Mini-Case # 1 You are the owner of a lawn service company (Grass Man). Your slog
ID: 2419964 • Letter: M
Question
Mini-Case # 1
You are the owner of a lawn service company (Grass Man). Your slogan is, “Who is that Grass Man?” Your company provides grounds and maintenance services to a range of corporate customers. Customers are expected to pay on the first of each month, in advance of receiving services. One of your corporate customers is an eldercare facility whose grounds you have maintained for many years. The customer has not paid for the last three months of service (from October through December of 2015); nevertheless, to maintain a positive relationship, your company continued to provide mowing and weed control services to the eldercare facility during that time. Your company stopped providing services in January of 2016 and found out in that same month that the eldercare facility filed for bankruptcy in September of 2015. Your company now believes that collection of the missed payments is extremely unlikely.
Your company has already issued financial statements to lenders (for the period ending 12/31/2015) which reflected revenue and a corresponding account receivable related to this customer of $10,000 per month for services that your company provided to the eldercare facility. Those financial statements also reflected the company’s standard allowance (reserve) amount on receivables, of 4% of sales. In total, your company’s average monthly sales amount to $500,000.
Evaluate whether finding out about your client’s bankruptcy indicates that you have a change in accounting estimate or an error in previously issued financial statements. Describe the accounting treatment (as required by the Codification) that appears to be more appropriate given the circumstances. State any assumptions that you make in reaching your conclusion. Make sure to use in-text citations and references for the parts of the Codification that you use, and explain your recommendation.
Explanation / Answer
Finding out about client's bankruptcy indicates that it is a change in accounting estimate This is because a change in accounting estimate is an adjustment of the carrying amount of the assets and liabilities because of any future benefits or obligations The effect of change in an accounting estimate is generally taken into effect prospectively by including it in profit and loss account ( IAS 8.36) However to the extent that a change in an accounting period gives rise to changes in asets and liabilities it is recognised by adjusting the carrying amount of asset and liabilty ( IAS 8.37) In the given situation , though there is a change in estimate , the amount involved is getting covered in the provision made for doubtful/uncollectible debts. The amount of bad debt is $ 10000 per month, whereas the provision created for bad debts is 4% of 500000 pm. This amount is adequate to cover the the bankrupt client, hence the carrying amount of receivables need not be adjusted