What is an aged debt report?
An aged debt report lists the money customers owe a business, grouped by how long each invoice has been outstanding or overdue, usually in columns for current, 1 to 30, 31 to 60, 61 to 90 and over 90 days. It is the main working report for collections and the starting point for estimating bad debts.
Also calledaged debtors reportaccounts receivable aging reportAR aging
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- Groups invoices by
- Days outstanding or overdue
- Agrees to
- Receivables in the ledger
- US name
- Accounts receivable aging
How an aged debt report is used
Each row is a customer, each column an age band, and the total agrees to the receivables balance in the general ledger, which is checked at every month-end. Bands can be measured from the invoice date or from the due date, so a report should say which. Collectors work from the oldest and largest balances; finance leaders watch the share of debt over 90 days, since the older an invoice, the less likely it is to be paid. Accountants use the bands to set the bad debt provision, applying a higher expected loss rate to older balances. The same report for suppliers is the aged creditors, or accounts payable aging, report. Ledgers such as Xero and QuickBooks produce it as standard; Kolleno, Monk and Centime turn it into prioritised collection lists.
Common questions
What is the difference between an aged debt report and an aged creditors report?+
The aged debt report shows what customers owe the business. The aged creditors report shows what the business owes its suppliers, in the same age bands, and is used to plan payment runs.
Should aging start from the invoice date or the due date?+
Either works if it is used consistently. Aging from the due date shows how overdue invoices are, which suits collections; aging from the invoice date shows how long cash has been tied up regardless of terms.
Why must the aged debt report agree to the ledger?+
Because it supports the receivables figure in the balance sheet. A difference means invoices, credit notes or cash have been posted outside the sales ledger, or misapplied, and has to be found before the period is closed.
Software that produces aged debt reports
XeroCloud accounting for small businesses with a large app ecosystem.Profile →
Intuit QuickBooksSmall business accounting covering books, invoicing and payroll.Profile →
KollenoAI-prioritised collections, payments and reconciliation.Profile →
MonkAI-native receivables with automated collections and cash application.Profile →
CentimeAP, AR, forecasting and banking in one cash flow view.Profile →
StuutAI agents running collections, cash application and disputes end to end.Profile →Part of Accountio’s accounting technology coverage · Glossary
