PR 9-3B Compare two methods of accounting for uncollectible receivables

Cyber Tech Company, which operates a chain of 25 electronics supply stores, has just completed its fourth year of operations. The direct write-off method of recording bad debt expense has been used during the entire period. Because of substantial increases in sales volume and the amount of uncollectible accounts, the firm is considering changing to the allowance method. Information is requested as to the effect that an annual provision of ½% of sales would have had on the amount of bad debt expense reported for each of the past four years. It is also considered desirable to know what the balance of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts would have been at the end of each year. The following data have been obtained from the accounts:

Year of Origin of

Accounts Receivable Written

Off as Uncollectible

Uncollectible Accounts

Year

Sales

Written Off

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

1st

$1,400,000

$ 1,300

1,300

2nd

2,000,000

3,600

1,500

$2,100

3rd

3,000,000

13,500

4,000

3,300

$6,200

4th

3,600,000

17,700

4,000

6,100

$7,600

: Instructions

1. Assemble the desired data, using the following column headings:

Bad Debt Expense

Increase

Expense

Expense

(Decrease)

Balance of

Actually

Based on

in Amount

Allowance Account,

Year

Reported

Estimate

of Expense

End of Year

2. Experience during the first four years of operations indicated that the receivables were either collected within two years or had to be written off as uncollectible. Does the estimate of ½% of sales appear to be reasonably close to the actual experience with uncollectible accounts originating during the first two years? Explain.