Note 5. Receivables and Allowances for Credit Losses

All trade receivables are reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at their amortized cost adjusted for any write-offs and net of allowances for credit losses.

Axcelis maintains an allowance for credit losses, which represent an estimate of expected losses over the remaining contractual life of its receivables considering current market conditions and estimates for supportable forecasts when appropriate. The estimate is a result of the Company’s ongoing assessments and evaluations of collectability, historical loss experience, and future expectations in estimating credit losses in its receivable portfolio. Axcelis uses historical loss experience rates and applies them to a related aging analysis while also considering customer and/or economic risk where appropriate. Determination of the proper amount of allowances requires management to exercise judgment about the timing, frequency and severity of credit losses that could materially affect the provision for credit losses and, as a result, net earnings. The allowance takes into consideration numerous quantitative and qualitative factors that include receivable type, historical loss experience, loss migration, delinquency trends, collection experience, current economic conditions, estimates for supportable forecasts, when appropriate, and credit risk characteristics.

Axcelis evaluates the credit risk of the customer when extending credit based on a combination of various financial and qualitative factors that may affect its customers’ ability to pay. These factors may include the customer’s financial condition, past payment experience, and credit bureau, as well as the value of the underlying collateral.

Management performs detailed reviews of its receivables on quarterly basis to assess the adequacy of the allowances and to determine if any impairment has occurred. Amounts determined to be uncollectable are charged directly against the allowances, while amounts recovered on previously written-off accounts increase the allowances. Changes to the allowances for credit losses are maintained through adjustments to the provision for credit losses, which are charged to current period earnings.

The following table shows changes of the allowances for credit losses related to trade receivables for the three months ended March 31, 2020:


	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2020
	(in thousands)
Balance at January 1 (beginning of year)	$	818
Provision for credit losses		—
Charge-offs		(818)
Recoveries		—
Balance at March 31 (end of period)	$	—