- Home
- Bankruptcy and Bankruptcy Code
- Business Entities
- Departmental Operations
- Allowances
- Bad Debt Write offs; Bad Debt Losses
- Calculating Bad Debt Reserves
- Bad-Debt Write Offs; Uncollectible Accounts Receivable
- Direct Write Off Method
- Large vs Small Past Due Balances
- Computer Skills and the Credit and Collection Function
- Consignments; Consignment Sales
- Credit and Sales; Using Salespeople as Collectors; Team Based Account Management
- Credit Department and Organizational Structure
- Key Activities of the Credit Department; Role of the Credit and Collections Department
- Credit Department Goals and Objectives
- Credit Department Organization; Centralized vs. Decentralized Credit Operations
- Credit Policy Overview
- Divestitures
- Downsizing the Credit Department; Planning and Pitfalls; Outsourcing
- Economic Downturns; Recessions; Layoffs
- Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
- Finding, Attracting, and Retaining the Best Employees
- Escalating A/R Problems to Management
- The Credit File; Keeping the Credit File Current
- Improving Inter-Departmental Relationships
- Lockbox; Bank Lockboxes; Improving Cash Flow
- Motivation and Performance
- UCC 1 Perfection by Filing
- Required Areas of Knowledge for a Credit Professional
- Impact of Bad Debt Write Offs; Bad Debt Losses
- Shipping Procedures
- Improving the Effectiveness and Efficiency of the Credit Function
- Building Bridges Between Sales and Credit
- Dormant Accounts
- Training Collectors
- Customer Retention
- Working Proactively in Credit and Collections
- Goal Setting for the Credit Department
- Myths about Credit Management
- Credit Practices
- Collection Practices
- Financial Analysis
- Financing Methods
- International Credit
- Laws and Regulations
- Payment Methods
- Performance Measures
- Security Instruments
- Career Management, and Job Change
- Credit Website Tools
- Upcoming Educational Events
- Credit and Collections Tools and Tips
- Tips on Creating Better Emails
- Generating Effective Credit Correspondence
- Exporting
- Accounting
Direct Write Off Method
Under the direct write off method, a company does not create a reserve for bad debt losses. Instead, it waits until an A/R balance is written off before recording the bad debt expense. As a result, accounts receivable is reported on the Balance Sheet at their full amount implying that there is no question about the collectibility of the accounts receivable. Under the direct write off method, bad debt expense will be likely be reported in a later accounting period than the revenue from the sale. This is a violation of the Matching Principle meaning that the direct write off method is not acceptable under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
© 2011 by Michael C. Dennis. All Rights Reserved. Michael is the author of "Credit and Collection Handbook."