Reserve for Product Returns
The “reserve for product returns” (also often referred to as “sales returns allowance” or “allowance for returns”) is an accounting estimate used by businesses that expect some of their sold products to be returned by customers. It represents a contra-revenue account (i.e., it’s subtracted from gross sales to arrive at net sales) or a liability account set aside to account for the anticipated future returns of sold merchandise, based on historical return patterns or other relevant information.
Creating a reserve for product returns ensures that revenue and related accounts receivable are not overstated, recognizing that some portion of sales might not be finalized due to returns. The reserve also ensures that businesses have set aside funds (or other resources) to handle expected returns.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Creating the Reserve : When a company makes sales that are subject to potential returns, it will estimate the expected returns based on historical data or other pertinent factors.
- Accounting for Returns: When actual returns occur, the company will adjust the reserve and recognize the return, often involving inventory adjustments if the returned products can be resold.
- Periodic Adjustments: The reserve is periodically reviewed and adjusted to ensure it accurately reflects the expected risk of product returns.
Example of the Reserve for Product Returns
FashionBreeze is a popular online clothing retailer. With their hassle-free return policy, customers can return any clothing item they purchase online within 30 days. Because of this policy, the company always experiences a certain percentage of returns on its sales.
In July, FashionBreeze has total sales of $500,000. Historically, about 5% of sales from online purchases are returned by customers.
Action: Using this historical data, FashionBreeze decides to set up a reserve for product returns.
Journal entries for July sales:
- Recognizing the sales:
- Debit Accounts Receivable: $500,000
- Credit Sales: $475,000 (after considering the reserve for returns)
- Credit Reserve for Product Returns: $25,000 (5% of $500,000)
Now, let’s move to August.
Customers returned merchandise that they purchased in July worth $20,000. Some customers had already paid for their purchases, while others had not.
Journal entries for August returns:
- Addressing the actual returns:
- Debit Reserve for Product Returns: $20,000
- Credit Accounts Receivable (for those who hadn’t paid yet): $12,000
- Credit Cash (for those who had paid): $8,000
By the end of August, the balance in the Reserve for Product Returns would be $5,000 ($25,000 – $20,000). This remaining amount can be adjusted in future months based on actual returns and new sales estimates.
This example illustrates how the reserve acts as a cushion to anticipate returns, ensuring that the company’s financials don’t overstate the revenue and that they are prepared for the cash or accounts receivable adjustments when actual returns happen.