Time Warner Inc. (TWX)

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Time Warner monitors customer credit risk related to accounts receivable, including unbilled trade receivables primarily related to the distribution of television product. Significant judgments and estimates are involved in evaluating if such amounts will ultimately be fully collected. Each of Time Warner’s businesses maintains a comprehensive approval process prior to issuing credit to third-party customers. Counterparties that are determined to be of a higher risk are evaluated to assess whether the credit terms previously granted to them should be modified. Time Warner monitors customers’ accounts receivable aging, and a provision for estimated uncollectible amounts is maintained based on customer payment levels, historical experience and management’s views on trends in the overall receivable agings. In addition, for larger accounts, Time Warner performs analyses of risks on a customer-specific basis. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, total reserves for doubtful accounts were approximately $162 million and $193 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, Time Warner recognized $11 million, $38 million and $63 million of bad debt expense, respectively.

Source: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-22).

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-23), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-26), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-26).

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Allowance as a percentage of receivables, gross	Allowance for doubtful accounts divided by the gross accounts receivable.	Time Warner Inc.’s allowance as a percentage of receivables, gross declined from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.