The term ‘bad debt’ and ‘write off’ are often used together in a sentence but they have different meanings. First, we will discuss them in brief to understand the differences between them. Bad debts We know, debtors for a business are their assets because the business has the right to receive moneyRead more
The term ‘bad debt’ and ‘write off’ are often used together in a sentence but they have different meanings. First, we will discuss them in brief to understand the differences between them.
Bad debts
We know, debtors for a business are their assets because the business has the right to receive money from the debtors due to the goods supplied to them.
But if due to circumstances, there appears no probability that the amount due to one or more debtors will be realised to the business, then such debts are categorised as bad debts.
In short, bad debts refer to the amount of money that will not be received from some debtors of the business due to some circumstances like insolvency of debtor etc.
Bad debt is deducted from debtors account by the following journal entry:
| Bad debts A/c | Dr. | Amt |
| To Debtors A/c | Cr. | Amt |
| (Being bad debts written off from debtors) |
As bad debts are losses to a business, it is ultimately written off from the profit and loss account.
| Profit and loss A/c | Dr. | Amt |
| To Bad debts A/c | Cr. | Amt |
| (Being bad debts written off to profit and loss account) |
Write off
In layman terms, write off means to deduct something out from something. In accounting, write off means to deduct or reduce value of assets by crediting it to a liability account which is usually a reserve account or the profit and loss account.
It also refers to the elimination of an item from the books of accounts particularly losses and expenses.
Generally, writing off is associated with the following:
- Bad debts.
- Damaged Inventories.
- Loss on issue or redemption of debentures.
- Preliminary expenses.
- Bad loans and advances.
Write off can be done in one of the following methods:
- Direct write-off: The write off is directly done by crediting asset account or loss account and debiting the reserve or P/L account.
- Indirect write-off: Here, an intermediate account is involved between the asset account and liabilities account. A common example is writing off of bad debts where the bad debts account is the intermediate account.
Hence, the following differences can be observed between bad debts and write off or writing off:
Advantages of Bill of Exchange: Bill of Exchange is generally used as an instrument of credit as it offers many advantages to its users. The advantages are as follows: CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE: It acts as a shred of conclusive evidence in case of any dispute between the parties like seller-buyer, drawer-Read more
Advantages of Bill of Exchange:
Bill of Exchange is generally used as an instrument of credit as it offers many advantages to its users. The advantages are as follows:
- MUTUAL ACCOMMODATION: Sometimes bills are mutually accommodated for the benefit of the parties. The Bill is drawn and accepted by drawer and drawee. Then the same bill is discounted by the drawer and the agreed sum is remitted to the drawee. This is basically done mutually to provide financial help to each other.
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