Question

Accounts Receivable As of December 31, 2016, Nala Incorporated reported accounts receivable for $275,000 less allowance for doubtful accounts of $27,000 on their balance sheet. During 2017, Nala Incorporated had the following transactions related to their receivables balance: 1. Sales on account $180,000 2. Collections of accounts receivable 125,000 3. Sales returns 20,000 4. Write-offs of accounts receivable deemed uncollectible 35,000 5. Recovery of bad debts previously written off 2,500 a) Prepare the journal entries for each of these five transactions b) Prepare the journal entry to record bad debt expense for 2017, assuming that the aging of accounts receivable indicates that estimated bad debts are 10% of accounts receivable.

Answer 1

Answer:

A.

1. Dr Accounts receivable $180,000

Cr Sales $180,000

2. Dr Cash $125,000

Cr Accounts receivable $125,000

3. Dr Sales returns and allowances $20,000

Cr Accounts receivable $20,000

4. Dr Allowance for doubtful accounts $35,000

Cr Accounts receivable $35,000

5. Dr Accounts receivable $2,500

Cr Allowance for doubtful accounts $2,500

Dr Cash $2,500

Cr Accounts receivable $2,500

B. Dr Bad debt expense $27,500

Cr Allowance for doubtful accounts $27,500

Explanation:

A1. To record the sale on account we will debit accounts receivable as our collectible to customer and credit sales in the amount of $180,000

A2. To record the collection, we will recognize the receipt of cash so we have to debit cash and credit accounts receivable to deduct the collectible balance in the amount of $125,000

A3. When the company receives returns from the customers, it will be charged to sales returns and allowances account so we have to debit it and credit accounts receivables in the amount of $20,000 to deduct collectibles to suppliers. Said, sales returns and allowances account is a contra account of sales. Thus, any amount recorded under it will be charged against (deduction) our sales.

A4. During the write off, we will debit allowance for doubtful accounts and credit accounts receivables to reduce its amount from the worthless receivables that is deemed to be uncollectible.

A5. Collection of previously written off receivables will resort to 2 entries. First, reversal of the original entry we made during the write off. So we debit Accounts receivable and credit allowance for doubtful accounts in the amount of $2,500. Next is to record the cash we received from the customer. So debit cash and credit accounts receivable in the same amount of $2,500.

B. To record the bad debt expense, we need to compute first the ending balance of the accounts receivable.

Beg $275,000 plus sales on account of $180,000 less collection $125,000, sales return of $20,000 and write off $35,000 = $275,000.

Bad debts is 10% of the Accounts receivable, so $275,000 x 10% = $27,500

Entry:

Dr bad debt expense $27,500

Cr allowance for doubtful accounts $27,500