eBook Calculator Print item Compare Two Methods of Accounting for Uncollectible Receivables Call Systems Company, a telephone service and supply company, has just completed its fourth year of operations. The direct write-off method of recording bed debt expense has been used during the entire period. Because of substantial increases in sales volume and the amount of uncollectible accounts, the company considering changing to the allowance method. Information is requested as to the effect that an annual provision of % 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 Written Year Sales 1st 2nd 3rd 4th orf 1st $1,270,000 $1,150 $1,150 2nd 1,630,000 2,750 1,300 $1,450 3rd 2,890,000 12,550 3,650 2,900 $6,000 4th 3,180,000 15,600 3,600 5,300 $6,700 Required: 1. Assemble the desired data. Enter a decrease in the amount of expense as a negative number and all other amounts as positive numbers. Call Systems Company Bad Debt Expense Increase (Decrease) In Amount of Expense Balance of Allowance Account, End of Year Year Expense Actually Reported Expense Based on Estimate 2nd 10 $1,450 2nd 3rd 4th 1,630,000 2,890,000 3,180,000 2,750 12,550 15,600 1,300 3,650 2,900 3,600 $6,000 5,300 $6,700 Required: 1. Assemble the desired data. Enter a decrease in the amount of expense as a negative number and all other amounts as positive numbers. Call Systems Company Bad Debt Expense Year Expense Actually Reported Expense Based on Estimate Increase (Decrease) in Amount of Expense Balance of Allowance Account, 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 1% of sales appear to be reasonably close to the actual experience with uncollectible accounts originating during the first two years? Previous