Question

A company has $80,000 in outstanding accounts receivable and it uses the allowance method to account for uncollectible accounts. Experience suggests that 6% of outstanding receivables are uncollectible. The current credit balance (before adjustments) in the allowance for doubtful accounts is $1,200. The journal entry to record the adjustment would be how much?

Answer 1

Answer:

• Dr Bad Debt expense 6,000
• Cr Allowance for Doubtful Accounts account 6,000

Explanation:

The total estimated bad debts are $4,800 (= $80,000 x 6%). So the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts account ending balance should be $4,800. Since this account is a contra asset account, the ending balance should be $4,800 credited.

But currently the account has a $1,200 debit balance (it's like -$1,200), so the adjustment record must be = $4,800 + $1,200 = $6,000

That way the ending balance = $6,000 - $1,200 = $4,800

The journal entries should be:

• Dr Bad Debt expense 6,000
• Cr Allowance for Doubtful Accounts account 6,000