Week 8

Question 1

Accounts receivable

Answer 1

A receivable represents a business’ claim on the assets of another entity.
The most common type of receivable is an account receivable.
An account receivable is an amount owed by a customer who has purchased the company’s product or service.
Sometimes these receivables are referred to as trade receivables
(Trade Debtors) because they arise from the trade of the company.

Question 2

Sales returns and allowances

Answer 2

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Question 3

Reporting accounts receivable

Answer 3

Because accounts receivable are expected to be collected quickly, they are classified and reported as current assets.
Companies must follow the principle of conservatism and report their accounts receivable at fair value (net realisable value).

Question 4

NRV

Answer 4

Net realisable value is the amount of cash that a business expects to collect from its total or gross accounts receivable balance. It is calculated by subtracting from gross receivables the amount that a company does not expect to collect.

Question 5

Uncollectible accounts

Answer 5

Bad debts expense is included in the calculation of profits (or losses) but is usually combined with other operating expenses on the statement of comprehensive income.
An uncollectible account is written-off (the asset is removed) and an expense is recognised.
When the expense is recognised depends on the method of accounting for uncollectible accounts.

Question 6

There are two methods to account for bad debt expense:

Answer 6

direct write-off method

allowance method

Question 7

Direct write-off method

Answer 7

Under the direct write-off method, bad debt expense is recorded when the business determines that a receivable is uncollectible and removes it from its records.
While this method is required for most tax purposes and is simple, it violates GAAP (the matching principle).

Question 8

Recording the direct write-off method

Answer 8

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Question 9

Shortcomings of the direct write-off method

Answer 9

Shortcomings of the direct write-off method are:
it fails to match bad debt expense with revenue, since it delays the expense until the account is determined to be uncollectible
it provides an opportunity to manipulate earnings each period by strategically writing-off accounts
it does not provide the best estimate of how accounts receivable affect expected cash inflow.

Question 10

Estimating the amount of uncollectible accounts

When estimating bad debt expense using the allowance method, either or both of the following may be used:

Answer 10

percentage-of-sales approach:

percentage-of-receivables or ageing of accounts receivable approach

Question 11

percentage-of-sales approach:

Answer 11

multiply sales for the period by a percentage set by the company. Typically, this percentage is between 1–2 per cent of credit sales, but may vary with volume of business, ease with which credit is granted and general economic conditions.

Question 12

percentage-of-receivables or ageing of accounts receivable approach

Answer 12

percentage-of-receivables or ageing of accounts receivable approach: this is a function of a company’s receivables balance, where the allowance account is adjusted to reflect the estimate of the uncollectibles from existing accounts.

Question 13

The allowance method

Answer 13

As such, the allowance method splits the accounting into two entries:
to record an estimate of bad debt expense
to write off receivables when they become uncollectible

Question 14

Percentage of sales approach

Answer 14

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Question 15

Ageing of accounts receivable approach

Answer 15

A more refined version of the percentage-of-receivables approach.
Recognising that receivables become less collectible as they get older, companies often prepare ageing schedules for their receivables.
An ageing schedule is a listing and summation of accounts receivable by their ages.

Question 16

Ageing of accounts receivable approach example

Answer 16

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Question 17

Writing off specific accounts using the allowance method

Answer 17

Min Ly determines in 2010 that a $2 500 ( excluding GST) receivable from William is uncollectible and decides to write it off.
When a firm decides that a particular customer account is uncollectible, it removes that account by debiting the allowance for bad debts and crediting accounts receivable for that specific customer.
This process is called writing off the account.

Question 18

Writing off specific accounts using the allowance method (2)

Answer 18

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Question 19

Recovery of a write-off

Answer 19

Occasionally, a company will collect a receivable previously written off. When this payment occurs, two entries are made:
The first entry reverses the original writing off.
The second entry records the collection of cash and the reduction of the receivable.

Question 20

Liabilities Defined

Answer 20

Three essential characteristics
Present obligation to an external party
Obligation must have resulted from past events
Must have future outflow of resources embodying economic benefits

Question 21

Recognition of liabilities

Criteria for recognition

Answer 21

it is Probable that future economic benefit will flow from the entity- On demand/On a specified date/On the occurrence of a specified event
the amount at which the settlement will take place can be measured reliably.

Question 22

Recognition of liabilities

Recognition avoids

Answer 22

Understatement of liabilities

Overstatement of equity

Question 23

Bills Payable - Example

Answer 23

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Question 24

Provisions

Answer 24

Nature of provisions
Liabilities of uncertain timing or amount

Accumulated depreciation and Allowance for Doubtful Debts not provisions

Examples include
Provision for long-service leave
Provision for warranties

Question 25

Warranties

Answer 25

Situations in which repairs or exchanges will be made in the event that the product does not function as originally intended
Estimate of future warranty obligations for inventory sold with warranty .

Question 26

Example –
Darrne’s Gardening Equipment had the following transactions in July 2017. The financial year for the company ends on 30 June. July 1 Created a provision for warrantees for $11,000. None had existed previously.
July 15 A successful claim was made by a customer for a fault in a lawnmower they had previously purchased. The lawnmower was under warrantee. It cost Darren $600 plus 10% GST to rectify the fault.

Answer 26

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Question 27

Contingent liabilities

Answer 27

A contingent liability is a possible obligation that arises from past events and will only be confirmed by some future event beyond the reporting entity’s control. Or it is a present obligation that is not recognised because:
it is not probable that payment will be required
the amount cannot be measured with sufficient reliability
Contingent liabilities are not recorded or reported in the balance sheet ( AASB 137). Only can be disclosed as notes

Question 28

An example of a contingent liability

Answer 28

Example- Legal action against a company, which is an uncertain condition whose resolution depends on future events ( for example , a jury verdict)

Question 29

Employee benefits

Answer 29

Include
Wages and salaries
Long-service leave, sick leave, annual leave, maternity leave
Superannuation and post employment benefits
Fringe benefits (monetary and non-monetary)

Question 30

Employee benefits example

Answer 30

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Question 31

Non-current liabilities

Answer 31

A non-current liability is any obligation of a business that is expected to be satisfied or paid in more than one year.
Non current liabilities generally include long-term borrowings – bonds, mortgage loans, long term loans

Question 32

Bonds or debentures

Answer 32

Bonds are financial instruments that companies use to borrow money on a long-term basis.
Borrowers sell or issue bonds and record a liability as a promise to pay future interest and repay the principal to a creditor in exchange for the creditor’s cash today.
The creditor buys bonds and records them as investments (asset).

Question 33

Advantages

Why finance through long-term debt?

Answer 33

Creditors do not have voting rights

Creditors do not share excess profits - only interest

Owners can received greater return if more shares not issued

Question 34

Disadvantages

Why finance through long-term debt?

Answer 34

Interest required regardless of performance

Default risks – possible winding up?

Creditors paid first in the event of business winding up

Question 35

Ordinary shares

Answer 35

One of the distinguishing characteristics of a company is its ability to sell capital share to investors to raise funds. The amount raised by issuing capital shares is called issued capital (contributed equity) because the funds are contributed by investors in exchange for an ownership claim on company assets.

Question 36

Preference shares

Answer 36

Preference share are a form of shares that receives one or more priorities over ordinary share. Usually, preferred shareholders relinquish the right to vote in exchange for preference to dividends and preference to assets upon liquidation of the company.