Question

Johnson Company calculates its allowance for uncollectible accounts as 5% of its ending balance in gross accounts receivable. The allowance for uncollectible accounts had a credit balance of $13,000 at the beginning of 2021. No previously written-off accounts receivable were reinstated during 2021. At 12/31/2021, gross accounts receivable totaled $216,800, and prior to recording the adjusting entry to recognize bad debts expense for 2021, the allowance for uncollectible accounts had a debit balance of 23,800.

Required:
1. What was the balance in gross accounts receivable as of 12/31/2020?
2. What journal entry should Johnson record to recognize bad debt expense for 2021?
3. Assume Johnson made no other adjustment of the allowance for uncollectible accounts during 2021. Determine the amount of accounts receivable written off during 2021.
4. If Johnson instead used the direct write-off method, what would bad debt expense be for 2021?

Answer 1

Answer 1

Balance in gross accounts receivable as of 12/31/2020 :

Beginning Allowance for uncollectible accounts / Allowance for uncollectible accounts %

= $13,000 / 5 %

= $260,000.

Answer 2 :

Journal entry

Date	Accounts Title & Explanation	Debit ($)	Credit ($)
12/31/2021	Bad debt expense [($216,800 * 5%) + $23,800]	34,640
	Allowance for uncollectible accounts		34,640
	[To record  bad debt expense]

Answer 3 :

Amount of accounts receivable written off during 2021 :

Beginning balance in allowance account - Ending balance unadjusted balance in allowance account

= $13,000 - ($23,800)

= $36,800.

Answer 4 :

Bad debt expense be for 2021 under direct write-off method = Amount of accounts receivable written off during 2021 (Answer 3 )

= $36,800