UNCOLLECTIBLE ACCOUNT EXPENSE Definition

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UNCOLLECTIBLE ACCOUNT EXPENSE, also known as a bad-debt expense, is that expense incurred in the unsuccessful attempt to realize payment of a Account Receivable. Uncollectible account expenses must be incurred in the time period in which the related sales are made, e.g. an AR that originates from a credit sale in January and is determined to be uncollectible in June represents an expense in January.

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INCURRED BUT NOT REPORTED (IBNR), in insurance, losses occurring over a specified period that have not been reported to the insurer. IBNR losses are often calculated as a percentage of claims paid and claims outstanding and are reported in an insurers annual report. Reinsurers establish IBNR reserves as a part of their rating plans under a facultative reinsurance treaty, lest an overly optimistic view of treaty results lead to further under-rating on a book of business. Example: Product liability losses are seldom reported during a policy year. This "tail" of claims will upset any rating plan, unless an IBNR reserve is established and factored into the profit picture.

CONTROLLABLE COST see CONTROLLABLE EXPENSE.

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