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Chapter 7: Question 9 (page 362)

What is the theoretical justification of the allowance method as contrasted with the direct write-off method of accounting for bad debts?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The allowance method for bad debt is theoretically justified because it complies with the matching principle andreports receivables on their net realizable value.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Matching Principle

The matching principle of accounting states that a business entity must report expenses in the same period in which the revenues related to these expenses are reported.

02

Theoretical Justification

1. The first reason allowance method proves to be theoretically justified is that it reports bad debt expenses when credit sales are made by the business entity and therefore does not overstate the income of the business entity.

2. The second reason the allowance method proves to be theoretically justified is that it reports the accounts receivables after deducting an allowance for bad debts representing its net realizable value.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Part 1: On July 1, 2017, Wallace Company, a calendar-year company, sold special-order merchandise on credit and received in return an interest-bearing note receivable from the customer. Wallace Company will receive interest at the prevailing rate for a note of this type. Both the principal and interest are due in one lump sum on June 30, 2018.

Instructions

When should Wallace Company report interest revenue from the note receivable? Discuss the rationale for your answer.

Part 2: On December 31, 2017, Wallace Company had significant amounts of accounts receivable as a result of credit sales to its customers. Wallace uses the allowance method based on credit sales to estimate bad debts. Past experience indicates a reliable estimate of uncollectible accounts can be developed based on an aging analysis of receivable balances. This pattern is expected to continue.

Instructions

(a) Discuss the rationale for using the allowance method based on the balance in the trade receivables accounts.

(b) How should Wallace Company report the allowance for doubtful accounts on its balance sheet at December 31, 2017? Also, describe the alternatives, if any, for presentation of bad debt expense in Wallace Company’s 2017 income statement.

(Expected Cash Flows) On December 31, 2017, Iva Majoli Company borrowed \(62,092 from Paris Bank, signing a 5-year, \)100,000 zero-interest-bearing note. The note was issued to yield 10% interest. Unfortunately, during 2019, Majoli began to experience financial difficulty. As a result, at December 31, 2019, Paris Bank determined that it was probable that it would receive back only $75,000 at maturity. The market rate of interest on loans of this nature is now 11%.

Instructions

(a) Prepare the entry to record the issuance of the loan by Paris Bank on December 31, 2017.

(b) Prepare the entry, if any, to record the impairment of the loan on December 31, 2019, by Paris Bank.

(Bank Reconciliation and Adjusting Entries) Presented below is information related to Haselhof Inc. Balance per books at October 31, \(41,847.85; receipts \)173,523.91; disbursements \(164,893.54. Balance per bank statement November 30, \)56,274.20.

The following checks were outstanding at November 30.

1224

\(1,635.29

1230

2,468.30

1232

2,125.15

1233

482.17

Included with the November bank statement and not recorded by the company were a bank debit memo for \)27.40 covering bank charges for the month, a debit memo for \(372.13 for a customer’s check returned and marked NSF, and a credit memo for \)1,400 representing bond interest collected by the bank in the name of Haselhof Inc. Cash on hand at November 30 recorded and awaiting deposit amounted to $1,915.40.

Instructions

(a) Prepare a bank reconciliation (to the correct balance) at November 30, for Haselhof Inc. from the information above.

(b) Prepare any journal entries required to adjust the cash account at November 30.

On October 1, 2017, Chung, Inc. assigns \(1,000,000 of its accounts receivable to Seneca National Bank as collateral for a \)750,000 note. The bank assesses a finance charge of 2% of the receivables assigned and interest on the note of 9%. Prepare the October 1 journal entries for both Chung and Seneca.

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.
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