Answer:
b. The same as it would have been if the original payment had been debited initially to an expense account
Explanation:
We can use an example to explain this:
original journal entry to record a 3 year insurance policy on January 1 is:
Dr Prepaid insurance 3,600
Cr Cash 3,600
Adjusting entry on December 31
Dr Insurance expense 1,200
Cr Prepaid insurance 1,200
balance of prepaid insurance = $3,600 - $1,200 = $2,400
If instead of recording prepaid insurance on January 1, you recorded insurance expense:
Dr Insurance expense 3,600
Cr Cash 3,600
Adjusting entry on December 31
Dr Prepaid insurance 2,400
Cr Insurance expense 2,400
balance of prepaid insurance = $2,400
