Chapter Seven Questions
 

1. Define the term accounts receivable.

Accounts receivable are promises made by customers to pay for services or products they obtained from companies.
 

2. What are the main sources of resources for retail or merchandising companies? Give two examples of merchandising companies.

The main sources of resources for retail or merchandising companies are the prices they charge customers for products the customers buy. Examples of merchandising companies include Wal-Mart, J. C. Penney, Sears Roebuck, and The Gap.
 

3. What are the main sources of resources for manufacturing companies? Give two examples of manufacturing companies.

The main sources of resources for manufacturing companies are the prices they charge customers for products the customers buy. Examples of mamufacturing companies include Ford, General Motors, Gillette, and Raytheon.
 

4. What is the name of the account in which service companies record revenues?

Fees revenue.
 

5. What is the name of the account in which merchandising companies and manufacturing companies record revenues?

Sales.
 

6. Why do merchandising companies allow customers to return products?

Merchandising companies allow customers to return products in order to encourage them to shop at the companies. If customers are allowed to return products, they may be more willing to shop at the companies because their risk of buying unsatifactory products is reduced. Unsatisfactory products can be returned by the customers.
 

7. What is the name of the account in which the sales prices of returned products are recorded?

Sales returns and allowances.
 

8. What is a sales allowance and why do merchandising companies grant them to customers?

A sales allowance is a price reduction granted to customers in order to encourage them to keep items with which they are not completely satisfied. For example, a customer who purchased for $10 a product that was slightly damaged could be offered a $2 sales allowance to keep the product. If the product is returned by the customer, the company may have a difficult time selling it because it is damaged.
 

9. What is the name of the account in which the sales allowances are recorded?

Sales returns and allowances.
 

10. Define the term net sales.

Net sales is the dollar amount of the sales prices of products sold to customers and kept by them. Net sales is calculated as follows: sales - sales returns and allowances = net sales.
 

11. What is the most important use of accounts receivable?

The most important use of accounts receivable is to collect cash from customers.
 

12. Why do companies pledge their accounts receivable?

Companies pledge their accounts receivable to financial institutions as collateral for loans. Pledging accounts receivable is one way companies can receive cash for their accounts receivable before customers actually pay the amounts they owe.
 

13. What does it mean when a company factors its accounts receivable?

When a company factors its accounts receivable, it sells them to a financial institution. Factoring accounts receivable is another way companies can receive cash for their accounts receivable before customers actually pay the amounts they owe.
 

14. Define the term uncollectible accounts expense.

Uncollectible accounts expense is the cost of selling to customers who do not pay their bills. It is the dollar amount of new accounts receivable a company expects will never be collected.
 

15. Describe the contents of an accounts receivable subsidiary ledger.

The accounts receivable subsidiary ledger contains the detailed record of each credit customer. The information includes the date and amount of each credit sale, the date and amount of each cash collection, and the balance owed by each customer. The total dollar amounts of all customer records in the accounts receivable subsidiary ledger equals the accounts receivable balance in the general ledger.
 

16. List two uses of an accounts receivable subsidiary ledger.

One use of the accounts receivable subsidiary ledger is to determine the dollar amount to bill each customer. The information is used to prepare statements of account to send to customers, reminding them of the dollar amounts they owe. A second use of the accounts receivable subsidiary ledger is in evaluating current customers who request additional services or products.
 

17. Define the term contra asset account and give an example of one.

A contra asset is an asset with a credit balance. Since assets normally have debit balances (remember, assets increase with debits), an asset with a credit balance is contrary to most assets. Thus, the term contra asset. An example of a contra asset is the allowance for uncollectible accounts.
 
 

Chapter Seven Exercises
 

Exercise 7.1: Analyzing Potential Customers

Since it was founded 15 years ago, the Blair Corporation has not offered any credit to customers, but has sold its products for cash. For the last five years, the Blair Corporation sales averaged $60,000 per year. Its cost of goods sold was approximately 40% of sales, its operating expenses were 35% of sales, and its income taxes expense averaged 35% of income before taxes. The Blair Corporation is considering expanding sales by $20,000 per year by selling on credit. The company predicts that its cost and expense percentages will remain the same, but only 95% of the credit sales will be able to be collected.

1. Determine the company's expected total sales for the coming year.

Total sales = $60,000 (cash sales) + $20,000 (credit sales) = $80,000
 
 
2. Determine the company's expected cost of goods sold for the coming year.

Cost of goods sold = total sales x 40%

Cost of goods sold = $80,000 x .40 = $32,000
 
 
3. Determine the company's expected gross profit.

Gross profit = sales - cost of goods sold

Gross profit = $80,000 - $32,000 = $48,000
 
 
4. Determine the company's expected uncollectible accounts expense.

Since 95% of credit sales are expected to be collected, uncollectible accounts expense = 5% of credit sales (100% - 95% = 5%).

Uncollectible accounts expense = $20,000 x .05 = $1,000
 
 
5. Determine the company's expected total operating expenses (including its uncollectible accounts expense).

Total operating expenses = (sales x 35%) + uncollectible accounts expense

Total operating expenses = ($80,000 x .35) + $1,000

Total operating expenses = $28,000 + $1,000 = $29,000
 
 
6. Determine the company's expected income before taxes.
 

Sales

$80,000

Cost of goods sold

32,000

Gross margin

$48,000

Operating expenses

29,000

Income before taxes

$19,000

 
 
7. Determine the company's expected income taxes expense.

Income taxes expense = income before taxes x 35%

Income taxes expense = $19,000 x .35 = $6,650
 
 
8. Determine the company's expected net income.
 

Sales

$80,000

Cost of goods sold

$32,000

Gross margin

$48,000

Operating expenses

29,000

Income before taxes

$19,000

Income taxes expense

6,650

Net income

$12,350

 
 
9. Determine the dollar amount by which the company's net income is expected to increase through the $20,000 credit sales.
 

Sales (credit only)

$20,000

Cost of goods sold (40% of sales)

$8,000

Gross margin

$12,000

Operating expenses ((35% of sales) + $1,000)

8,000

Income before taxes

$4,000

Income taxes expense (35% of income before taxes)

1,400

Net income from $20,000 credit sales

$2,600

 
 
Exercise 7.2: Accounts Receivable Subsidiary Ledger

The Vincent Corporation maintains an accounts receivable subsidiary ledger from which the following information was obtained.
 

Customer: Shah 

Customer Number: 6785 

Date 

Description 

Debits 

Credits 

Balance 

8/1 

Balance 

 

 

$3,233.04 

8/12 

Sales invoice 710 

$1,358.92 

 

4,591.96 

8/24 

Payment received 

 

$2,500.00 

2,091.96 

During September, the Vincent Corporation engaged in the following transactions with Shah. September 7, credit sales of $945.78 (invoice number 985), September 15, cash received $1,500, and September 27, credit sales of $1,322.84 (invoice number 1049).

1. Update customer Shah's account in the Vincent Corporation's accounts receivable subsidiary ledger.
 

Customer: Shah 

Customer Number: 6785 

Date 

Description 

Debits 

Credits 

Balance 

8/1 

Balance 

 

 

$3,233.04

8/12 

Sales invoice 710 

$1,358.92

 

4,591.96

8/24 

Payment received 

 

$2,500.00

2,091.96

9/7

Sales invoice 985

$945.78

 

3,037.74

9/15

Payment received

 

$1,500.00

1,537.74

9/27

Sales invoice 1049

$1,322.84

 

2,860.58

 
 
2. If on September 30, the Vincent Corporation were to send statements of account to its customers requesting payment of the dollar amounts owed to the Vincent Corporation, determine the dollar amount that Shah would be requested to pay.

$2,860.58, the dollar amount Shah owes the Vincent Corporation.
 
 
Exercise 7.3: Uncollectible Accounts Expense

The Hovanasian Corporation uses the percentage of sales method to estimate its uncollectible accounts expense. An analysis of its accounts receivable revealed the following.
 

Year 

Credit Sales 

Accounts Receivable
Judged Uncollectible

$2,400,000 

$108,000 

2,250,000 

87,750 

2,100,000 

88,200 

2,000,000 

80,000 

1,950,000 

74,750 

 
 
1. Determine the percentage of credit sales that the Hovanasian was unable to collect over the 5-year time period.

5-year total accounts receivable judged uncollectible / 5-year total credit sales = $438,700 / $10,700,000 = .041 = 4.1%.
 
 
2. Using the percentage calculated in part 1, determine the uncollectible accounts expense the company's would record in year 6 if credit sales are $2,700,000.

$2,700,000 x .041 = $110,700.
 
 
3. Prepare the journal entry to record the company's year 6 uncollectible accounts expense.  Before you prepare the journal entry, determine the transaction's effects on the company's resources and sources of resources.
 

Total
Resources

=

Sources of
Borrowed
Resources

+

Sources of
Owner Invested
Resources

+

Sources of
Management Generated
Resources

Assets

=

Liabilities

+

Stockholders' Equity

- $110,700

=

 

 

 

 

- $110,700

 

Date

Description

Post.
Ref.

Debits

Credits

Dec. 31

Uncollectible Accounts Expense

 

110,700 

 

 

     Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

 

 

110,700 

 

Uncollectible Accts. Rec.

 

 

 

 
 
Exercise 7.4: Accounts Receivable Transactions

Prepare the journal entries required to record the following May transactions of the Khakeo Corporation.  Before you prepare the journal entry, determine the transaction's effects on the company's resources and sources of resources.

May 15: Cash sales for the first half of May totalled $365,000.
 

Total
Resources

=

Sources of
Borrowed
Resources

+

Sources of
Owner Invested
Resources

+

Sources of
Management Generated
Resources

Assets

=

Liabilities

+

Stockholders' Equity

+ $365,000

=

 

 

 

 

+ $365,000

 

Date

Description

Post.
Ref.

Debits

Credits

May 15

Cash

 

365,000 

 

 

     Sales

 

 

365,000

 

May 1-15 cash sales

 

 

 

 
 
May 15: Credit sales for the first half of May totalled $290,000.
 

Total
Resources

=

Sources of
Borrowed
Resources

+

Sources of
Owner Invested
Resources

+

Sources of
Management Generated
Resources

Assets

=

Liabilities

+

Stockholders' Equity

+ $290,000

=

 

 

 

 

+ $290,000

 

Date

Description

Post.
Ref.

Debits

Credits

May 15

Accounts Receivable

 

290,000 

 

 

     Sales

 

 

290,000 

 

May 1-15 credit sales

 

 

 

 
 
May 15: $185,000 cash was received from customers who purchased products from the company prior to May 16.
 

Total
Resources

=

Sources of
Borrowed
Resources

+

Sources of
Owner Invested
Resources

+

Sources of
Management Generated
Resources

Assets

=

Liabilities

+

Stockholders' Equity

+ $185,000
- $185,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

Description

Post.
Ref.

Debits

Credits

May 15

Cash

 

185,000 

 

 

     Accounts Receivable

 

 

185,000 

 

Accounts Receivable Collection

 

 

 

 
 
May 15: Credit customers returned for credit products sold to them for $4,000.
 

Total
Resources

=

Sources of
Borrowed
Resources

+

Sources of
Owner Invested
Resources

+

Sources of
Management Generated
Resources

Assets

=

Liabilities

+

Stockholders' Equity

- $4,000

=

 

 

 

 

- $4,000

 

Date

Description

Post.
Ref.

Debits

Credits

May 15

Sales Returns and Allowances

 

4,000 

 

 

    Accounts Receivable

 

 

4,000 

 

May 1-15 sales returns

 

 

 

 
 
May 20: R. Kaberle paid the company $1,800 for products sold to him two years ago. The company had considered the receivable to be uncollectible and had eliminated it last year.
 

Total
Resources

=

Sources of
Borrowed
Resources

+

Sources of
Owner Invested
Resources

+

Sources of
Management Generated
Resources

Assets

=

Liabilities

+

Stockholders' Equity

+ $1,800
- $1,800

+ $1,800
- $1,800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

Description

Post.
Ref.

Debits

Credits

May 20

Accounts Receivable

 

1,800 

 

 

    Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

 

 

1,800 

 

R. Kaberle Rec. Correction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 20

Cash

 

1,800

 

 

     Accounts Receivable

 

 

1,800

 

Collection from R. Kaberle

 

 

 

 
 
May 31: Cash sales for the second half of May totalled $390,000.
 

Total
Resources

=

Sources of
Borrowed
Resources

+

Sources of
Owner Invested
Resources

+

Sources of
Management Generated
Resources

Assets

=

Liabilities

+

Stockholders' Equity

+ $390,000

=

 

 

 

 

+ $390,000

 

Date

Description

Post.
Ref.

Debits

Credits

May 31

Cash

 

390,000 

 

 

     Sales

 

 

390,000

 

May 16-31 cash sales

 

 

 

 
 
May 31: Credit sales for the second half of May totalled $310,000.
 

Total
Resources

=

Sources of
Borrowed
Resources

+

Sources of
Owner Invested
Resources

+

Sources of
Management Generated
Resources

Assets

=

Liabilities

+

Stockholders' Equity

+ $310,000

=

 

 

 

 

+ $310,000

 

Date

Description

Post.
Ref.

Debits

Credits

May 31

Accounts Receivable

 

310,000 

 

 

     Sales

 

 

310,000 

 

May 16-31 credit sales

 

 

 

 
 
May 31: $205,000 cash was received from customers who purchased products from the company prior to May 31.
 

Total
Resources

=

Sources of
Borrowed
Resources

+

Sources of
Owner Invested
Resources

+

Sources of
Management Generated
Resources

Assets

=

Liabilities

+

Stockholders' Equity

+ $205,000
- $205,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

Description

Post.
Ref.

Debits

Credits

May 31

Cash

 

205,000 

 

 

     Accounts Receivable

 

 

205,000 

 

Accounts Receivable Collection

 

 

 

 
 
May 31: Credit customers returned for credit products sold to them for $6,000.
 

Total
Resources

=

Sources of
Borrowed
Resources

+

Sources of
Owner Invested
Resources

+

Sources of
Management Generated
Resources

Assets

=

Liabilities

+

Stockholders' Equity

- $6,000

=

 

 

 

 

- $6,000

 

Date

Description

Post.
Ref.

Debits

Credits

May 31

Sales Returns and Allowances

 

6,000 

 

 

     Accounts Receivable

 

 

6,000 

 

May 16-31 sales returns

 

 

 

 
 
May 31: The company estimates the 4% of total credit sales will be uncollectible.

Since the company's May credit sales totalled $600,000 ($290,000 + $310,000), its uncollectible accounts expense would be $24,000 ($600,000 x .04).
 

Total
Resources

=

Sources of
Borrowed
Resources

+

Sources of
Owner Invested
Resources

+

Sources of
Management Generated
Resources

Assets

=

Liabilities

+

Stockholders' Equity

- $24,000

=

 

 

 

 

- $24,000

 

Date

Description

Post.
Ref.

Debits

Credits

May 31

Uncollectible Accounts Expense

 

24,000 

 

 

     Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

 

 

24,000 

 

Uncollectible Accounts Receivable

 

 

 

 
 
Exercise 7.5: Balance Sheet Reporting of Accounts Receivable

The following information was obtained from the El-Halaby Corporation's March 31 post-closing trial balance: accounts payable = $38,000, accounts receivable = $42,500, allowance for uncollectible accounts = $3,500, bonds payable, 4-years = $44,000, buildings = $87,000, cash = $8,000, common stock = $68,000, equipment = $29,000, income taxes payable = $6,000, merchandise inventory = $29,000, land = $6,000, prepaid insurance = $3,000, prepaid rent = $2,000, retained earnings = $57,000, trucks = $12,000, and wages payable = $2,000.

1. Prepare the current assets section of the El-Halaby Corporation's March 31 balance sheet.
 

Current Assets

 

 

Cash

 

$8,000

Accounts Receivable

$42,500 

 

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

$3,500

$39,000

Merchandise Inventory

 

$29,000

Prepaid Insurance

 

$3,000

Prepaid Rent

 

$2,000

Total Current Assets

 

$81,000

 
 
2. Determine the total dollar amount of March 31 statements of account that the company would send to its customers.

The company would send statements of account to all customers who owe the company. Thus, it would send statements of account for $42,500, the total accounts receivable on March 31.
 
 
3. Determine the dollar amount of cash that the company expects to eventually collect from those customers who owed the company as of March 31.

The company's $3,500 allowance for uncollectible accounts suggests the company expects not to collect $3,500 of its $42,500 accounts receivable. Thus, the company expects to collect $39,000 cash from its customers ($42,500 - $3,500).
 
 
 

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