Question

A company uses the percent of sales method to determine its bad debts expense. At the end of the current year, the company's unadjusted trial balance reported the following selected amounts: Accounts receivable $ 345,000 debit Allowance for uncollectible accounts 700 debit Net Sales 790,000 credit All sales are made on credit. Based on past experience, the company estimates that 0.6% of net credit sales are uncollectible. What amount should be debited to Bad Debts Expense when the year-end adjusting entry is prepared?

Answer 1

Answer: $5,440

Explanation:

When using the percent of sales method to determine bad debts, the company estimates a percentage that it believes will results in uncollectible debt and then applies it to the sales/revenue figure. The figure that is calculated is then debited along with the debit balance on the Allowance for doubtful accounts to the Bad debts account for the year and credited to the Allowance for doubtful accounts.

This company estimates that they will have 0.6% of credit sales uncollectible.

There are also $790,000 in sales of which all are on credit.

The Uncollectible estimate is therefore,

= 790,000 * 0.6%

= $4,740

This figure is then added to the debit amount on the Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts.

= 4,470 + 700

= $5,440

Note; A debit balance on the Allowance for doubtful debt account signifies that the bad debts were higher than anticipated the last time. This is why the figure is added to the current bad debts expense.