See the entries below on how to record the goods returned by customers into the inventories and how it is affected the cost of goods sold. Sales return isn’t exactly an expense or a loss to the company, however, it reduces current assets (in the case of credit sales), therefore, it indirectly acts as a loss. On 5th Feb 2020, the customer returned 5 pieces of product Y and 6 pieces of product Z to ABC cosmetics. This is a document sent to customers showing full details of goods returned by them.
Depending on the terms and conditions of the transaction goods sold in credit may be returned. On Feb 2, the journal entry to adjust inventory and record cost of goods sold account. Show the general entries to record sales and sales return in the books of ABC cosmetics. So when the company’s warehouse physically receives the goods, the inventory account will be debited to increase the asset, and the cost of goods sold will be credited. It looks like they were sent baseballs instead of softballs. Because of this, the Star sales rep rush ordered them softballs, and the team agreed to return the baseballs.
And the remaining balance on closing inventory is $4,00,000. 10% of Geroge’s sold goods, noted as return goods due to product damage. Normally sales returns and allowances are two different kinds of transactions. Still, the accounting treatment for both the transactions is the same, and mostly the same account is used to record both types of transactions. The following exercise is designed to help students apply their knowledge of the sales returns and allowances account and its journal entries. Here is your journal entry to pass in account books for sales return accounting.
Example – Journal Entry for Sales Returns
After a few days, Robert noticed that there were some scratches on one of the newly purchased bikes. He decided to return the scratchy bike and handover it on Mar 1st. Since he has an exceptional amount, that was adjusted and balanced with the process. He mentioned in his invoice that if the customer buys the products and in case of any damage or other issue, then products can be returned within 30 days. In business, some customers receive faulty, broken, low-quality goods or else other unsuitable goods, the customer can return the product to the seller. In addition, the customer may also hold the product with them at a reduced price.
Either cash sale or credit, we need to reduce cash or account receivable accounts and reduce the revenues. On the financial statements, sales returns and allowances are disclosed and tracked by management. They are subtracted from gross sales to get net sales on the income statement. Here the sales return is 10% of $6,00,000 (thus, 10% of $6,00,000 is $60,000). He assumes the ratio of 40% return is based on cash and the balance of 60% return on receivables.
Journal Entry for Sales Returns or Return Inwards
The seller makes an adjusting entry in which the accounts payable account is debited and the sales returns and allowances account is credited. This journal entry ensures that payment has been received for the returned goods. When customers return merchandise sold for cash, the sales returns and allowances account is debited and the accounts payable account is credited. When return goods are given by the customer, a journal entry is required in two steps. Then, an adjusting journal entry can be made to show that payment has been received.
- Once sales are made, not only sale revenue and account receivable are affected by this transaction.
- If it were the credit sales, then we should credit to the account receivable account.
- As a result, a cash account credited by 40% of $60,000 is $24,000.
Individual entries in the sales return day book is credited to respective customer’s account in the sales ledger. This sales return allowance account is the contra account to the sales revenue account. Yes, if return goods are given back to the manufacturer by a customer, they have sales returns and allowances journal entries. These should be set-up in the books before any transactions are made. You can set-up a sales returns and allowances account by opening an appropriate account in your chart of accounts.
Table of Contents
You are a senior accountant at Boomer Skateboards, a small company that sells skateboards designed for older people who want to try a new experience. The following transactions take place during the month of August. These inventory/goods need to be stored and recorded in the warehouse. In other words, the account payable in the buyers’ book is reduced. Our review course offers a CPA study guide for each section but unlike other textbooks, ours comes in a visual format. The two accounts involved in this entry are the “Sales Return account” and the “ABC Corporation” (Debtor’s) account.
We will need to keep the returned goods in the company’s warehouse and reflect this transaction correctly in the accounting records. On 2nd Feb 2020, the firm recorded credit sales of 10 pieces for product Y and 15 pieces for product Z to one of its old customers for $50 and $25 each respectively. Since the COGS is further adjusted as sales return, it will result in increasing inventory.
Sales revenue is the income statement account, and it is recognized when the control is passed to customers. Sales revenue is increasing in credit and decreasing in debit accounts. The sale return account is created for recording the sale that is returning from the customer. It is the contra entries of the sales account, increasing in debit and decreasing in credit. The main reason that is recording in debit while the sales return happened is that this account will decrease the total sale revenue. At the end of each month, the total of sales return journal is debited to the Return inwards (Sales return) account in the general ledger.
Important considerations about Sales Return Journal Entry
It is evidence that goods has been returned by credit customers. These merchandise were returned to the Modern Trading Company on the same day. In turn, the Modern Trading Company granted a cash refund of $500 to Small Retailers on 2 January 2016. These tips will help you control return goods and return goods journal entries. Mr. Robert purchased 3 bikes from the same XYZ company for $3,00,000. He decided to pay for one bike, and the balance payment was made outstanding.
Unreal Corporation sold raw materials worth 10,000 on credit to ABC Corporation. However, at the time of delivery, ABC Corporation found goods worth 2,000 as unfit because they were damaged in transit. Our team of reviewers are established professionals with decades of experience in areas of personal finance and hold many advanced degrees and certifications. The articles and research support materials available on this site are educational and are not intended to be investment or tax advice. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.
It is essential to look after the gross margin whether it is on sales or costs. Because if it is on cost, there is a need to adjust for weight. In the case of sales, you can limit the number of sales by that respective margin directly. Let us consider an XYZ private limited, which sells two products, bikes and cars, on an equal ratio of both cash and credit. He draws two samples randomly to validate whether the company records its journal entry accurately. Note that the remaining balance must report on a fair and accurate basis.
Journal entry – 2:
When a customer returns the item, then we just need to reverse or neutralize the revenue transaction (like it never occurred). Sometimes due to various reasons goods sold by a company may be returned by the respective buyer(s). This may happen due to several different reasons, in business terminology, this action is termed a sales return or return inwards.
Accounting for sales return is mainly concerned with revising revenue and cost of goods sold previously recorded. Account receivable or cash and cash equivalents should also affect whether it is the cash sale or credit sales. With the above-mentioned detailed report, George needs to pass the sales return journal entries. Additionally, the estimated remaining that remains on sales, cash, inventory, receivables, and the COGS (Cost of Goods Sold). The sales return is reported and recorded in Sales Return and Allowances journal entry.
There is an impact on revenue, which is, limited by debiting the sales account. Additional to revenue impact, there is a possibility to affect the company’s gross margin. Return inwards or sales returns are shown in the trading account as an adjustment (reduction) from the total sales for an accounting period. Sales returns occur when a customer returns goods to the seller due to some fault, while the term sales allowance is used when the buyer agrees to keep the products, but for a lesser price.
The credit to the account of accounts receivable deducts the charge of accounts receivable due. Afterward, another journal entry may be required in which the accounts payable account is debited and the cash account is credited. This journal entry is made when a cash refund is given to the customer for the goods they returned.
You can then create journal entries from the beginning that will automatically debit this new account on all future transactions. For the seller, revenue can be revised by debiting the sales return account (A contra account by nature) and crediting cash/accounts receivable with the invoice amount. When a customer buys an item and the company recognizes revenue, the debit would be to cash (or accounts receivable) and the credit is to net sales.
On 1 February 2016, John Enterprise sold merchandise for $1,500 to Sam Enterprise on account. On the same date, merchandise amounting to $200 were returned to John Enterprise because they failed to meet the required quality standards. Now we have to deal with inventory/goods that customers just returned. On 1 January 2016, the Modern Trading Company sold merchandise for $2,500 to Small Retailers. Small Retailers received the delivery on the same day and found the merchandise costing $500 did not meet the order specification.
