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Why is bad debt an operating expense?

Author

Daniel Santos

Updated on December 31, 2025

Bad debts expense is related to a company’s current asset accounts receivable. Bad debts expense is also referred to as uncollectible accounts expense or doubtful accounts expense. Bad debts expense results because a company delivered goods or services on credit and the customer did not pay the amount owed.

What type of expense is bad debt?

Bad debt expenses are generally classified as a sales and general administrative expense and are found on the income statement. Recognizing bad debts leads to an offsetting reduction to accounts receivable on the balance sheet—though businesses retain the right to collect funds should the circumstances change.

Are debts operating expenses?

A company’s expenses related to the production of its goods and services. Operating expenses do not include taxes, debt service, or other expenses inherent to the operation of a business but unrelated to production. See also: Operating income.

What are examples of non-operating expenses?

Examples of non-operating expenses are:

  • Interest expense.
  • Derivatives expense.
  • Lawsuit settlement expense.
  • Loss on disposition of assets.
  • Obsolete inventory charges.
  • Restructuring expense.

How do you record bad debts?

There are two ways to record a bad debt, which are: Direct write-off method. If you only reduce accounts receivable when there is a specific, recognizable bad debt, then debit the Bad Debt expense for the amount of the write off, and credit the accounts receivable asset account for the same amount.

Is bad debt an asset?

Doubtful debt reserve Also known as a bad debt reserve, this is a contra account listed within the current asset section of the balance sheet. Once a doubtful debt becomes uncollectable, the amount will be written off.

Which item is non-operating expenses?

A non-operating expense is an expense incurred from activities unrelated to core operations. Non-operating expenses are deducted from operating profits and accounted for at the bottom of a company’s income statement. Examples of non-operating expenses include interest payments or costs from currency exchanges.

Is rent a non-operating expense?

Often abbreviated as OPEX, operating expenses include rent, equipment, inventory costs, marketing, payroll, insurance, step costs, and funds allocated for research and development. By contrast, a non-operating expense is an expense incurred by a business that is unrelated to the business’ core operations.

What is bad debts journal entry?

Bad debt is a loss for the business and it is transferred to the income statement to adjust against the current period’s income. Journal entry for bad debts is as follows; Bad Debts A/C. Debit.

What is journal entry for bad debts?

Rules applied as per modern or US style of accounting

Bad Debts A/CDebit the increase in expense
Debtor’s A/CCredit the decrease in asset

Is bad debts recovered debit or credit?

While journalizing for bad debts debtor’s personal account is credited and bad debts account is debited because bad debts written off are treated as a loss to the business and now when they are recovered it is seen as a fresh gain….Journal Entry for Recovery of Bad Debts.

Bad Debts Recovered A/CDebit
To Profit and Loss A/CCredit

Is salary a non-operating expense?

Maintenance expenses, salaries and wages of non-production staff, some taxes, legal fees, sales bonuses and/or commissions, marketing expenses, advertising expenses, office and administrative expenses etc. are some types of non-operating expenses.

What are non deferrable operating expenses?

Eligible non-deferrable expenses could include costs such as rent, property taxes, utilities, and insurance.

What are non-operating costs?