Bad Debts and Provision For Bad and Doubtful Debts
Bad Debts and Provision For Bad and Doubtful Debts
When goods are sold to a customer on Credit , it is first recorded in the sales day book.
To sales a/c
But once a debt is recognized as bad it should be written off immediately by passing the following entry.
When at the time of preparing the final accounts ,the bad debts written off during the period as well as
bad debt after preparation of trial balance is transferred to P/L Account :
*** It is point to be noted the bad debt appears in the profit and loss account below the gross profit as
one of the operating expenses for the reasons explained at the beginning of this chapter . the bad debt
loss is not shown in the trading account as deduction from credit sales.
Less: prov. For bad debts and doubtful debts at the beginning. ****
For writing off bad debts in the profit and loss account
In credit sale , payment is made either at the point of sale , or after a specified period.
Many sellers offer a cash discount (sales discount) if payment is made within a specified
period of time. Cash discount is an expense . The Book value may not be the net
realizable value , so it isdesirabletoreduce the debtors figure by the probable cash
discount to be allowed. The problem lies that nobody knows that how many debtors will
avail that discount , so the rough estimate is made on the outstanding debtors.
A separate discount on debtors is opened like prov. For bad and doubtful accounts but
the only difference is that prov. For discount is calculated on the debtors’balance after
deducting the prov. For bad and doubtful a/c , the accounting treatment is same as
prov. For bad debt and doubtful debt.
c. The balance left in prov. For discount on debtors at the of tha period is adjusted
with the prov required to be made for next financial year and accounting entry to
be passed according to the situation.
1) If the required prov. is more than the balance left :
** Calculation :
Liabilities Assets
Sundry Debtors