The Direct Write-Off Method: Should You Use It In Your Business?

Once the company becomes aware that the customer will be unable to pay any of the $10,000, the change needs to be reflected in the financial statements. In contrast to the direct write-off method, the allowance method is only an estimation of money that won’t be collected and is based on the entire accounts receivable account. The amount of money written off with the allowance method is estimated through the accounts receivable aging method or the percentage of sales method. An example of an allowance method journal entry can be found below. However, the direct write-off method can result in misstating the income between reporting periods if the bad debt journal entry occurred in a different period from the sales entry. For such a reason, it is only permitted when writing off immaterial amounts.

• When preparing financial statements, the allowance technique must be employed.
• According to the Houston Chronicle, the direct write-off procedure violates generally accepted accounting rules (GAAP).
• However, it goes against GAAP, matching ideas, and a truthful and fair representation of the financial statements.
• The allowance method creates bad debt expense before the company knows specifically which customers will not pay.
• While the direct write-off method is simple, it is only acceptable in those cases where bad debts are immaterial in amount.
• This method violates the GAAP matching principle of revenues and expenses recorded in the same period.
• The allowance method involves a calculation of an estimate which is based on significant judgment.

The allowance method estimates bad debt during a period, based on certain computational approaches. The calculation matches bad debt with related sales during the period. The estimation is made from past experience and industry standards. When the estimation is recorded at the end of a period, the following entry occurs. The understanding is that the couple will make payments each month toward the principal borrowed, plus interest. The balance sheet will reflect greater revenue than was earned, which is against GAAP rules.

Cash Flow Statement

When using the percentage of sales method, we multiply a revenue account by a percentage to calculate the amount that goes on the income statement. It seems counterintuitive to restore the balance to pay it off, but for recordkeeping purposes, it is necessary to restore the account balance and show the customer properly paid his debt. We must make sure to show that Joe Smith paid the amount he owed, not just the fact that the company received some cash. The direct write-off method delays recognition of bad debt until the specific customer accounts receivable is identified. Once this account is identified as uncollectible, the company will record a reduction to the customer’s accounts receivable and an increase to bad debt expense for the exact amount uncollectible. Under the allowance method, an estimate of the future amount of bad debt is charged to a reserve account as soon as a sale is made.

Once you know how much from each time period, add them to get the total allowance balance. Notice how the estimated percentage uncollectible increases quickly the longer the debt is outstanding. Judging the amount that is uncollectible based off an aging schedule is the most accurate way to calculate bad debt because history tells us that the longer a debt is outstanding, the less likely the company is to collect it. We must create a holding account to hold the allowance so that when a customer is deemed uncollectible, we can use up part of that allowance to reduce accounts receivable.

Unit 10: Receivables

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts is a contra-asset linked to Accounts Receivable. The allowance is used the reduce the net amount of receivables that are due while leaving all the customer balances intact. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts decreases (debit) and Accounts Receivable for the specific customer also decreases (credit). Allowance for doubtful accounts decreases because the bad debt amount is no longer unclear. Accounts receivable decreases because there is an assumption that no debt will be collected on the identified customer’s account.

The final point relates to companies with very little exposure to the possibility of bad debts, typically, entities that rarely offer credit to its customers. Assuming that credit is not a significant component of its sales, these sellers can also use the direct write-off method. The companies that qualify for this exemption, however, are typically small and not major participants in the credit market. Thus, virtually all of the remaining bad debt expense material discussed here will be based on an allowance method that uses accrual accounting, the matching principle, and the revenue recognition rules under GAAP.

Direct Write-off and Allowance Methods for Dealing with Bad Debt

It must follow the norms and legislation established by the organisations for transaction accounting in order to present a true and accurate image of the financial statements to the entity’s stakeholders. If Wayne allows this entry to remain on his books, his accounts receivable direct write-off method balance will be overstated by $500, since Wayne knows that it’s not collectible. The direct write off method is a way businesses account for debt can’t be collected from clients, where the Bad Debts Expense account is debited and Accounts Receivable is credited.

This would split accounts receivable into three past- due categories and assign a percentage to each group. The method does not involve a reduction in the amount of recorded sales, only the increase of the bad debt expense. For example, a business records a sale on credit of $10,000, and records it with a debit to the accounts receivable account and a credit to the sales account.