• Business
  • Crypto
  • Investing
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Glossary
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E
Search
Finance Reference
Quotes by TradingView
  • Business
    • How Thought Industries LMS is Revolutionizing Online Learning and Development for Organizations
      The Benefits of ERP Software in the Construction Industry
      Learn How Web Optimization Can Catapult Your Business With This Easy Guide
      The Pros and Cons of Incorporating for Tax Purposes in Canada
      How Hiring Professionals Can Help You Sell Your Home Faster
  • Crypto
    • Unveil the Hidden Delights of Internet Betting for Unforgettable Wins
      Bitcoin’s Role in the Financial System of Germany
      Bitcoin and blockchain: Exploring the potential for new use cases and applications
      Understanding the blockchain: How it powers Bitcoin
      The Role of Mining in the Crypto Ecosystem: Why it Matters
  • Investing
    • How effective is Elliott wave theory?
      The Impact of Cryptocurrency Investment on Inflation – A Comparative Analysis
      How can you explain interest rate predictions?
      Errol Damelin’s Financial Golden Guidelines To Boost Investment Success Rates
      Forex Trading: What You Need to Know
  • Lifestyle
    • 4 Questions to Plan for Retirement Together
      Tips On How To Earn Some Money When Gambling Online
      Don’t Risk Your Belongings: Discover Why You Need a Residence Evacuation Pro
      Safeguarding Your Finances: Tips for Spotting and Avoiding Online Gambling Scams
      Delta-8 THC: What It Is and How It Differs from Delta-9 THC
  • Money
    • Make Money Online: 7 Real and Easy Ways
      Exploring the Basics of Stablecoins
      A Comprehensive Guide to Instant Cash Advance Apps: How They Work and What to Look For
      What is Astropay And How Does It Work?
      Building a Strong Credit Score: Your Roadmap to Financial Success
  • Glossary
    • Fix vs Trunk Club
      Comparing Stitch Fix vs Trunk Club: Which Subscription Box is Best for You?
      Relationship Between the Stock Market and the Economy
      Understanding the Relationship Between the Stock Market and the Economy
      What to Do with Your Bonus Money
      What to Do with Your Bonus Money
      How Much Money Do I Need to Quit My Job?
      How Much Money Do I Need to Quit My Job?
      How to Invest in Yourself as a Woman
      How to Invest in Yourself as a Woman
      AllABCDE
  • Glossary
  • B

Bad Debt Expense

By
rjonesx
-

What is a ‘Bad Debt Expense’

Bad debt expense represents the amount of uncollectible accounts receivable that occurs in a given period. Bad debt expense occurs as a result of a customer being unable to fulfill its obligation to pay an outstanding debt due to bankruptcy or other financial problems. This expense is the cost of a business having the inability to collect its debts.

Explaining ‘Bad Debt Expense’

Even if a receivable has been deemed uncollectible and written off to bad debt expense, the business retains the right to collect funds in the event of a bankruptcy court asset distribution or sudden change in the vendor’s ability to pay. Bad debt expense occurs because an entity extends credit to customers. Since a company may elect to forgo upfront payment, it incurs the risk of customers having the inability to pay for goods or services. Therefore, bad debt expense is used as a financial metric to determine if the credit and collection process is efficient.

Direct Write-Off vs. Allowance Method

There are two different application methods of recognizing bad debt expense. One is called the direct write-off method. Using this method, uncollectible accounts are specifically written off as they become uncollectible. This occurs upon receipt of a bankruptcy notice or after a specified period of time. Although the direct write-off method ensures the exact amount of uncollectible accounts is recorded, it fails to uphold the matching principle in which the expense is not always recognized in the same period as the revenue. For this reason, bad debt expense may be calculated using the allowance method. The allowance method establishes an estimated dollar amount of uncollectible accounts in the period the revenue is earned.

Calculating Bad Debt Expense Using Allowance Method

When using the allowance for uncollectible accounts, the estimated amount of bad debt expense is calculated in one of two main ways. First, an aging schedule is utilized to determine the duration of time a receivable has been outstanding. Using industry averages and company historical figures, a business takes a specific percentage of each age group and charges this estimate to bad debt expense. The specific percentage typically increases as the age of the receivable increases. This is because default risk increases and collectability decreases as a bill ages. Alternatively, a business may calculate bad debt expense by taking a percentage of net sales. This fixed rate is calculated based on the company’s historical experiences with bad debt.

Financial Statements

Bad debt expense is generally classified as a selling or administrative expense and is found on the income statement. It is one component used in the calculation of net income. The related accounts to bad debt expense, accounts receivables and allowance for doubtful accounts, are both reported on the balance sheet.

Bad Debt Expense FAQ

What is the bad debt expense?

In bad debt expense, a receivable is no longer collectible because a customer can’t fulfill their obligation to pay an outstanding debt as a result of bankruptcy or other financial problems.

How do you calculate bad debt expense?

Calculating your bad debts involves some form of the percentage of bad debt formula, which is just your past bad debts divided by your past credit sales.

What is the journal entry for bad debt expense?

The journal entry is a debit to the bad debt expense account and a credit to the accounts receivable account. It might be of necessity to reverse any related sales tax that was charged on the original invoice, which requires a debit to the sales taxes payable account.

Where is bad debt expense on income statement?

It appears in a line item in the income statement, within the operating expenses section in the lower half of the statement.

When can you write off bad debt expense?

Writing off a bad debt is necessary when the related customer invoice is considered to be uncollectible. Otherwise, a business will carry an inordinately high accounts receivable balance that overstates the amount of outstanding customer invoices that will eventually be converted into cash.

Can you reverse bad debt expense?

The accounting for a bad debt recovery is a two-step process, as follows: Reverse its original recordation. If the original entry was instead a credit to accounts receivable and a debit to bad debt expense (the direct write-off method), then reverse it.

What are the two methods for recording bad debt expense?

(1) the Direct Write-off Method and (2) the Allowance Method.

Further Reading

  • Bad Debt" Expense": Not a Member of the Class of Data for Measuring Operating Income: A Reply – www.jstor.org [PDF]
  • The impact of IFRS adoption on management of bad debt expense and real operational activities: evidence from South Korea – www.tandfonline.com [PDF]
  • Do initial public offering firms manage accruals? Evidence from individual accounts – link.springer.com [PDF]
  • Factors affecting charity care and bad debt charges in Washington hospitals – search.proquest.com [PDF]
  • Finance and economic breakdown: modeling Minsky's “financial instability hypothesis” – www.tandfonline.com [PDF]
  • The financial performance of hospitals belonging to health networks and systems – www.jstor.org [PDF]
  • The Economic Value Added (EVA): an analysis of market reaction – www.sciencedirect.com [PDF]
Previous articleVendor Take-Back Mortgage
Next articleWeighted Average Cost Of Capital – WACC
rjonesx

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Fix vs Trunk Club

Comparing Stitch Fix vs Trunk Club: Which Subscription Box is Best for You?

Relationship Between the Stock Market and the Economy

Understanding the Relationship Between the Stock Market and the Economy

What to Do with Your Bonus Money

What to Do with Your Bonus Money

EDITOR PICKS

Joint Supply

Quarter (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)

FAAMG Stocks

Should I invest in additional life coverage?

SPX vs SPY: Which is Better for Trading Options on the S&P 500?

Per Stirpes vs Per Capita

Latest

How Thought Industries LMS is Revolutionizing Online Learning and Development for Organizations

The Benefits of ERP Software in the Construction Industry

4 Questions to Plan for Retirement Together

Learn How Web Optimization Can Catapult Your Business With This Easy Guide

Tips On How To Earn Some Money When Gambling Online

What To Expect When You File A VCF Claim

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
  • About
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap