Question

During 2017 sales on account were $390,000 and collections on account were $230,000. also, during 2017 the company wrote off $22,000 in uncollectible accounts. an analysis of outstanding receivable accounts at year end indicated that bad debts should be estimated at $144,000. the change in the cash realizable value from the balance at 12/31/16 to 12/31/17 was

Answer 1

total accounts receivable $390,000

collected accounts ($230,000)

outstanding accounts receivable $160,000

- write offs ($22,000)

$138,000

- estimated bad debts ($144,000)

accounts receivable ($6,000)

Accounts receivable cannot have a negative balance (credit balance), since you cannot owe money that consumers owe to you.

We are missing some information regarding the previous year's accounts receivable and cash realizable values. We could assume some numbers in order to show how to solve this, you would need to fill in the correct information later:

• Assuming accounts receivable 2016 = $1,000,000
• Assuming allowance for doubtful accounts 2016= $100,000
• Assuming cash realizable value 2016 = $900,000

The change in cash realizable value:

(ending accounts receivable 2016 + sales on account 2017 - collections on accounts receivable 2017 - write offs 2017 - estimated bad debts 2017) - net cash realizable value 2016

Using the numbers I wrote down as an example:

($1,000,000 + $390,000 - $230,000 - $22,000 - $144,000) - $900,000 = $994,000 - $900,000 = $94,000

Answer 2

[(Accounts receivable at the beginning of the year + $138,000) - $144,000] - cash realizable value at the beginning of the year

Explanation: The question is incomplete but just apply the missing figures: [(Accounts receivable at the beginning of the year + Sales on account - Collections on account - write off) - bad debt] - cash realizable value at the beginning of the year

[(Accounts receivable at the beginning of the year + $390,000 - $230,000 - $22,000) - $144,000] - cash realizable value at the beginning of the year