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Calculation of allowance for receivables

VVictoria11y ago
I just tried a mock exam of F3, and there was a question about allowance for receivables I failed to answer correctly. Could you, please point out where I am wrong in my arguments? Q: At 30 June 2005, a company's allowance for receivables was $39,000. At 30 June 2006, trade receivables totalled $517,000 and it was decided to write of debts totalling $37,000 as irrecoverable. It was also decided to adjust the allowance for receivables to 5% of the remaining trade receivables. What expense should appear in the Statement of profit or loss for the year ended 30 June 2006? 1. Getting rid of irrecoverable debts 517,000 - 37,000 = $480,000 2. Calculating allowance for receivables (5% of the remaining trade receivables) 480,000 * 5% = $24,000 3. As the opening allowance for receivables was $39,000 (credit, I assume) and the closing allowance for receivables should be $24,000 as we estimated, then we should debit allowance for receivables for 39,000 - 24,000 = $15,000. So, I assume, that figure, $15,000 should be credited in the I/S? Yet, the right answer was $22,000, according to the revision. Help me, please :)
John MoffatJohn MoffatTutor11y ago#1
The expense in the Statement of profit or loss is: Cost of writing off the irrecoverables: 37,000 Saving by reducing allowance: 15,000 So the net expense is 37,000 - 15,000 = $22,000
VVictoria11y ago#2
I see now, thank you very much, Mr Moffat !!!
John MoffatJohn MoffatTutor11y ago#3
You are welcome :-)
BBarbara11y ago#4
Hi John, I was just doing the same Mock exam and this question was changed to "What allowance for receivables should appear in the Statement of Profit or Loss at 30 June 2006?". Is the question not wrong because Allowance for Receivables doesn't appear on the SPL?
John MoffatJohn MoffatTutor11y ago#5
Ooops! There are two similar questions. One asks for the expense (which is the one originally asked about) and the other asks for the amount of the allowance. For this second one, you are correct - it should have asked what allowance would appear in the SOFP. I have now corrected it - sorry :-(
Mmashiyat7y ago#6
hey i didnt understand how u did it?if u please could explain it?where did u get this formula?
John MoffatJohn MoffatTutor7y ago#7
I have no idea what formula you are asking about - there is no formula. FA is not a formula exam!! Do watch my free lectures on irrecoverable and doubtful debts. The lectures are a complete free course for Paper FA and cover everything needed to be able to pass the exam well.
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