Question

Exercise 5-66 Bad Debt Expense: Percentage of Credit Sales Method Gilmore Electronics had the following data for a recent year: Cash sales $135,000 Credit sales 512,000 Accounts receivable determined to be uncollectible 9,650 The firm's estimated rate for bad debts is 2.2% of credit sales. Required: 1. Prepare the journal entry to write off the uncollectible accounts.

Answer 1

Answer:  Debit Bad debt expense $11,264, Credit Allowance for bad debt $11,264; Debit Allowance for bad debt $9,650, Credit Accounts receivable $9,650.

Explanation: Percentage of credit sales method means bad debt expense expressed as a percentage of sales.

The estimated bad debts rate is 2.2%, which translates to 2.2% of $512,000 (credit sales) = $11,264. The firm has to record this, being the estimated bad debts rate, as Debit to bad debt expense and Credit to allowance for bad debt. However, accounts receivable that was deemed uncollectible is $9,650. This amount would be taken out from the buffer in allowance account by debiting allowance for bad debt and crediting accounts receivable.