Definition of Allowance MethodThe allowance method usually refers to one of the two ways for reporting bad debts expense that results from a company selling goods or services on credit. (The other way is the direct write-off method.) Show Under the allowance method, a company records an adjusting entry at the end of each accounting period for the amount of the losses it anticipates as the result of extending credit to its customers. The entry will involve the operating expense account Bad Debts Expense and the contra-asset account Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. Later, when a specific account receivable is actually written off as uncollectible, the company debits Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and credits Accounts Receivable. The allowance method is preferred over the direct write-off method because:
The allowance method can be applied in one or both of the following ways:
Examples of Allowance MethodLet's assume that a corporation begins operations on November 1 in an industry where it is common to give credit terms of net 30 days. In this industry approximately 0.3% of credit sales will not be collected. Next, let's assume that the corporation focuses on the bad debts expense. If the corporation's actual credit sales for November are $800,000 it will record an adjusting entry dated November 30 to debit Bad Debts Expense for $2,400 ($800,000 X 0.003) and credit Allowance for Doubtful Accounts for $2,400. As a result, its November income statement will be matching $2,400 of bad debts expense with the credit sales of $800,000. If the balance in Accounts Receivable is $800,000 as of November 30, the corporation will report Accounts Receivable (net) of $797,600. Focusing on the balance in the account Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, the corporation will adjust the balance in the account Allowance for Doubtful Accounts so that the combination of that credit balance and the debit balance in Accounts Receivable will be equal to the amount that is expected to turn to cash. The expected amount will likely be determined by aging the accounts receivable. If the corporation prepares weekly financial statements, it might focus on the bad debts expense for its weekly financial statements, but at the end of each quarter focus on the allowance account. 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. 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. How is bad debt estimated when using the allowance method?Alternatively, a bad debt expense can be estimated by taking a percentage of net sales, based on the company's historical experience with bad debt. Companies regularly make changes to the allowance for credit losses entry, so that they correspond with the current statistical modeling allowances.
What does the allowance method estimate?What is the Allowance Method? The allowance method matches the estimated expenses or losses from uncollectible accounts receivables against the sales. We record our accounts receivable on the balance sheet. This amount is often inaccurate, as we will likely not be able to collect all of these.
Is allowance for bad debts an expense?Allowance for doubtful accounts on the balance sheet
When you create an allowance for doubtful accounts, you must record the amount on your business balance sheet. If the doubtful debt turns into a bad debt, record it as an expense on your income statement.
What are the methods of estimating bad debts or doubtful accounts?There are two main ways to estimate an allowance for bad debts: the percentage sales method and the accounts receivable aging method. Bad debts can be written off on both business and individual tax returns.
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The allowance method estimates bad debts expense at the end of each accounting period.
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