According to the allowance method, writing off an account receivable will include a:

What is the Allowance Method? 

The allowance method  matches the estimated expenses or losses from uncollectible accounts receivables against the sales. 

We record our accounts receivable on the balance sheet. This amount is often inaccurate, as we will likely not be able to collect all of these. 

At the end of the accounting period, a bad debt expense is estimated and recorded in an adjusting entry. 

We have to figure out how much we think we're not going to get and reduce our accounts receivables accordingly by recording a bad debt expense.

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Example of the Allowance Method

The below video provides an example of the Allowance Method. 


What are the Advantages of the Allowance Method? 

The advantages of using the allowance method for valuing accounts receivables are: 

  • It records bad debt expense when the related sales are recorded. So, it matches the expense with the revenue. 
  • It also records the accounts receivables on the balance sheet and an estimated amount of cash to be collected.
  • so again I'm

How to Calculate the Bad Debt

There are three main ways that we can calculate bad debt.

  • Percentage of Sales Method - A percentage of what we sell for that year.
  • Percentage of Receivables Method - A percentage of whatever our receivables balances,
  • Aging Schedule or Aging of Receivables - We itemize those things based upon age of the specific payable. 

What is the Percentage of Sales Method?

The below video provides an explanation of the Percentage of Sales Method for creating a bad debt expense account. 

Example of the Percentage of Sales Method

The below video provides an example of the Percentage of Sales Method for creating a bad debt expense account. 

What is the Percent of Receivables Method?

The below video provides an explanation of the Percentage of Receivables Method for creating a bad debt expense account. 



Example of the Percentage of Receivables Method

The below video provides an example of the Percentage of Sales Method for creating a bad debt expense account. 

What is the Aging of Receivables Method?

The below video provides an explanation of the Aging of Receivables Method for creating a bad debt expense account. 


What is the Direct Writeoff Method?

The below video provides an explanation of the Aging of Receivables Method for creating a bad debt expense account. 

Example of the Direct Writeoff Method

The below video provides an example of the Direct Writeoff Method for creating a bad debt expense account. 


  • Accounting for Accounts Receivable? – Financial Accounting
    • Accounts Receivable Subsidiary Ledger
    • What are Bad Debt and Doubtful Accounts
    • What are the Allowance Method & Direct Wr? – Financial Accounting
  • Accounting for Notes Receivable? – Financial Accounting

When using the allowance method the write

Under the allowance method, if a specific customer's accounts receivable is identified as uncollectible, it is written off by removing the amount from Accounts Receivable.

What is write

A write-off is an elimination of an uncollectible accounts receivable recorded on the general ledger.

What is allowance method for receivables?

Definition: The allowance method is a system that estimates uncollectable receivables and bad debts by reporting accounts receivable at its realizable value. In other words, it's a method that management uses to estimate the amount of cash credit customers will actually pay.

When the allowance method used the entry to write

When a specific customer's account is identified as uncollectible, the journal entry to write off the account is: A credit to Accounts Receivable (to remove the amount that will not be collected) A debit to Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (to reduce the Allowance balance that was previously established)