Answer the following questions about recording uncollectible Accounts Receivable (A/R): a) Describe both the direct write-off method and the allowance method of recognizing uncollectible accounts receivable. In your descriptions, be sure to identify the specific major difference between the approach taken for each method when recording uncollectible A/R. b) Which method is in accordance with GAAP? Discuss the reasons why the other method
Bad Debts
At the end of the accounting period, a financial statement is prepared by every company, then at that time while preparing the financial statement, the company determines among its total receivable amount how much portion of receivables is collected by the company during that accounting period.
Accounts Receivable
The word “account receivable” means the payment is yet to be made for the work that is already done. Generally, each and every business sells its goods and services either in cash or in credit. So, when the goods are sold on credit account receivable arise which means the company is going to get the payment from its customer to whom the goods are sold on credit. Usually, the credit period may be for a very short period of time and in some rare cases it takes a year.
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Businesses typically use one of two methods to account for unrecoverable debt: the allowance method and the direct write-off method. The allowance method anticipates and prepares for a certain amount of unpaid debt while the direct write-off method deals with the debt only after it hasn’t been paid.
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