The increase in a carrying amount. Also see write-up work.
The increase in a carrying amount. Also see write-up work.
The preparation of financial statements from a client’s information and without any review or audit of the amounts.
The reduction or removal of an asset amount. For example, an account receivable will be removed or written off if the customer is not able to pay the amount owed to the company.
The reduction of an asset’s carrying amount. For example, we often reduce or write down inventory from its cost to its net realizable value when the net realizable value is lower.
A method for recognizing bad debts expense arising from credit sales. Under this method there is no allowance account. Rather, an account receivable is written-off directly to expense only after the account is determined...
Often referred to as write-up work, a compilation refers to financial statements prepared by an accountant without reviewing or auditing the amounts. Often the accountant merely takes a client’s amounts and...
How do you write off a bad account? Definition of the Write-off of a Bad Account The write-off of a bad account usually refers to eliminating an account receivable due to the customer’s inability to pay the amount...
What is the direct write-off method? Definition of Direct Write-off Method The direct write-off method is one of the two methods normally associated with reporting accounts receivable and bad debts expense. (The other...
How do you report a write-down in inventory? Definition of Write-down in Inventory Under FIFO and average cost methods, when the net realizable value of inventory is less than the cost of the inventory, there needs to be...
Why isn't the direct write off method of uncollectible accounts receivable the preferred method? Definition of Direct Write Off Method Under the direct write off method of accounting for credit losses pertaining to...
Where does the purchase of equipment show up on a profit and loss statement? Reporting the Purchase of Equipment Assuming that the purchase of equipment is a long-term or noncurrent asset that will be used in a business,...
Are LIFO inventory amounts ever written-up to their market value? LIFO inventory amounts will not be written-up, even when the current market value of the inventory is far greater than the amount reported on the balance...
Our Explanation of Accounts Receivable and Bad Debts Expense helps you understand the accounting for the losses associated with selling goods and providing services on credit. You will understand the impact on the...
Accounts Receivable & Bad Debts Expense(Quick Test #1) Download PDF After you have answered all 40 questions, click "Grade This Quick Test" at the bottom of the page to view your grade and receive feedback on your...
How do I write off old outstanding checks? Definition of an Old Outstanding Check We will assume that an outstanding check has appeared on the outstanding check list that is part of the company’s bank reconciliation...
What is a compilation? Definition of Compilation A compilation refers to a company’s financial statements that have been prepared or compiled by an outside accountant. A compilation is usually part of an accounting...
What is the difference between expense and loss? Definition of Expense An expense is a cost that a company incurs or uses up when it earns revenues. Examples of Expenses A few examples of the many expenses that a company...
What is bad debts expense? Definition of Bad Debts Expense Bad debts expense is related to a company’s current asset accounts receivable. Bad debts expense is also referred to as uncollectible accounts expense or...
The result of the sale of an asset for less than its carrying amount; the write-down of assets; the net result of expenses exceeding revenues.
Accounts Receivable and Bad Debts Expense Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable refers to a company’s unsecured claim for money it is owed by a customer or client for goods and/or services the company had provided on...
Our Explanation of Accounts Receivable and Bad Debts Expense helps you understand the accounting for the losses associated with selling goods and providing services on credit. You will understand the impact on the...
An expense reported on the income statement that did not require the use of cash during the period shown in the heading of the income statement. The typical example is depreciation expense. Also, the write-down of an...
What is the conservatism principle? Definition of Conservatism Principle In accounting, the conservatism principle (or accounting constraint) directs an accountant, who is faced with doubt between two possible...
If I want a gross margin of 25%, what percent should I mark up my product? Definition of Gross Margin Gross margin as a percentage is the gross profit divided by the selling price. For example, if a product sells for...
What happens when the high-low method ends up with a negative amount? The high-low method of determining the fixed and variable portions of a mixed cost relies on only two sets of data: 1) the costs at the highest level...
What is the allowance method? Definition of Allowance Method The 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....
Our Explanation of Accounts Receivable and Bad Debts Expense helps you understand the accounting for the losses associated with selling goods and providing services on credit. You will understand the impact on the...
Petty Cash(Quick Test) Download PDF After you have answered all 20 questions, click "Grade This Quick Test" at the bottom of the page to view your grade and receive feedback on your answers. Note: Some of the following...
What is bad debts? Definition of Bad Debts The term bad debts usually refers to accounts receivable (or trade accounts receivable) that will not be collected. (Bad debts is also used for notes receivable that will not be...
How do you treat voided checks on the bank reconciliation? Definition of Voided Check on Bank Reconciliation If a check was voided in the current month but was written in the previous month and appeared on the previous...
Also referred to as a subsequent event. An event occurring after the date of the balance sheet, but prior to the date that the balance sheet is actually released. For example, a balance sheet dated December 31 might be...
What is meant by accounts written off? Definition of Accounts Written Off Accounts written off is likely referring to accounts receivable that a company deemed to be uncollectible and were removed from the general ledger...
Is an entry made for outstanding checks when preparing a bank reconciliation? Definition of Outstanding Checks Outstanding checks are checks written by the company, recorded in the company accounts, but not yet appearing...
What is the entry to remove equipment that is sold before it is fully depreciated? Entries To Record a Sale of Equipment When equipment that is used in a business is disposed of (sold) for cash before it is fully...
The cost associated with setting up a piece of production equipment. This would include the cost of the setup mechanic, the cost of scheduling, record keeping, moving the starting material, and testing the first few...
Cash and other resources that are expected to turn to cash or to be used up within one year of the balance sheet date. (If a company’s operating cycle is longer than one year, an item is a current asset if it will...
The assigning or dividing up of amounts. For example, depreciation is an allocation process because it assigns an asset’s cost to expense in each of the years the asset is expected to be used. There is also an...
What is setup cost? Definition of Setup Cost In manufacturing, setup cost is the cost incurred to get equipment ready to process a different batch of goods. Hence, setup cost is regarded as a batch-level cost in activity...
What is burn rate? In business, burn rate is usually the monthly amount of cash spent in the early years of a start-up business. Burn rate is an important metric since the new business must spend time and money...
Featured Review
"I retired a few months ago from a law enforcement career in order to spend more time with my family. Leading up to my retirement, I explored different secondary career options that would be stimulating and rewarding, but also give me the flexibility I wanted. I learned about bookkeeping and really developed an interest for it. From the beginning, I saw AccountingCoach and Mr. Averkamp being highly and widely praised. After taking a few courses, I made the decision to become a bookkeeper. I became a PRO user because I believed it was important to keep track of my studies and use as many resources as possible to absorb the information. I like how the material is presented in a variety of ways (reading, video, flashcards) that reinforce my learning. I also feel it is presented at a good level, in a way that makes it fairly easy to understand without oversimplifying it. AccountingCoach has helped me understand proper accounting skills that can be applied regardless of the accounting system or software I use. I think this is great because although there is a lot of software out there that simplifies bookkeeping, I don't think it should be used without having a thorough understanding of the processes and knowing whether it's working properly. I definitely believe AccountingCoach has helped me become a better, more reliable, and more intelligent bookkeeper." - Mark P.
Join PRO or PRO Plus and Get Lifetime Access to Our Premium Materials
Read all 2,645 reviewsWe now offer 10 Certificates of Achievement for Introductory Accounting and Bookkeeping: