Question

On December 31, Jarden Co.'s Allowance for Doubtful Accounts has an unadjusted credit balance of $14,000. Jarden prepares a schedule of its December 31 accounts receivable by age. Accounts Receivable $ 860,000 344,000 68,800 34,400 13,760 Age of Accounts Receivable Not yet due 1 to 30 days past due 31 to 60 days past due 61 to 90 days past due Over 90 days past due Expected Percent Uncollectible 1. 20% 1.95 6.45 32.50 67.00
Required:
1. Compute the required balance of the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts at December 31.
Accounts Receivable Percent Uncollectible (#.##%) Estimated Uncollectible Not due: 1 to 30: 31 to 60: 61 to 90: Over 90: Estimated balance of allowance for uncollectibles
2. Prepare the adjusting entry to record bad debts expense at December 31. (Round percentage answers to nearest whole percent. Do not round intermediate calculations.)

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

a. The required balance of allowance for doubtful debts is shown below:

Particulars       Account receivable  %             Estimated uncollectible

Not yet due    $860,000                1.20%        $10,320

1 to 30 days    $344,000                1.95%        $6,708

31 to 60 days  $68,800                  6.45%       $4,438

61 to 90 days  $34,400                  32.50%    $11,180

Over 90 days $13,760                    67.00%    $9,219

Estimated balance                                           $41,865

b. The adjusting entry is

Bad debt expense Dr ($41,865 - $14,000) $27,865

         To Allowance for doubtful debts $27,865

(being the bad debt expense is recorded)

For recording this we debited the bad debt expense as it increased the expenses and credited the allowance for doubtful debts as it decreased the assets