What is a common feature of trade receivables?

Trade receivables are amounts owed to a business by its customers for goods or services that have been delivered but not yet paid for. A defining characteristic of trade receivables is that they are typically expected to be collected within a short period, often within one year. This aligns with the nature of most sales transactions, where customers are usually given a limited time frame, such as 30, 60, or 90 days, to make their payments. As such, trade receivables are classified as current assets on the balance sheet, reflecting their short-term nature and the expectation of conversion to cash within the operating cycle.

The understanding of trade receivables as current assets is essential for assessing the liquidity of a business, as it indicates how quickly the company can expect to receive cash from its sales.