Question

Hutter Corporation declared a $0.50 per share cash dividend on its common shares. The company has 37,000 shares authorized, 19,200 shares issued, and 14,800 shares of common stock outstanding. The journal entry to record the dividend declaration is:
A. Debit Common Dividends Payable $7,400; credit Cash $7,400.
B. Debit Retained Earnings $9,600; credit Common Dividends Payable $9,600.
C. Debit Common Dividends Payable $9,600; credit Cash $9,600.
D. Debit Retained Earnings $18,500; credit Common Dividends Payable $18,500.
E. Debit Retained Earnings $7,400; credit Common Dividends Payable $7,400.

Answer 1

Answer:

E. Debit Retained Earnings $7,400; credit Common Dividends Payable $7,400.

Explanation:

The Journal entry is shown below:-

Retained earnings Dr, $7,400 (14,800 × $0.50)

             To Common dividend Payable $7,400

(Being dividend declaration is recorded)

Here to record the dividend declaration we simply debited the retained earnings as it decreased the stockholder equity and credited the common dividends payable as it increased the liability

So the correct option is D.