Bad debt expense is the amount recorded on the profit and loss statement for accounts receivable that are estimated to be uncollectable during the period.
Bad debt expense represents the cost of credit sales that will never be collected. Under the allowance method, bad debt expense is estimated each period based on historical collection rates and current receivables ageing. Under the direct write-off method, the expense is recorded when a specific debt is identified as uncollectable. The allowance method is preferred under accrual accounting because it matches the expense to the period in which the sale was made. Bad debt expense reduces your net profit and is generally tax-deductible (subject to country-specific rules about when a debt can be claimed as a deduction). Managing bad debt expense involves setting appropriate credit policies, performing credit checks on new customers, sending timely invoices and following up on overdue accounts promptly. SortBooks helps minimise bad debt expense by identifying at-risk receivables early through ageing analysis and AI-powered pattern recognition.
SortBooks helps with the bookkeeping behind bad debt expense by connecting to your Xero account and using AI to suggest the right account for transactions sitting in catch-all accounts, learning from your own past coding. Instead of fixing bad debt expense by hand, you review each suggestion, approve it, and SortBooks updates Xero, GST code included. Then ask the AI CFO about your numbers, using live Xero data.
Bad debt is money owed to your business that you determine is uncollectable. Writing off bad debt removes the amount from accounts receivable and records it as an expense.
A bad debt provision (or allowance for doubtful debts) is an estimated amount set aside to cover accounts receivable that may not be collected.
Accounts receivable (AR) is the money owed to your business by customers who have purchased goods or services on credit. It is a current asset on your balance sheet.
The P&L (also called the income statement) shows your business revenue, expenses and resulting profit or loss over a specific period.
A write-off is the removal of an asset's remaining value from the books, recording it as an expense. Common write-offs include bad debts, obsolete inventory and damaged assets.
Connect Xero, check the AI's suggestions and approve the changes. SortBooks updates Xero for you.