Write-Off

Write-Off
A reduction in the value of an asset or earnings by the amount of an expense or loss. Companies are able to write off certain expenses that are required to run the business, or have been incurred in the operation of the business and detract from retained revenues.

For example, if you spend money on dinner to take out a client, that meal is a possible write-off towards your income because you presumably discussed business opportunities during the dinner.

Suppose, for another example, you made a sale on credit to a customer, but two weeks later the client's business declared bankruptcy and became completely unable to pay off the credit account with you. This uncollectible debt would then be written-off by your company and recorded as an expense by accountants.


Investment dictionary. . 2012.

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  • write-off — write offs 1) N COUNT Something such as a vehicle that is a write off has been so badly damaged in an accident that it is not worth repairing. [BRIT] The car was a write off, but everyone escaped unharmed. 2) N COUNT A write off is the decision… …   English dictionary

  • write off — vt 1: to eliminate (an asset) from the books: enter as a loss or expense write off a bad loan 2: to use as a deduction in calculating taxable income write off the cost as a business expense Merriam Webster’s Dictionary o …   Law dictionary

  • write–off — / rīt ˌȯf/ n 1: the elimination of an asset or amount due from the books 2: tax write off Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • write-off — n 1.) BrE a vehicle that has been so badly damaged that it can never be used again ▪ The car was a complete write off. 2.) a period of time when you fail to achieve anything ▪ This morning was a complete write off. 3.) an official agreement that… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Write-Off — Списание (Write Off) сокращение стоимости актива или дохода из за увеличения количества расходов или убытков. Компании могут списать определенные расходы или провести их как операции по бизнесу и удержать из доходов. Например, выдан кредит,… …   Финансовый словарь

  • write-off — index bad debt Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 write off …   Law dictionary

  • write-off — noun count 1. ) an agreement that allows someone not to pay back the money they owe 2. ) something or an amount of money that a business or person does not have any more, or the record of such a loss 3. ) a period of time when you fail to achieve …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • write off — ► write off 1) dismiss as insignificant. 2) cancel the record of (a bad debt); acknowledge the failure to recover (an asset). 3) Brit. damage (a vehicle) so badly that it cannot be repaired or is not worth repairing. Main Entry: ↑write …   English terms dictionary

  • write-off — [rītôf΄] n. something written off, amortized, etc …   English World dictionary

  • write-off — write′ off n. 1) bus a cancellation from the accounts as a loss 2) bus a reduction in book value; depreciation 3) cvb inf a person or thing that is given up as hopeless or pointless • Etymology: 1745–55 …   From formal English to slang

  • write off — [v] devalue; forget about cancel, cross out, decry, depreciate, disregard, downgrade, give up, lower, mark down, shelve, take a loss on, underrate, undervalue; concept 54 Ant. figure …   New thesaurus

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