Answer:
1. What was the balance in gross accounts receivable as of 12/31/2020?
= allowance for doubtful accounts 2020 / 10% = $28,000 / 10% = $280,000
2. What journal entry should Johnson record to recognize bad debt expense for 2021?
Dr Bad debt expense (= 46,670 + 51,300) 97,970
Cr Allowance for doubtful accounts 97,970
3. Assume Johnson made no other adjustment of the allowance for uncollectible accounts during 2021. Determine the amount of accounts receivable written off during 2021.
= credit balance allowance for doubtful accounts January 1 + debit balance allowance for doubtful accounts December 31 = $28,000 + $51,300 = $79,300
4. If Johnson instead used the direct write-off method, what would the bad debt expense be
The bad debt expense would equal $79,300. The allowance for doubtful accounts is used as an estimate of future bad debt expense, while the direct write off method directly writes off bad debt as they occur.
Explanation:
beginning balance of allowance for doubtful accounts $28,000
gross accounts receivable $466,700 x 10% = $46,670 bad debt
before adjustments, the allowance for doubtful accounts had a debit balance of $51,300
