Why allowance method of accounting for doubtful debt is better than the direct method?
What happens when a customer doesn’t pay for products or services? The business is left out of pocket with “bad debt” to balance in the books. The direct write off method offers a way to deal with this for accounting purposes, but it comes with some pros and cons. Show
What is the direct write off method?To better understand the answer to “what is the direct write off method,” it’s first important to look at the concept of “bad debt”. Bad debt refers to any amount owed by a customer that will not be paid. The direct write off method of accounting for bad debts allows businesses to reconcile these amounts in financial statements. To apply the direct write off method, the business records the debt in two accounts:
As a direct write off method example, imagine that a business submits an invoice for $500 to a client, but months have gone by and the client still hasn’t paid. At some point the business might decide that this debt will never be paid, so it would debit the Bad Debts Expense account for $500, and apply this same $500 as a credit to Accounts Receivable. The IRS allows bad debts to be written off as a deduction from total taxable income, so it’s important to keep track of these unpaid invoices in one way or another. It’s also important to note that unpaid invoices are categorized as assets, which are debited in accounting. In the direct write off method example above, what happens if the client does end up paying later on? Both charges would be reversed. Accounts Receivable would be debited, and the Bad Debt Expense account would be reduced. Direct write off method GAAP complianceOne issue that immediately crops up when it comes to this method is that of direct write off method GAAP compliance. The direct write off method doesn’t comply with the GAAP, or generally accepted accounting principles. GAAP states that expenses and revenue must be matched within the same accounting period. However, the direct write off method allows losses to be recorded in different periods from the original invoice dates. This means that reported losses could appear on the income statement against unrelated revenue, which distorts the balance sheet. It will report more revenue than might have actually been generated. As a result, although the IRS allows businesses to use the direct write off method for tax purposes, GAAP requires the allowance method for financial statements. Direct write off method vs. the allowance methodThe allowance method offers an alternative to the direct write off method of accounting for bad debts. With the allowance method, the business can estimate its bad debt at the end of the financial year. Rather than writing off bad debt as unpaid invoices come in, the amount is tallied up only at the end of the accounting year. The estimated amount is debited from the Bad Debts Expense and credited to an Allowance for Doubtful Accounts to maintain balance. Direct write off method advantagesThere are several advantages to using the direct write off method:
Direct write off method disadvantagesAt the same time, there are some disadvantages to be aware of:
We can helpGoCardless helps you automate payment collection, cutting down on the amount of admin your team needs to deal with when chasing invoices. Find out how GoCardless can help you with ad hoc payments or recurring payments. Why is the allowance method preferred over the direct?The allowance method is preferred over the direct write-off method because: The income statement will report the bad debts expense closer to the time of the sale or service, and. The balance sheet will report a more realistic net amount of accounts receivable that will actually be turning to cash.
What are two advantages of the allowance method over the direct writeThe advantages of using the allowance method for valuing accounts receivables are: It records bad debt expense when the related sales are recorded. So, it matches the expense with the revenue. It also records the accounts receivables on the balance sheet and an estimated amount of cash to be collected.
Why is allowance for doubtful accounts good?Allowance for doubtful accounts helps companies account for unpaid invoices. It's an important part of the overall AR process since it helps businesses develop a clear picture of their cash flow. Business is unpredictable. As much as you would love to collect on every invoice you issue, that doesn't always happen.
Why does GAAP require the allowance method over the direct writeAllowance Method
The direct write-off method doesn't adhere to the expense matching principle—an expense must be recognized during the same period that the revenue is brought in. As a result, the direct write-off method violates the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
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