What is the main advantage of the allowance method of handling uncollectible accounts over the direct method?
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An allowance for doubtful accounts is considered a “contra asset,” because it reduces the amount of an asset, in this case the accounts receivable. The allowance, sometimes called a bad debt reserve, represents management’s estimate of the amount of accounts receivable that will not be paid by customers. If actual experience differs, then management adjusts its estimation methodology to bring the reserve more into alignment with actual results. Show
In accrual-basis accounting, recording the allowance for doubtful accounts at the same time as the sale improves the accuracy of financial reports. The projected bad debt expense is properly matched against the related sale, thereby providing a more accurate view of revenue and expenses for a specific period of time. In addition, this accounting process prevents the large swings in operating results when uncollectible accounts are written off directly as bad debt expenses. Units should consider using an allowance for doubtful accounts when they are regularly providing goods or services “on credit” and have experience with the collectability of those accounts. The following entry should be done in accordance with your revenue and reporting cycles (recording the expense in the same reporting period as the revenue is earned), but at a minimum, annually. DR Bad Debt Expense CR Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
When it is determined that an account cannot be collected, the receivable balance should be written off. When the unit maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, the write-off reduces the outstanding accounts receivable, and is charged against the allowance – do not record bad debt expense again! DR Allowance for Doubtful Accounts CR Accounts Receivable For detailed expectations and guidelines related to write offs, see Writing Off Uncollectable Receivables. What is the Direct write-off method?The Direct Write-off method is a process of booking the unrecoverable part of receivables that are no longer collectible by removing that part from the books of accounts without prior booking for the provisions of bad-debts expenses. In other words, it can be said that whenever a receivable is considered to be unrecoverable, this method fully allows them to book those receivables as an expense without using an allowance account. You are free to use this image on your website, templates, etc, Please provide us with an attribution linkArticle Link to be Hyperlinked Bad Debts Expenses for the amount determined will not be paid directly charged to the profit and loss account under this method. The direct write-off method is used only when it is inevitable that a customer will not pay. There is no recording of the estimates or use of allowance for the doubtful accounts under the write-offWrite off is the reduction in the value of the assets that were present in the books of accounts of the company on a particular period of time and are recorded as the accounting expense against the payment not received or the losses on the assets.read more methods. The following entry should be passed:-  The write off amount is debited as the expense in the period approved to write off in the income statementThe income statement is one of the company's financial reports that summarizes all of the company's revenues and expenses over time in order to determine the company's profit or loss and measure its business activity over time based on user requirements.read more. It does not affect the sales performance of the entity in the current period and the previous period. It affects only the bottom lineThe bottom line refers to the net earnings or profit a company generates from its business operations in a particular accounting period that appears at the end of the income statement. A company adopts strategies to reduce costs or raise income to improve its bottom line. read more of income in the current period. It is because the expenses are recognized in this period. It is probably against the matching principlesThe Matching Principle of Accounting provides accounting guidance, stating that all expenses should be recognized in the income statement of the period in which the revenue related to that expense is earned. This means that, regardless of when the actual transaction is made, the expenses that are entered into the debit side of the accounts should have a corresponding credit entry in the same period.read more. Examples of Direct Write-Off MethodExample #1Assume Natalie owns a shop of confectionery. Natalie has many customers who purchase goods from her on credit and pay. One of her customers purchased products worth $ 1,500 a year ago, and Natalie still hasn’t been able to collect the payment. After trying to contact the customer a number of times, Natalie finally decides that she will never be able to recover this $ 1,500 and decides to write off the balance from such a customer. Using the direct write-off method, Natalie would debit the bad debts expenses account by $ 1,500 and credit the accounts receivable account with the same amount. Example #2An accounting firm prepares a company’s financial statementsFinancial statements are written reports prepared by a company's management to present the company's financial affairs over a given period (quarter, six monthly or yearly). These statements, which include the Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flows, and Shareholders Equity Statement, must be prepared in accordance with prescribed and standardized accounting standards to ensure uniformity in reporting at all levels.read more as per the laws in force and hands over the Financial Statements to its directors in return for a Remuneration of $ 5,000. The remuneration has been outstanding for a year now. The firm is taking regular follow-ups with the Company’s directors, to which the directors are not responding. The firm then debits the Bad Debts Expenses for $ 5,000 and credits the Accounts Receivables for $ 5,000. The firm partners decide to write off these receivables of $ 5,000 as Bad Debts are not recoverable. Advantages
Disadvantages
Reasons Why Direct Write-off Method is not preferred in the Accounting Profession?
ConclusionThe direct write-off method is the simplest method to book and record the loss on account of uncollectible receivables, but it is not according to the accounting principles. It also ensures that the loss booked is based on actual figures and not on appropriation. But it violates the accounting principlesAccounting principles are the set guidelines and rules issued by accounting standards like GAAP and IFRS for the companies to follow while recording and presenting the financial information in the books of accounts.read more, GAAP, matching concepts, and a true and fair view of the Financial Statements. Seeing and considering all these points, it is concluded that only being a simple method to record the transaction is not the requirement of an accounting transactionAccounting Transactions are business activities which have a direct monetary effect on the finances of a Company. For example, Apple representing nearly $200 billion in cash & cash equivalents in its balance sheet is an accounting transaction. read more. It must be within the rules and laws framed by the bodies for an accounting of transactions so that a true and correct picture of the Financial Statements can be shown to the stakeholder of the entity. Therefore it is not advised to use the Direct Write-off Method to book for the uncollectible receivables. Instead, the company should look for other methods such as appropriation and allowance for booking bad debts for its receivables. Recommended ArticlesThis has been a guide to what is the Direct Write-off Method. Here we discuss how it works, examples, advantages, disadvantages, etc. You can learn more about accounting from the following articles –
What is the main advantage of the allowance method of handling uncollectible accounts over the direct method apex?The advantage of the allowance method of accounting for uncollectible accounts is that it identifies the specific customers who do not pay their bills.
What is the main advantage of the allowance method of handling?The advantages of using the allowance method for valuing accounts receivables are: It records bad debt expense when the related sales are recorded. So, it matches the expense with the revenue. It also records the accounts receivables on the balance sheet and an estimated amount of cash to be collected.
Why is the allowance method better than direct writeThe allowance method can be better for a business than the direct write-off method because: The bad debts expense closer to the point of the sale or service. The allowance prepares a more accurate estimation of end-of-period financials, so the business knows what they have and how to prepare.
What is the difference between the allowance method and the direct writeThe allowance method requires a small business to estimate at the end of the year how much bad debt they have, while the direct write off method lets owners write off bad debt whenever they decide a customer won't pay an invoice.
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