, whichever
is longer, as current. All other receivables are classified as long-term.
Companies value and report short-term receivables at net realizable value—the net amount
they expect to receive in cash. Determining net realizable value requires estimating both uncollectible
receivables and any returns or allowances to be granted.
As one revered accountant aptly noted, the credit manager’s idea of heaven probably would be
a place where everyone (eventually) paid his or her debts.
Unfortunately, this situation often does not occur. For example, a customer may not be able to
pay because of a decline in its sales revenue due to a downturn in the economy. Similarly, individuals
may be laid off from their jobs or faced with unexpected hospital bills.
Companies record credit losses as debits to Bad Debt Expense (or Uncollectible Accounts
Expense). Such losses are a normal and necessary risk of doing business on a credit basis.
Two methods are used in accounting for uncollectible accounts:
(1) the direct writeoff method and
(2) the allowance method.
Under the direct write-off method, when a company determines a particular account to be
uncollectible, it charges the loss to Bad Debt Expense.
Assume, for example, that on December 10 Cruz Co. writes off as uncollectible Yusado’s $8,000
balance. The entry is:
Under this method, Bad Debt Expense will show only actual losses from uncollectibles. The
company will report accounts receivable at its gross amount.
Supporters of the direct write-off-method (which is often used for tax purposes) contend that it
records facts, not estimates. It assumes that a good account receivable resulted from each sale, and that
later events revealed certain accounts to be uncollectible and worthless.
From a practical standpoint, this method is simple and convenient to apply. But the direct write-
off method is theoretically deficient. It usually fails to record expenses in the same period as associated
revenues. Nor does it result in receivables being stated at net realizable value on the balance sheet.
As a result, using the direct write-off method is not considered appropriate, except when the
amount uncollectible is immaterial.
The allowance method of accounting for bad debts involves estimating uncollectible accounts at
the end of each period. This ensures that companies state receivables on the balance sheet at their net
realizable value. Net realizable value is the net amount the company expects to receive in cash.
The FASB considers the collectibility of receivables a loss contingency. Thus, the allowance
method is appropriate in situations where it is probable that an asset has been impaired and that the
amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.
Although estimates are involved, companies can predict the percentage of uncollectible
receivables from past experiences, present market conditions, and an analysis of the outstanding
balances. Many companies set their credit policies to provide for a certain percentage of uncollectible
accounts. (In fact, many feel that failure to reach that percentage means that they are losing sales due
to overly restrictive credit policies.)
Thus, the FASB requires the allowance method for financial reporting purposes when bad debts
are material in amount. This method has three essential features:
1. Companies estimate uncollectible accounts receivable. They match this estimated expense
against revenues in the same accounting period in which they record the revenues.
2. Companies debit estimated uncollectibles to Bad Debt Expense and credit them to Allowance
for Doubtful Accounts (a contra asset account) through an adjusting entry at the end of each period.
3. When companies write off a specific account, they debit actual uncollectibles to Allowance for
Doubtful Accounts and credit that amount to Accounts Receivable.
To illustrate the allowance method, assume that Brown Furniture has credit sales of $1,800,000
in 2014. Of this amount, $150,000 remains uncollected at December 31. The credit manager estimates
that $10,000 of these sales will be uncollectible.
The adjusting entry to record the estimated uncollectibles is:
December 31, 2014 Bad Debt Expense 10,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 10,000
(To record estimate of uncollectible accounts)
Brown reports Bad Debt Expense in the income statement as an operating expense. Thus, the
estimated uncollectibles are matched with sales in 2014. Brown records the expense in the same year it
made the sales.
The illustration below shows that the company deducts the allowance account from accounts
receivable in the current assets section of the balance sheet.
BROWN FURNITURE
BALANCE SHEET (PARTIAL)
Current assets
Cash $ 15,000
Accounts receivable $150,000
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts 10,000 140,000
Inventory 300,000
Prepaid insurance 25,000
Total current assets $480,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts shows the estimated amount of claims on customers that the
company expects will become uncollectible in the future.
Companies use a contra account instead of a direct credit to Accounts Receivable because they
do not know which customers will not pay. The credit balance in the allowance account will absorb the
specific write-offs when they occur. The amount of $140,000 represents the net realizable value of the
accounts receivable at the statement date.
Companies do not close Allowance for Doubtful Accounts at the end of the fiscal year.
When companies have exhausted all means of collecting a past-due account and collection
appears impossible, the company should write off the account. In the credit card industry, for example,
it is standard practice to write off accounts that are 210 days past due.
To illustrate a receivables write-off, assume that the financial vice president of Brown Furniture
authorizes a write-off of the $1,000 balance owed by Randall Co. on March 1, 2015. The entry to record
the write-off is:
March 1, 2015 Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 1,000
Accounts Receivable (Randall Co.) 1,000
(Write-off of Randall Co. account)
Bad Debt Expense does not increase when the write-off occurs. Under the allowance method,
companies debit every bad debt write-off to the allowance account rather than to Bad Debt Expense.
A debit to Bad Debt Expense would be incorrect because the company has already recognized
the expense when it made the adjusting entry for estimated bad debts. Instead, the entry to record the
write-off of an uncollectible account reduces both Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful
Accounts.
To illustrate, assume that on July 1, 2015, Randall Co. pays the $1,000 amount that Brown had
written off on March 1. These are the entries:
July 1, 2015 Accounts Receivable (Randall Co.) 1,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 1,000
(To reverse write-off of account)
Cash 1,000
Accounts Receivable (Randall Co.) 1,000
(Collection of account)
Note that the recovery of a bad debt, like the write-off of a bad debt, affects only balance sheet
accounts. The net effect of the two entries above is a debit to Cash and a credit to Allowance for
Doubtful Accounts for $1,000.
To simplify the preceding explanation, we assumed we knew the amount of the expected
uncollectibles. In “real life,” companies must estimate that amount when they use the allowance
method.
Two bases are used to determine this amount:
(1) percentage of sales and
(2) percentage of receivables.
Both bases are generally accepted. The choice is a management decision. It depends on the
relative emphasis that management wishes to give to expenses and revenues on the one hand or to net
realizable value of the accounts receivable on the other. The choice is whether to emphasize income
statement or balance sheet relationships.
Underlying Concepts
The percentage-of-sales method illustrates the expense recognition principle, which relates
expenses to revenues recognized
After the adjusting entry is posted, assuming the allowance account already has a credit balance
of $1,723, the accounts of Gonzalez Company will show the following:
The amount of bad debt expense and the related credit to the allowance account are unaffected
by any balance currently existing in the allowance account. Because the bad debt expense estimate is
related to a nominal account (Sales Revenue), any balance in the allowance is ignored.
Therefore, the percentage-of-sales method achieves a proper matching of cost and revenues.
This method is frequently referred to as the income statement approach.
Companies may apply this method using one composite rate that reflects an estimate of the
uncollectible receivables. Or, companies may set up an aging schedule of accounts receivable, which
applies a different percentage based on past experience to the various age categories.
An aging schedule also identifies which accounts require special attention by indicating the
extent to which certain accounts are past due.
Summary
Percentage Required
Estimated Balance in
Age Amount
to Be Allowanc
Uncollectible e
Under 60 days old $460,000 4% $18,400
60–90 days old 18,000 15% 2,700
91–120 days old 14,000 20% 2,800
Over 120 days 55,000 25% 13,750
$547,000 $37,650
Year-end balance of allowance for doubtful accounts
Wilson reports bad debt expense of $37,650 for this year, assuming that no balance existed in
the allowance account.
To change the illustration slightly, assume that the allowance account had a credit balance of
$800 before adjustment. In this case, Wilson adds $36,850 ($37,650 2 $800) to the allowance account
and makes the following entry.
Bad Debt Expense 36,850
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 36,850
Wilson therefore states the balance in the allowance account at $37,650. If the Allowance for
Doubtful Accounts balance before adjustment had a debit balance of $200, then Wilson records bad
debt expense of $37,850 ($37,650 desired balance 1 $200 debit balance). In the percentage-of-
receivables method, Wilson cannot ignore the balance in the allowance account because the percentage
is related to a real account (Accounts Receivable).
Companies usually do not prepare an aging schedule to determine bad debt expense. Rather,
they prepare it as a control device to determine the composition of receivables and to identify
delinquent accounts. Companies base the estimated loss percentage developed for each category on
previous loss experience and the advice of credit department personnel.
Whether using a composite rate or an aging schedule, the primary objective of the percentage
of outstanding receivables method for financial statement purposes is to report receivables in the
balance sheet at net realizable value.
However, it is deficient in that it may not match the bad debt expense to the period in which
the sale takes place.
The allowance for doubtful accounts as a percentage of receivables will vary, depending on the
industry and the economic climate.
References:
1. Kieso, D.E.,Weygandt,J.J, et al (2013). Intermediate Accounting Fifteenth Edition, John Wiley &
Sons, Inc., @gustpdf.
https://www.academia.edu/28943542/Intermediate_Accounting_15th_Edition_by_Donald_E_Ki
eso_and_Others_paper_132_140
1. Restin Co. uses the gross method to record sales made on credit. On
June 1, 2014, it made sales of $50,000 with terms 3/15, n/45. On June
12, 2014, Restin received full payment for the June 1 sale.
What is the required journal entries for Restin Co.
2. Use the information from Question 1, assuming Restin Co. uses the net
method to account for cash discounts.
What is the required journal entries for Restin Co.
3. Wilton, Inc. had net sales in 2014 of $1,400,000. At December 31, 2014,
before adjusting entries, the balances in selected accounts were:
Accounts Receivable $250,000 debit, and Allowance for Doubtful
Accounts $2,400 credit.
If Wilton estimates that 2% of its net sales will prove to be uncollectible,
what is the journal entry to record bad debt expense on December 31,
2014
1. .
2. .
3. .