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Bad Debts

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Submitted By rsticman
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Because of a massive natural disaster, Jones Company, one of our company’s largest clients, suddenly and unexpectedly became bankrupt. The amount due to us from Jones Company is no longer collectible and represents 30% of our total A/R, an amount that is considerably greater then we estimated we would write off during this accounting period.

The CEO of the company is asking you to not write off all of the A/R this accounting period due to lower levels of net income currently being experienced by the company.

The CEO also feels that the company could receive some cash from the proceeds from the sale of all the assets during the liquidation of Jones Company.

Should you follow the instructions of the CEO? Why or why not?

Provide specific details to support your opinion in your response.

A company's accounts receivable are among its most important assets, representing sales that have not yet been paid for or converted to cash. In ordinary business, bad debts refer primarily to losses arising from transactions made on credit (accounts receivable) in the normal course of business. We, accountants, can account for bad debts in two ways: (a) The Direct Write-off Method where bad debts may be deducted against income at the time they have been definitely certain to be uncollectible or (b) the Allowance Method where a reserve for probable losses may be established over time, ordinarily at the close of the period.

Regardless of what method the company is using, I will advise the CEO to show the true picture of the financial condition of the company.

If the company is using the Allowance method and the Allowance for Bad Debts Account has enough balance to absorb the amount owes, writing off the whole amount has no impact on the current income. But, I will make a note on the Balance Sheet that Jones Company, a major client, went bankrupt that the collection

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