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To calculate irrecoverable debt expense for the year

Forums › Ask ACCA Tutor Forums › Ask the Tutor ACCA FA – FIA FFA › To calculate irrecoverable debt expense for the year

  • This topic has 7 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 11 years ago by John Moffat.
Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • March 10, 2015 at 3:31 pm #231902
    Avishay
    Member
    • Topics: 14
    • Replies: 9
    • ☆

    In the year ended 30 September 2008, Alexis had sales of $ 7,000,000. Year end receivables at 4% of receivables and as a results discovers that the allowance is 20% higher than at the previous year end.

    During the year irrecoverable debts amounting to $ 3200 were written off and debts amounting to $ 450 and previously written off were recovered.

    What is the irrecoverable debt expense for the year?

    Can you explain the workings step by step sir?

    March 10, 2015 at 4:41 pm #231907
    John Moffat
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 57
    • Replies: 54831
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    You have not typed the whole question. I think you meant to type that the year end allowance is 4% of receivables, but you have not given any information about the receivables themselves.

    Please check, and if you type the missing bit of the question then I will happily explain how to calculate the expense for the year.

    March 11, 2015 at 8:26 am #231961
    Avishay
    Member
    • Topics: 14
    • Replies: 9
    • ☆

    Sir the question is:
    In the year ended 30 September 20X8, Welbeck had sales of $ 7,000,000. Year end receivables amounted to 5% of annual sales. Welbeck wishes to maintain the allowance for receivables at 4% of receivables and as a result discovers that the allowance is 20% higher than at the previous year end.

    During the year irrecoverable debts amounting to $ 3,200 were written off and debts amounting to $ 450 and previously written off were recovered.

    What is the irrecoverable debt expense for the year?

    Can you explain me step by step sir?

    March 11, 2015 at 9:03 am #231969
    John Moffat
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 57
    • Replies: 54831
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    OK 🙂

    The receivables at the end of the year are 5% x $7M = $350,000.
    So the allowance required at the end of the year is 4% x 350,000 = $14,000.

    This is 20% higher than last year. So for every $100 allowance last year, it must be $120 this year.
    So the allowance last year must have been 100/120 x 14,000 = $11,667.

    This means that it needs to be increased by 14,000 – 11,667 = $2,333

    The expense for the year is always:
    Increase in allowance + irrecoverable debts written off – irrecoverable debts recovered.

    So here it is: 2,333 + 3,200 – 450 = $5,083

    March 11, 2015 at 9:24 am #231971
    Avishay
    Member
    • Topics: 14
    • Replies: 9
    • ☆

    Sir if it would be a decrease in allowance then?

    March 11, 2015 at 10:11 am #231981
    Avishay
    Member
    • Topics: 14
    • Replies: 9
    • ☆

    Thank you very much sir.
    I am grateful to you for your help

    March 11, 2015 at 10:18 am #231986
    Avishay
    Member
    • Topics: 14
    • Replies: 9
    • ☆

    Sir another question to clear my mind.

    At 31 Dec 2004 a company’s trade receivable totalled $ 864 000 and the allowance for receivable was $ 48000.

    It was decided that debts totalling $ 13000 were to be written off, and the allowance for receivables adjusted to 5% of the receivables.

    What figures should appear in the statement of financial position for trade receivables( after deducting the allowance)?

    March 11, 2015 at 2:22 pm #232019
    John Moffat
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 57
    • Replies: 54831
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    After writing off the irrecoverables, the receivables is 864000 – 13000 = 851,000.

    Therefore the allowance required is 5% x 851,000 = 42,550.

    So the increase in the allowance is -5450 (i.e. a decrease)

    So the expense for the year is -5450+13000 = 7550.

    (The free lectures on irrecoverable and doubtful debts will help you)

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