Legal Definitions - net realizable value

Definition: Net realizable value refers to the amount of cash that a company expects to receive from the sale of its inventory or the collection of its accounts receivable. It is calculated by subtracting any costs associated with completing and disposing of the inventory or collecting the receivables from the selling price.

Examples:

• Accounts Receivable: A company has $10,000 in accounts receivable from its customers. After reviewing the accounts, the company estimates that it will only be able to collect $9,000. Therefore, the net realizable value of the accounts receivable is $9,000.
• Inventory: A company has 100 units of a product in inventory. The selling price of each unit is $50. However, it will cost the company $5 per unit to complete and dispose of the inventory. Therefore, the net realizable value of the inventory is $45 per unit.

These examples illustrate how net realizable value is calculated by subtracting any costs associated with completing and disposing of inventory or collecting accounts receivable from the selling price. This calculation gives a more accurate picture of the value of these assets to the company.