Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 7: 3CA (page 376)

Clark Pierce conducts a wholesale merchandising business that sells approximately 5,000 items per month with a total monthly average sales value of $250,000. Its annual bad debt rate has been approximately 1½% of sales. In recent discussions with his bookkeeper, Mr. Pierce has become confused by all the alternatives apparently available in handling the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts balance. The following information has been presented to Pierce.

1. An allowance can be set up (a) on the basis of a percentage of receivables or (b) on the basis of a valuation of all past due or otherwise questionable accounts receivable. Those considered uncollectible can be charged to such allowance at the close of the accounting period, or specific items can be charged off directly against (1) Gross Sales or to (2) Bad Debt Expense in the year in which they are determined to be uncollectible.

2. Collection agency and legal fees, and so on, incurred in connection with the attempted recovery of bad debts can be charged to (a) Bad Debt Expense, (b) Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, (c) Legal Expense, or (d) Administrative Expense.

3. Debts previously written off in whole or in part but currently recovered can be credited to (a) Other Revenue, (b) Bad Debt Expense, or (c) Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.

Instructions

Which of the foregoing methods would you recommend to Mr. Pierce in regard to (1) allowances and charge-offs, (2) collection expenses, and (3) recoveries? State briefly and clearly the reasons supporting your recommendations.

Short Answer

Expert verified

1. Allowance and charge-off method: (a).

2. Collection expenses: (a) or (b).

3. Recovery of bad debts: (c).

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Bad Debts Recovered

Bad Debt recovered includes the amount of money previously estimated to be uncollectible and reported as bad debt, but now it is collected from the customer.

02

Method to be Adopted

1. Allowance and charge-off method: The business entity has a large number of sales transactions, and therefore, it is recommended to use method (a) for setting up allowance. The business entity must estimate the allowance as a percentage of receivables and report accounts receivables at their net realizable value. Following such a method will fairly represent the balance sheet amounts and comply with the matching principle.

2. Collection expenses: The business entity must adopt method (a) or (b). The bad debt account of the business entity must reflect every expense incurred by the business entity in collecting the receivables, whether they are recovered or not.

The business entity can also adopt method (b) because all related expenses are included in the bad debt expenses during the first establishment of the allowance account. Therefore, estimation of the allowance account already includes all of these expenses, and therefore, it is advisable to charge such expenses against the allowance account.

3. Recovery of bad debts: The business entity must adopt method (c). Adopting such a method will correct the written-off bad debts and increase the accounts receivables of the business entity. Another reason for adopting method (c) is that all companies are advised to re-establish the accounts receivable’s balance.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

(Note Transactions at Unrealistic Interest Rates) On July 1, 2017, Agincourt Inc. made two sales.

1. It sold land having a fair value of \(700,000 in exchange for a 4-year zero-interest-bearing promissory note in the face amount of \)1,101,460. The land is carried on Agincourt’s books at a cost of \(590,000.

2. It rendered services in exchange for a 3%, 8-year promissory note having a face value of \)400,000 (interest payable annually).

Agincourt Inc. recently had to pay 8% interest for money that it borrowed from British National Bank. The customers in these two transactions have credit ratings that require them to borrow money at 12% interest.

Instructions

Record the two journal entries that should be recorded by Agincourt Inc. for the sales transactions above that took place on July 1, 2017.

Use the information presented in BE7-5 for Wilton, Inc.

(a) Instead of an Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Balance of \(2,400 credit, the balance was \)1,900 debit. Assume that 10% of accounts receivable will prove to be uncollectible. Prepare the entry to record bad debt expenses.

(b) Instead of estimating uncollectible based on a percentage of receivables, assume Wilton prepares an aging schedule that estimates total uncollectible accounts at \(24,600. (Assume an allowance of \)2,400 credit.) Prepare the entry to record bad debt expenses.

BE7-5 (L03) Wilton, Inc. had net sales in 2017 of \(1,400,000. At December 31, 2017, before adjusting entries, the balances in selected accounts were Accounts Receivable \)250,000 debit, and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts $2,400 credit. If Wilton estimates that 8% of its receivables will prove to be uncollectible, prepare the December 31, 2017, journal entry to record bad debt expense.

(Recording Bad Debts) At the end of 2017, Aramis Company has accounts receivable of \(800,000 and an allowance for doubtful accounts of \)40,000. On January 16, 2018, Aramis Company determined that its receivable from Ramirez Company of $6,000 will not be collected, and management authorized its write-off.

Instructions

(a) Prepare the journal entry for Aramis Company to write off the Ramirez receivable.

(b) What is the net realizable value of Aramis Company’s accounts receivable before the write-off of the Ramirez receivable?

(c) What is the net realizable value of Aramis Company’s accounts receivable after the write-off of the Ramirez receivable?

Assume that Toni Braxton Company has recently fallen into financial difficulties. By reviewing all available evidence on December 31, 2017, one of Toni Braxton’s creditors, the National American Bank, determined that Toni Braxton would pay back only 65% of the principal at maturity. As a result, the bank decided that the loan was impaired. If the loss is estimated to be $225,000, what entry(ies) should National American Bank make to record this loss?

Of what merit is the contention that the allowance method lacks the objectivity of the direct write-off method? Discuss in terms of accounting’s measurement function.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Business Studies Textbooks

Change Management

Read Explanation

Managers

Read Explanation

Financial Performance

Read Explanation

Strategic Direction

Read Explanation

Managerial Economics

Read Explanation

Intermediate Accounting

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free