Near the end of 2010, the ledger of Stivers Company included the following accounts and balances: Allowance for Doubtful Accounts$ 1,000credit balance Bad Debt Expense 0balance Accounts Receivable 200,000 debit balance Cash collections on accounts receivable during 2010 amounted to $450,000. Sales revenue during 2010 amounted to $800,000, of which 75% was on credit, and it was estimated that 2% of the credit sales made in 2010 would ultimately become uncollectible. Before adjusting entries were made for 2010, a $10,000 account was determined to be uncollectible and written off by Stivers. In the adjustment process, Bad Debt Expense was recorded to 2010. This information is not reflected in the account balances above. After the above entries were posted to the ledger, calculate the balances of the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Bad Debt Expense and Accounts Receivable. Indicate whether the balance is a debit or a credit.

Answer and Explanation:

The computation of the balances of the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Bad Debt Expense and Accounts Receivable is shown below;

For Accounts receivable  

a) Opening balance $200,000Debit balance

b) Current year credit sales (75% of $800,000)$600,000Debit balance

c) (-) Current collection from accounts receivables-$450,000Credit balance

d) (-) Bad debt expenses-$11,000Credit balance

e) Closing balance of accounts receivables $339,000Debit balance

for Allowance for Doubtful Accounts  

Allowance required as per Current year analysis (2% of (75% of $800,000)$12,000Credit balance

(-) Opening balance $1,000Credit balance

$11,000Credit balance

The journal entry is  

Bad debt expense a/c …Dr   11000  

      To Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 11000  

The Closing balance of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts12000Credit balance

For Bad debt expenses  

The journal entry is    

Bad debt expense a/c …Dr   11000  

      To Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 11000  

The Closing balance of Bad debt expense account0

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