Net realizable value definition
/What is Net Realizable Value?
Net realizable value is the estimated selling price of goods, minus the cost of their sale or disposal. It is used in the determination of the lower of cost or market for on-hand inventory items. The deductions from the estimated selling price are any reasonably predictable costs of completing, transporting, and disposing of inventory.
Understanding Net Realizable Value
There is an ongoing need to examine the value of inventory to see if its recorded cost should be reduced, due to the negative impacts of such factors as damage, spoilage, obsolescence, and reduced demand from customers. Further, writing down inventory prevents a business from carrying forward any losses for recognition in a future period. Thus, the use of net realizable value is a way to enforce the conservative recordation of inventory asset values.
The conservative recordation of inventory values is important, because an overstated inventory could result in a business reporting significantly more assets than is really the case. This can be a concern when calculating the current ratio, which compares current assets to current liabilities. Lenders and creditors rely on the current ratio to evaluate the liquidity of a borrower, and so might incorrectly lend money based on an excessively high current ratio.
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How to Calculate Net Realizable Value
Follow these steps to determine the net realizable value of an inventory item:
Determine the market value of the inventory item.
Summarize all costs associated with completing and selling the asset, such as final production, testing, and prep costs.
Subtract the selling costs from the market value to arrive at the net realizable value.
Thus, the formula for net realizable value is as follows:
Inventory market value - Costs to complete and sell goods = Net realizable value
Example of Net Realizable Value
ABC International has a green widget in inventory with a cost of $50. The market value of the widget is $130. The cost to prepare the widget for sale is $20, so the net realizable value is $60 ($130 market value - $50 cost - $20 completion cost). Since the cost of $50 is lower than the net realizable value of $60, the company continues to record the inventory item at its $50 cost.
In the following year, the market value of the green widget declines to $115. The cost is still $50, and the cost to prepare it for sale is $20, so the net realizable value is $45 ($115 market value - $50 cost - $20 completion cost). Since the net realizable value of $45 is lower than the cost of $50, ABC should record a loss of $5 on the inventory item, thereby reducing its recorded cost to $45.
Accounting for Net Realizable Value
If the net realizable value calculation results in a loss, then charge the loss to the cost of goods sold expense with a debit, and credit the inventory account to reduce the value of the inventory account. If the loss is material, you may want to segregate it in a separate loss account, so that management can more easily spot these losses.
Presentation of Losses from Net Realizable Value
Losses from a net realizable value analysis are not normally presented in a separate line item on a company’s financial statements. Instead, given their relatively small size (in most cases), they are buried within the cost of goods sold. However, the accountant could consider including them in the disclosures that accompany the financial statements.
Accounts Receivable Net Realizable Value
Net realizable value can also refer to the aggregate total of the ending balances in the trade accounts receivable account and the offsetting allowance for doubtful accounts. This net amount represents the amount of cash that management expects to realize once it collects all outstanding accounts receivable.
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