Bad Debt is the amount that is irrecoverable from the debtors. It is the portion of the receivables. It includes two accounts “Bad Debts A/c” and “Debtors A/c or Accounts Receivable A/c”. The amount cannot be recovered by the debtor for reasons like the debtor is no longer in the position to pay offRead more
Bad Debt is the amount that is irrecoverable from the debtors. It is the portion of the receivables. It includes two accounts “Bad Debts A/c” and “Debtors A/c or Accounts Receivable A/c”.
The amount cannot be recovered by the debtor for reasons like the debtor is no longer in the position to pay off the debt or has become insolvent.
There are two methods to write off bad debts:
- Direct Method
- Allowance for Doubtful Debts
1. Direct Method: In this method, the amount of bad debts is directly deducted from the total receivables and the second effect is transferred to the debit side of Profit and Loss A/c as an expense.
The journal entry for bad debts as per modern rules of accounting is as follows:
| Bad Debts A/c | Debit | Increase in expenses |
| To Accounts Receivable A/c | Credit | Decrease in assets |
| (Being bad debts written off ) |
Journal entry for transferring bad debts to profit and loss account:
| Profit and Loss A/c | Debit |
| To Bad Debts A/c | Credit |
| (Being bad debts transferred to profit and loss a/c ) |
For example, A Ltd had a total receivable of Rs.2,50,000 and bad debts for the period amounted to Rs.10,000.
Here, the journal entries will be:
| Bad Debts A/c | Debit | 10,000 |
| To Accounts Receivable A/c | Credit | 10,000 |
| (Being bad debts written off ) |
| Profit and Loss A/c | Debit | 10,000 |
| To Bad Debts A/c | Credit | 10,000 |
| (Being bad debts transferred to profit and loss a/c ) |
2. Allowance for Doubtful Debts: In this method allowance is the estimation of the debts which is doubtful to be paid. The company creates a reserve for such debts which are uncollectible.
Firstly, the company will create a reserve which will be based on the accounts receivable. The journal entry will be:
| Bad Debts A/c | Debit |
| To Allowance for Doubtful Debts A/c | Credit |
| (Being allowance for doubtful debts created) |
When a specific receivable is uncollectible it will be charged as an expense, and Allowance for Doubtful Debts will be “Debited” and Accounts Receivable will be “Credited”.
| Allowance for Doubtful Debts A/c | Debit |
| To Accounts Receivable A/c | Credit |
| (Being bad debts written off) |
For example, Mr.B sold goods worth Rs.15,000 to Mr.D. He creates an allowance of Rs.15,000 in case Mr.D fails to pay the amount. At the end of the period, Mr.D defaults and does not pay the debt.
In this case, Mr.B will first record the journal entry for allowance and then will write off Mr.D’s account.
| Bad Debts A/c | 15,000 |
| To Allowance for Doubtful Debts A/c | 15,000 |
| (Being allowance of Rs.10,000 created for doubtful debts) |
| Allowance for Doubtful Debts A/c | 15,000 |
| To Mr.D’s A/c | 15,000 |
| (Being Mr.D’s account written off) |









The term ‘contra’ means 'opposite'. Therefore, a contra revenue account is an account that is opposite of the revenue accounts of a business i.e. sales account. It has the opposite balance of the revenue account i.e. debit balance. The purpose of the contra revenue account is to ascertain the actuaRead more
The term ‘contra’ means ‘opposite’. Therefore, a contra revenue account is an account that is opposite of the revenue accounts of a business i.e. sales account. It has the opposite balance of the revenue account i.e. debit balance.
The purpose of the contra revenue account is to ascertain the actual amount of sales and record the items which have reduced the sales.
These are the contra revenue accounts commonly seen in businesses:
The total sales return is deducted from the sales in the balance sheet. Though being opposite of the sales account, the sale return account is not an expense account. It is considered an indirect loss as it reduces sales.
Sales discount is an expense hence it is debited to the profit and loss account.
Sales returns and sales discounts are shown in the trading and profit and loss account in the following manner:

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