Question

On December 31 of the current year, the unadjusted trial balance of a company using the percent of receivables method to estimate bad debt included the following: Accounts Receivable, debit balance of $98,700; Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, credit balance of $1,111. What amount should be debited to Bad Debts Expense, assuming 6% of outstanding accounts receivable at the end of the current year are estimated to be uncollectible?

Answer 1

Answer: $4,811

Explanation:

Assuming 6% of outstanding accounts receivable at the end of the current year are estimated to be uncollectible that would be,

= 6% * 98,700

= $5,922

The Allowance for Doubtful Accounts acts as a buffer for the business when bad debts are incurred.

Bad debts are taken from the Allowance as the Allowance has already been removed from the Receivables.

In cases where Bad debts exceed the buffer in the Allowance for Doubtful Debt Account we take everything in it and the remaining bad debt amount is debited to Bad Debt expense.

That would be,

= 5,922 - 1,111

= $4,811

$4,811 is the amount that should be debited to Bad Debts Expense.