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View Full Version : Allowance for uncollectable accounts


wwilki5796
Apr 21, 2007, 09:49 AM
Assume there is a sufficiently large credit balance in the allowance for uncollectible accounts. The act of writing off an uncollectible account will

a. have no effect on assets
b. reduce total assets
c. reduce net income for the period
d. reduce both assets and retained earnings

wwilki5796
Apr 22, 2007, 05:55 AM
Reduce net income is my thoughts

ThePhantom
Apr 22, 2007, 07:54 AM
The act of writing off an uncollectible account will have no effect on assets.

Reason:

Account receivables are shown at their Net reliazable value >
For example:

Acc. Recv. 1000
Less: All. for uncoll. amt. (500)
____
Net Acc. Recv. 500

If uncollectable acc. Is written down then it will affect both acc. Recv. & allow. For uncoll amt. accounts. Amount written down = 100

[Dr.] All. for uncoll. amt. 100
[Cr.] Acc. Receivable 100

Hence there will be no impact.

Acc. Recv. 900*
Less: All. For uncoll. amt. (400)**
_____
Net Acc. Recv. 500

* 1000-100=900
** 500-100=400