1. Chapter 5 Receivables and Sales
This chapter is divided into three parts
Part A: Recognition of Accounts Receivable
Part B: Valuation of Accounts Receivable
Part C: Notes Receivable

2. Credit sales
Are common for large business transactions in which buyers don’t have sufficient cash available or where credit cards cannot be used because the transaction amount exceeds typical credit card limits.
Revenue is recognized at the time of a credit sale.
An asset (accounts receivable) is recognized at the time of a credit sale.
In this chapter, we focus on recording Credit sales and Accounts Receivable and dealing with the likelihood that some customers will not pay as promised.
As you study receivables, realize that one company’s right to collect cash corresponds to another company’s (or individual’s) obligation to pay cash. One company’s account receivable is the flip side of another company’s account payable. In Chapter 6 we discuss accounts payable in the context of inventory purchases on account. In Chapter 8 we discuss accounts payable again in the context of current liabilities.

3. Recognition of Accounts Receivable
Part A
Recognition of Accounts Receivable
Companies record an asset (accounts receivable) and revenue when they sell products and services to their customers on account, expecting payment in the future.

4. LO1 Recognize Accounts Receivable
Credit sales transfer products and services to a customer today while bearing the risk of collecting payment from that customer in the future.
Even though the seller does not receive cash at the time of the credit sale, the firm records revenue immediately, as long as future collection from the customer is reasonably certain.
Along with the recognized revenue, at the time of sale the seller also obtains a legal right to receive cash from the buyer. The legal right to receive cash is valuable and represents an asset of the company.
Credit sales transfer products and services to a customer today while bearing the risk of collecting payment from that customer in the future. Credit sales transactions are also known as sales on account or services on account.
Credit sales are common for large business transactions in which buyers don’t have sufficient cash available or where credit cards cannot be used. They typically include an informal credit agreement supported by an invoice and require payment within 30 to 60 days after the sale. Even though the seller does not receive cash at the time of the credit sale, the firm records revenue immediately, as long as future collection from the customer is reasonably certain.
Along with the recognized revenue, at the time of sale the seller also obtains a legal right to receive cash from the buyer. The legal right to receive cash is valuable and represents an asset of the company. This asset is referred to as accounts receivable.
Formally, accounts receivable, sometimes called trade receivables, represent the amount of cash owed to the company by its customers from the sale of products or services on account.

5. Recording of Credit Sales
Jay’s Dental charges $500 for teeth whitening. Dee Kay decides to take advantage of the service, has her teeth whitened on March 1, but doesn’t pay cash at the time of service. Dee promises to pay the $500 whitening fee to Jay by March 31. Jay makes the following entry at the time of the cleaning.
To see how companies record credit sales, consider an example. Suppose Jay’s Dental charges $500 for teeth whitening. Dee Kay decides to take advantage of the service, has her teeth whitened on March 1, but doesn’t pay cash at the time of service. Dee promises to pay the $500 whitening fee to Jay by March 31. Jay makes the following entry at the time of the cleaning.
Notice that instead of debiting cash, as in a cash sale or credit card sale, Jay debits another asset—accounts receivable—for the credit sale.

6. Other types of receivables
Nontrade receivables
Are receivables from those other than customers and include tax refund claims, interest receivable, and loans by the company to other entities including stockholders and employees.
Notes receivable
Are receivables that are accompanied by formal credit arrangements made with written debt instruments (or notes).
Other types of receivables are less common than accounts receivable. Nontrade receivables are receivables from those other than customers and include tax refund claims, interest receivable, and loans by the company to other entities including stockholders and employees. When receivables are accompanied by formal credit arrangements made with written debt instruments (or notes), we refer to them as notes receivable. We’ll consider notes receivable later in this chapter.

7. Trade Discounts
Represent a reduction in the listed price of a product or service.
Companies don’t recognize trade discounts directly when recording a transaction. Instead, they recognize trade discounts indirectly by recording the sale at the discounted price.
Let’s go back to Jay’s Dental, which typically charges $500 for teeth whitening. Jay offers a 20% discount on teeth whitening to any of his regular patients.
Trade discounts represent a reduction in the listed price of a product or service.
Companies typically use trade discounts to provide incentives to larger customers or consumer groups to purchase from the company. Trade discounts also can be a way to change prices without publishing a new price list or to disguise real prices from competitors. Companies don’t recognize trade discounts directly when recording a transaction. Instead, they recognize trade discounts indirectly by recording the sale at the discounted price.
Jay’s Dental, typically charges $500 for teeth whitening. Assume that in order to entice more customers, Jay offers a 20% discount on teeth whitening to any of his regular patients. Since Dee Kay is one of Jay’s regular patients, she can take advantage of the special discount and have her teeth whitened for only $400.
Notice that Jay records the trade discount indirectly by recognizing revenue equal to the discounted price, which is $500 less the trade discount of $100 (= $500 x 20%).

8. LO2 Understand contra revenues–sales discounts, returns, and allowances–associated with sales
Represents a reduction, not in the selling price of a product or service, but in the amount to be paid by a credit customer if payment is made within a specified period of time.
It’s a discount intended to provide incentive for quick payment.
The amount of the discount and the time period within which it’s available usually are communicated in short-hand terms such as 2/10, n/30.
The term “2/10,” indicates the customer will receive a 2% discount if the amount owed is paid within 10 days.
The term “n/30,” means that if the customer does not take the discount, full payment is due within 30 days.
A sales discount represents a reduction, not in the selling price of a product or service, but in the amount to be paid by a credit customer if payment is made within a specified period of time. It’s a discount intended to provide incentive for quick payment.
The amount of the discount and the time period within which it’s available usually are communicated in short-hand terms such as 2/10, n/30. The term “2/10,” pronounced “two ten,” indicates the customer will receive a 2% discount if the amount owed is paid within 10 days. The term “n/30,” pronounced “net thirty,” means that if the customer does not take the discount, full payment is due within 30 days.

9. First scenario, assume Dee pays on March 10th, which is within the 10-day discount period
Let’s assume Jay wants Dee to pay quickly on her teeth whitening bill and offers her terms of 2/10, n/30. This means that if Dee pays within 10 days, the amount due ($400 after the trade discount) will be reduced by 2% (or $8 = $400 x 2%). First, assume Dee pays on March 10, which is within the 10-day discount period. Jay records the following entry when he receives payment.

10. First scenario, assume Dee pays on March 10th, which is within the 10-day discount period
Notice that Jay receives only $392 cash, the full amount owed less the 2% sales discount. We record the sales discount as a contra revenue account. The term contra indicates an account with the opposite balance of its related account. In this case, whitening revenue has a credit balance and its related contra revenue account—sales discount—has a debit balance. The net effect is that sales discounts increase, reducing total revenues of the company. It’s easier to see the relationship between these two accounts by looking at the partial income statement of Jay’s Dental in the slide.
Also notice that Jay credits accounts receivable for $400, even though he receives only $392 cash. The reason is that the $400 balance in accounts receivable is paid in full by the $392 as a result of the $8 sales discount. Dee owes $0 after paying $392. The balance of accounts receivable now is equal to $0, as demonstrated in the slide.

11. Second scenario, assume that Dee waits until March 31 to pay, which is not within the 10-day discount period
Jay records the following entry at the time he collects cash from Dee.
For our second scenario, assume that Dee waits until March 31 to pay, which is not within the 10-day discount period. Jay records the following entry at the time he collects cash from Dee.
Notice that there is no indication in recording the transaction that the customer does not take the sales discount. This is the typical entry to record a cash collection on account when no sales discounts are involved. Accounts receivable is credited for $400 to reduce its balance to $0, representing the amount owed by the customer after payment.
Notice that there is no indication in recording the transaction that the customer does not take the sales discount. This is the typical entry to record a cash collection on account when no sales discounts are involved.

12. Sales Return and Allowances
If a customer returns a product it is sales return. After a sales return,
we reduce the customer’s account balance if the sale was on account or
we issue a cash refund if the sale was for cash.
Sales Allowances
If a customer does not return a product, but the seller reduces the customer’s balance owed or provides at least a partial refund because of some deficiency in the company’s product or service, we call that a sales allowance.
In some cases, customers may not be satisfied with a product or service purchased. If a customer returns a product, we call that a sales return. After a sales return, (a) we reduce the customer’s account balance if the sale was on account or (b) we issue a cash refund if the sale was for cash. If a customer does not return a product, but the seller reduces the customer’s balance owed or provides at least a partial refund because of some deficiency in the company’s product or service, we call that a sales allowance.

13. Sales Return and Allowances
On March 5, after Dee gets her teeth cleaned but before she pays, she notices that another local dentist is offering the same procedure for $350. Dee brings this to Jay’s attention and because Jay’s policy is to match any competitor’s pricing, he offers to reduce Dee’s account balance by $50. Jay records the following sales allowance entry.
Suppose on March 5, after she gets her teeth cleaned but before she pays, Dee notices that another local dentist is offering the same procedure for $350, which is $50 less than Jay’s discounted price of $400. Dee brings this to Jay’s attention and because Jay’s policy is to match any competitor’s pricing, he offers to reduce Dee’s account balance by $50. Jay records the following sales allowance entry.
Firms typically combine their sales returns and sales allowances as a single sales returns and allowances account. Sales returns and allowances and sales discounts are contra revenue accounts. We report both as a reduction in the related revenue account, causing a reduction in net income. We reduce accounts receivable to show that the customer owes less after the allowance. Dee now owes only $350.

14. Valuation of Accounts Receivable
Part B
Valuation of Accounts Receivable
We recognize accounts receivable as assets in the balance sheet and report them at their net realizable values, that is, the amount of cash we expect to collect.

15. LO3 Record an allowance for future uncollectible accounts
The right to receive cash from a customer is a valuable resource for the company. This makes accounts receivable an asset to be recognized in the company’s balance sheet .
To be useful to decision makers, it should be reported at net realizable value, which is the amount of cash the firm expects to collect.
Should companies sell goods and services to their customers on account, or should they accept only cash payment at the time of purchase?
The downside of extending credit to
customers is that not all customers
will pay fully on their accounts
The upside, allowing customers the
ability to purchase on account and
pay cash later boosts sales.
The right to receive cash from a customer is a valuable resource for the company. This makes accounts receivable an asset to be recognized in the company’s balance sheet.If the company expects to receive the cash within one year, it recognizes the receivable as a current asset; otherwise it classifies the receivable as a long-term asset .
Many customers may not have cash readily available to make a purchase or, for other reasons, simply prefer to buy on credit.
Even the most well-meaning customers may find themselves in difficult financial circumstances beyond their control, limiting their ability to repay debt. Customers’ accounts that we no longer consider collectible are uncollectible accounts (or bad debts). The lost cash from uncollectible accounts worsens the company’s financial position.

16. Allowance Method
Involves recording an adjusting entry at the end of each period to allow for the possibility of future uncollectible accounts.
The adjusting entry has the effect of
reducing accounts receivable by an estimate of the amount we don’t expect to collect and
recording an expense to reflect the cost of offering credit to customers.
We account for uncollectible accounts using what’s called the allowance method, which involves recording an adjusting entry at the end of each period to allow for the possibility of future uncollectible accounts. The adjusting entry has the effect of (1) reducing accounts receivable (using an allowance account) by an estimate of the amount we don’t expect to collect and (2) recording an expense (bad debt expense) to reflect the cost of offering credit to customers.
The financial statement effects of accounting for uncollectible accounts are demonstrated in the slide.

17. Estimating Uncollectible Accounts
Kimzey specializes in emergency outpatient care. It doesn’t verify the patient’s health insurance, It understands that a high proportion of fees for emergency care provided will not be collected. In 2010, it bills customers $50 million. By the end of the year, $20 million remains due from customers. Of this amount, it estimates that 30% is likely to be uncollected. The year-end adjusting entry to allow for these future uncollectible accounts is as follows:
Consider an example. Kimzey Medical Clinic specializes in emergency outpatient care. Because it doesn’t verify the patient’s health insurance before administering care, Kimzey understands that a high proportion of fees for emergency care provided will not be collected. In 2010, Kimzey provides emergency care, billing customers $50 million. By the end of the year, $20 million remains due from customers. Of this amount, Kimzey estimates that 30% (or $6 million) is likely never to be collected. The year-end adjusting entry to allow for these future uncollectible accounts and the effect of this entry on the financial statements appears in the slide.

18. Bad Debt
Equals the amount of the adjustment to the allowance for uncollectible accounts, representing the cost of estimated future bad debts charged to the current period. This expense is included in the same income statement as the credit sales revenue it helps generate.
There is no cash outflow associated with bad debts.
It is not possible to record actual future bad debts in the current period because we don’t know the future expense when preparing the current period’s financial statements.
Bad debt expense equals the amount of the adjustment to the allowance for uncollectible accounts, representing the cost of estimated future bad debts charged to the current period. This expense is included in the same income statement as the credit sales revenue it helps generate. You may have noticed, though, that bad debt expense in previous example is not like most other expenses. There is no cash outflow associated with bad debts. Most expenses include some type of cash payment at some point, Bad debt expense, on the other hand, is the estimated cost of not receiving cash from customers who bought goods or services on account.
By referring back to the matching principle we’ve discussed. It’s desirable to match revenues and expenses. Credit sales represent revenue from selling products and services on account in the current period. One of the costs associated with credit sales is bad debts. Therefore, to properly match expenses—bad debts—with their related revenues—credit sales—we should record future bad debts with current credit sales. The difficulty, though, is that we don’t yet know exactly how much of our receivables will eventually prove uncollectible.
The solution is to estimate that amount. It is not possible to record actual future bad debts in the current period because we don’t know the future expense when preparing the current period’s financial statements.

19. Match Future Bad Debts with Current Credit Sales
The concept of matching future bad debts with current credit sales is demonstrated in the slide for Kimzey Medical Clinic.
In the 2010 income statement, we reduce the $50 million of revenue from credit sales by $6 million for estimated future bad debts.

20. Accounts Receivable Portion of the Balance Sheet
After we adjust for future uncollectible accounts, the accounts receivable portion of Kimzey’s year-end balance sheet appears below
The allowance for uncollectible accounts is a contra asset account representing the amount of accounts receivable that we do not expect to collect. Allowance account provides a way to reduce accounts receivable indirectly rather than decreasing the accounts receivable balance itself. We report the allowance for uncollectible accounts in the asset section of the balance sheet, but it represents a reduction in the balance of accounts receivable.
After we estimate uncollectible accounts to be $6 million, we reduce the $20 million balance of accounts receivable and report them at their net realizable value of $14 million. But is this estimate correct? Only time will tell. Kimzey’s prediction of $6 million for uncollectible accounts might be too high or it might be too low. In either case it’s more informative than making no estimate at all. We’ll find out how close the estimate is later.

21. LO4 Apply the procedure to write off accounts receivable as uncollectible
On February 23, 2011, Kimzey receives notice that one of its former patients, Bruce, has filed for bankruptcy. He believes it is unlikely Bruce will pay his account of $4,000. Remember, Kimzey previously allowed for the likelihood that some of its customers would not pay. Now it knows a specific customer will not pay, it can adjust the allowance and reduce the accounts receivable. Kimzey makes the following entry.
What is the effect in Kimzey’s financial statements when writing off Bruce’s account receivable?
Overall, the write-off of the accounts receivable has no effect on total amounts reported in the balance sheet or in the income statement.
Notice that there is no decrease in total assets and no decrease in net income with the write-off entry.
Here’s why. We have already recorded the negative effects of the bad news. When? Kimzey recorded those effects when it estimated future bad debts at the end of 2010 and both reduced assets and recorded the bad debt expense. Now when Bruce declares bankruptcy in the following year, 2011, we have already established the allowance for this bad debt. The write-off entry on February 23, 2011, reduces both an asset account (accounts receivable) and its contra asset account (allowance for uncollectible accounts), leaving the net receivable unaffected. Thus, the write-off entry results in no change to total assets.

22. Collection of Accounts previously Written Off
Later in 2011, on September 8, Bruce’s bankruptcy proceedings are complete. Kimzey had expected to receive none of the $4,000 Bruce owed. After liquidating all assets, Bruce is able to pay each of his creditors 25% of the amount due them. Kimzey records the following two entries.
The first entry simply reverses a portion of the previous entry that Kimzey made on February 23 to write off the account. The second entry records the collection of the account receivable. Notice that in both entries the debit entry increases total assets by the same amount that the credit entry decreases total assets. Therefore, collecting cash on an account previously written off has no effect on total assets and no effect on net income.

23. Balance of Kimzey’s Net Accounts Receivable
Total accounts written off by Kimzey during 2011 equaled $5 million but that $1 million of this amount was collected by the end of the year. The timeline of events related to accounts receivable during 2010 and 2011 is this: (1) Accounts receivable total $20 million at the end of (2) Made an adjusting entry at the end of 2010 for estimated bad debts of $6
million. (3) Actual accounts wrote off as uncollectible in 2011 total $5 million. (4) Of the $5 million written off, $1 million later appears receivable. (5) Received $1 million cash for the accounts re-established in (4).
Net accounts receivables decline for two of these events. First, as we estimate future bad debts, we recognize the likelihood that we will not collect cash for some accounts. Second, once the company receives payment from customers, their account balances are no longer receivable.
On the other hand, writing off actual bad debts and re-establishing those previous write-offs when it appears that customers will pay, has no effect on net accounts receivable.
Notice that the balance of the allowance account is $2 million at the end of Does the fact that the allowance account has a nonzero ending balance mean that Kimzey’s estimate of uncollectible accounts for 2011 was wrong? Perhaps. On the other hand, it may mean only that some of the $15 million in accounts receivable has not yet proven uncollectible but eventually will. In any case, when we make estimates in accounting, it’s highly unlikely they will prove exactly correct. Users of financial statements must realize that some of the amounts reported in financial statements are estimates, and estimating the future almost always results in some inaccuracy.

24. Estimating Uncollectible Accounts in the following year
At the end of 2011, Kimzey must once again estimate uncollectible accounts and make a year-end adjusting entry. Suppose that in 2011 it bills customers for services $80 million, and $30 million are still receivable at the end of the year. Of $30 million receivable, it estimates 30% will not be collected. For what amount would it record the year-end adjusting entry for bad debts in 2011?.
The current balance of the allowance account is
Notice that the balance before the year-end adjustment in this example is a $2 million credit. A credit balance before adjustment indicates that last year’s estimate of uncollectible accounts may have been too high. However, it’s possible that some of the estimated uncollectible accounts have not proven bad yet. A debit balance before adjustment indicates that last year’s estimate was too low.

25. Estimating Uncollectible Accounts in the following year
Based on all available information at the end of 2011, Kimzey estimates that the allowance for uncollectible accounts should be $9 million. Allowance account needs to increase from its current balance of $2 million credit to the estimated ending balance of $9 million credit. It can accomplish this by adjusting the account for $7 million as follows:
Based on all available information at the end of 2011, Kimzey estimates that the allowance for uncollectible accounts should be $9 million. This means the allowance account needs to increase from its current balance of $2 million credit to the estimated ending balance of $9 million credit. Kimzey can accomplish this by adjusting the account for $7 million.

26. Estimating Uncollectible Accounts in the following year
In its 2011 income statement, Kimzey will report bad debt expense of $7 million along with other operating expenses of, say, $50 million. This is displayed in the slide.
In the 2011 balance sheet, Kimzey will report the allowance account at the best estimate of its appropriate balance, $9 million. This is displayed in the slide.
The process of estimating an allowance for uncollectible accounts, writing off bad debts in the following period, and then re-estimating the allowance at the end of the period is one that occurs throughout the company’s life.

27. LO5 Use the aging method to estimate future uncollectible accounts
Management can estimate this percentage using historical averages, current economic conditions, industry comparisons, or other analytical techniques.
A more accurate method than assuming a single percentage uncollectible for all accounts is to consider the age of various accounts receivable, and use a higher percentage for “old” accounts than for “new” accounts. This is known as the aging method.
For instance, accounts that are 60 days past due are older than accounts that are 30 days past due. The older the account, the less likely it is to be collected
In our example for Kimzey Medical Clinic, we estimated future uncollectible accounts by applying a single estimated percentage to total accounts receivable (30%). Management can estimate this percentage using historical averages, current economic conditions, industry comparisons, or other analytical techniques. A more accurate method than assuming a single percentage uncollectible for all accounts is to consider the age of various accounts receivable, and use a higher percentage for “old” accounts than for “new” accounts. This is known as the aging method. For instance, accounts that are 60 days past due are older than accounts that are 30 days past due. The older the account, the less likely it is to be collected.

28. Use the aging method to estimate future uncollectible accounts
Kimzey Medical Clinic – How aging of accounts receivable can be used to estimate uncollectible accounts. Recall that accounts receivable at the end of 2011 totaled $30 million. Below image shows its accounts receivable aging schedule at the end of 2011.
Each age group has its own estimate of the percent uncollectible. Summing the estimated allowance for each age group results in a total estimated allowance of $8 million.

29. Use the aging method to estimate future uncollectible accounts.
The entry to adjust the allowance from its current balance of $2 million credit to the estimated balance of $8 million credit is displayed in the slide.

30. LO6 Contrast the allowance method and direct write-off method when accounting for uncollectible accounts
Direct Write-Off Method
Recording bad debt expense at the time we know the account to be uncollectible.
The direct write-off method is used for tax purposes but is generally not permitted for financial reporting.
Suppose a company provides services for $10,000 on account in 2010, but makes no allowance for uncollectible accounts at the end of the year. On September 17, 2011, $2,000 is considered uncollectible. The company records the write-off as follows.
Recording bad debt expense at the time we know the account to be uncollectible is known as the direct write-off method. The direct write-off method is used for tax purposes but is generally not permitted for financial reporting. Since the credit sale that generated this receivable occurred in 2010, but we do not record the expense for the bad debt until 2011, we have violated the matching principle. Operating expenses would have been understated and assets overstated in This is why the direct write-off method of accounting for uncollectible accounts is not permitted for financial reporting purposes except in limited circumstances. Specifically, a firm must use the allowance method if it is probable that the firm will not collect a material amount of receivables and it can reasonably estimate that amount.

31. Comparison of the Allowance Method and the Direct Write-off Method for Recording Uncollectible Accounts
Assume that by the end of 2010 we estimate $2,000 of accounts receivable won’t be collected. Also assume that our estimate of future bad debts turns out to be correct, and actual bad debts in 2011 total $2,000.
Assume that by the end of 2010 we estimate $2,000 of accounts receivable won’t be collected. For simplicity, also assume that our estimate of future bad debts turns out to be correct, and actual bad debts in 2011 total $2,000.
Under the allowance method, future bad debts are estimated and recorded as an expense and a reduction in assets in Under the direct write-off method, though, we make no attempt to estimate future bad debts. We record bad debt expense in the period the account proves uncollectible. In this case, we report the bad debt expense and reduction in assets in Notice that, either way, the ultimate effect is a $2,000 debit to bad debt expense and a $2,000 credit to accounts receivable. The difference is in the timing.

32. LO7 Calculate key ratios investors use to monitor a company’s effectiveness in managing receivables
The amount of a company’s accounts receivable is influenced by a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the nature of the product or service sold, and credit and collection policies.
More liberal credit policies—allowing customers a longer time to pay or offering cash discounts for early payment—often are initiated with the specific objective of increasing sales volume.
Management’s choice of credit and collection policies results in trade-offs.
Investors, creditors, and financial analysts can gain important insights by monitoring a company’s investment in receivables.
Two important ratios that help in understanding the company’s effectiveness in managing receivables are the
receivables turnover ratio and
the average collection period.
The amount of a company’s accounts receivable is influenced by a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the nature of the product or service sold, and credit and collection policies. These factors are, of course, related.
More liberal credit policies—allowing customers a longer time to pay or offering cash discounts for early payment—often are initiated with the specific objective of increasing sales volume.
Management’s choice of credit and collection policies results in trade-offs. For example, when a company attempts to boost sales by allowing customers more time to pay, that policy also creates an increase in the required investment in receivables and may increase bad debts because older accounts are less likely to be collected. Offering discounts for early payment may increase sales volume, accelerate customer payment, and reduce bad debts, but at the same time it reduces the amount of cash collected from customers who take advantage of the discounts.
Investors, creditors, and financial analysts can gain important insights by monitoring a company’s investment in receivables. Two important ratios that help in understanding the company’s effectiveness in managing receivables are the receivables turnover ratio and the average collection period.

33. Receivables Turnover Ratio
It shows the number of times during a year that the average accounts receivable balance is collected.
Receivables turnover ratio =
Net Sales
Average accounts receivable
The average collection period is another way to express the same measure. It shows the approximate number of days the average accounts receivable balance is outstanding.
The receivables turnover ratio shows the number of times during a year that the average accounts receivable balance is collected (or “turns over”).
The average collection period is another way to express the same measure. It shows the approximate number of days the average accounts receivable balance is outstanding.
Average collection period =
365 Days
Receivables turnover ratio

34. Receivables Turnover Ratio
Net credit sales are $400,000 for the year and the average accounts receivable balance is $40,000. We could say the turnover ratio is 10, or average receivables were collected 10 times during the year. If the turnover is 10 times a year (365 days), then the average balance is collected every 36.5 days.
In that case, we could say the turnover ratio is 10, or average receivables were collected 10 times during the year. The lower half of the receivables turnover ratio—average accounts receivable—is typically measured as the beginning accounts receivable plus the ending accounts receivable divided by two. So, our average of $40,000 might be the result of having a $35,000 balance at the beginning of the year and a $45,000 balance at the end of the year.
The approximate number of days the average accounts receivable balance is outstanding. If the turnover is 10 times a year (365 days), then the average balance is collected every 36.5 days.
Companies typically strive for a high receivables turnover ratio and a correspondingly low average collection period. As a company’s sales increase, receivables also likely will increase. If the percentage increase in receivables is greater than the percentage increase in sales, the receivables turnover ratio will decline (and the average collection period will increase).

35. Part C Notes Receivable
Notes receivable are similar to accounts receivable but are more formal credit arrangements evidenced by a written debt instrument, or note.

36. LO8 Apply the procedure to account for notes receivable, including interest calculation
Notes receivable are similar to accounts receivable but are more formal credit arrangements evidenced by a written debt instrument, or note.
Notes receivables are classified as either Current or Noncurrent depending on the expected collection date.
If the time to maturity is longer than one year, the note receivable is a long-term asset.
Notes receivable are similar to accounts receivable but are more formal credit arrangements evidenced by a written debt instrument, or note. Notes receivable typically arise not from sales to customers, but from loans to other entities including affiliated companies; loans to stockholders and employees; and occasionally the sale of merchandise, other assets, or services.
Like accounts receivable, notes receivable are assets and therefore have a normal debit balance. We classify notes receivables as either current or noncurrent depending on the expected collection date. If the time to maturity is longer than one year, the note receivable is a long-term asset.

37. Notes Receivable
February 1, 2010, Kimzey has a patient, Justin Payne, who has a severely past due account receivable of $10,000. In place of the account receivable, it accepts a six-month, 12% promissory note from him. An example of a typical note receivable is shown below. It records the note as follows.
As an example, let’s say that, on February 1, 2010, Kimzey Medical Clinic has a patient, Justin Payne, who has a severely past due account receivable of $10,000. In place of the account receivable, Kimzey accepts a six-month, 12% promissory note from Justin. An example of a typical note receivable is shown in the slide.
The transaction has no impact on the accounting equation. One asset—notes eceivable—increases while another asset—accounts receivable—decreases.

38. Interest Calculation
Many of the same issues we discussed concerning accounts
Receivable, apply also to notes receivable.
One issue that applies to notes receivable but not accounts
receivable is interest.
Kimzey issued a six-month, 12% promissory note. It will charge Justin Payne one-half year of interest. Interest on its note receivable is calculated as follows.
Many of the same issues we discussed concerning accounts receivable, such as allowing for uncollectible accounts, apply also to notes receivable. The one issue that usually applies to notes receivable but not accounts receivable is interest. You’re probably familiar with the concept of interest. You may be earning interest on money in a savings account or checking account or you might be paying interest on student loans, a car, or a credit card.

39. Collection of Notes Receivables
We record the collection of notes receivable the same way as a collection of accounts receivable, except we record interest earned as interest revenue in the income statement.
August 1, 2010, the maturity date, Justin repays the note and interest in full as promised. Kimzey will record the following entry.
Over the six-month period, Kimzey earns interest revenue of $600. The credit to notes receivable reduces the balance in that account to $0, which is the amount Justin owes after payment to Kimzey.

40. Accrued Interest
It happens that notes are issued in one year and the maturity date
occurs in the following year.
What if Justin issued the previous six-month note to Kimzey on
November 1, 2010, instead of February 1, 2010?
$10,000 face value and $600 interest on the six-month note are
not due until May 1, 2011.
The length of the note and interest rate remain the same, the total
interest charged to Justin remains the same.
Kimzey will record interest revenue for two months of the six-
month note, and four months in the next year.
Kimzey will record interest revenue for two months of the six-month note—November and December—in 2010, and for four months—January through April—in the next year. Otherwise, interest will be reported in the wrong reporting periods.
On December 31, 2010, Kimzey will record an adjusting entry for interest revenue accrued but not yet collected.
Remember, interest is earned as time goes by, so Kimzey earns two months’ interest ($200) in 2010 even though it won’t collect it until 2011.

41. Accrued Interest
Remember, interest is earned as time goes by, so Kimzey earns two months’ interest ($200) in 2010 even though it won’t collect it until On May 1, 2011, the maturity date, It records the collection of the note receivable and interest receivable as well as the revenue related to four months’ interest earned in 2011.
On May 1, 2011, the maturity date, Kimzey records the collection of the note receivable and interest receivable as well as the revenue related to four months’ interest earned in 2011.

42. Calculating Interest Revenue over Time for Kimzey Medical Clinic
On May 1, 2011, it has received the note receivable recorded on November 1, 2010, and the interest receivable recorded on December 31, 2010, and has eliminated their balances. The remaining four months’ interest occurs in 2011 and it recognizes as revenue then. Interest receivable from its six-month, $10,000, 12% note is $100 per month (= $10,000 x 12% x 1/12).
On May 1, 2011, Kimzey has received the note receivable recorded on November 1, 2010, and the interest receivable recorded on December 31, 2010, and has eliminated their balances. The remaining four months’ interest occurs in 2011 and Kimzey recognizes it as revenue then. The calculation of interest revenue over time is demonstrated below. Interest receivable from Kimzey’s six-month, $10,000, 12% note is $100 per month (= $10,000 x 12% x 1/12).

43. Percentage of Credit Sales Method
Appendix
Percentage of Credit Sales Method

44. Income statement method
LO9 Estimate uncollectible accounts using the percentage of credit sales method.
Percentage of
receivables method
Based on the estimate of bad
debts on a balance sheet
account—accounts receivable
Percentage of
Credit sales method
Based on the estimate of bad
debts on a income statement
account—credit sales
In the chapter, we estimate uncollectible accounts based on a percentage of accounts receivable at the end of the period. This method is the percentage of receivables method or the balance sheet method, because we base the estimate of bad debts on a balance sheet account—accounts receivable.
As an alternative, we can estimate uncollectible accounts based on the percentage of credit sales for the year, aptly referred to as the percentage of credit sales method or the income statement method, because we base the estimate of bad debts on an income statement account—credit sales. In this appendix, we consider the percentage of credit sales method.
Balance sheet method
Income statement method

45. Adjusting for Estimates of Uncollectible Accounts
Let’s rework the example in the chapter for Kimzey Medical Clinic (see Illustrations 5–8 to 5–10 and their discussion). During 2011, Kimzey bills customers $80 million for services, with $30 million in accounts receivable remaining at the end of the year. The balance of the allowance account, before adjusting entries, is a $2 million credit. For the percentage of receivables method, we’ll use the same estimate for uncollectible accounts as in the chapter—30% of receivables. For the percentage of credit sales method, let’s assume we expect 10% of credit sales to be uncollectible. We can base the 10% estimate on a number of factors, such as the average percentage of uncollectibles each year over the past several years.
Notice that the two methods for estimating uncollectible accounts result in different adjusting entry amounts. Because the amounts of the adjusting entries differ, the effects on the financial statements differ. Recall that the balance of the allowance account before adjustment is a $2 million credit. After adjustment, the balance of the allowance account will differ between the two methods, as will the amount of bad debt expense. Slide summarizes the differences in financial statement effects.

46. Financial Statement: Effects of Estimating Uncollectible Accounts
From an income statement perspective, some argue that the percentage of credit sales method provides a better method for estimating bad debts because expenses (bad debts) are better matched with revenues (credit sales). A better matching of expenses and revenues results in a more accurate measure of net income for the period. From a balance sheet perspective, though, the percentage of receivables method is preferable because assets (net accounts receivable) are reported closer to their net realizable value.
The current emphasis on better measurement of assets (balance sheet focus) outweighs the emphasis on better measurement of net income (income statement focus). This is why the percentage of receivables method (balance sheet method) is the preferable method, while the percentage of credit sales method (income statement method) is allowed only if amounts do not differ significantly from estimates using the percentage of receivables method.

47. End of chapter 5