BPA 211 Principles of Accounting I

1.  The Harbor Company uses the allowance method in accounting for uncollectible accounts (bad debts). Harbor’s past experience indicates that 1% of a year’s net credit sales will eventually be uncollectible. Selected amounts at December 31, 2000, and December 31, 2001, appear below:

12/31/00 / 12/31/01
Net Credit Sales for the year / $500,000 / $600,000
Accounts Receivable balance at year end / 90,000 / 120,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts balance / 5,000 / ??

Record the following events that occurred in 2001:

a. July 17: Determined that the account of Irwin Toady for $1,400 is uncollectible.

b. September 12: Determined that the account of Jeffrey Abernathy for $4,000 is uncollectible.

c. October 10: Received a check for $800 as payment on account from Irwin Toady, whose account had previously been written off as uncollectible. He indicated the remainder of his account would be paid in November. We believe him.

d. November 10: Received a check for $600 from Irwin Toady as payment on his account.

e. Prepare the adjusting journal entry to record the bad debt expense provision for the year ended December 31, 2001.

f. What is the balance of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts at Dec. 31, 2001?

2.  The Anderson Company had an $900 credit balance in Allowance for Doubtful Accounts at December 31, 2001, before the current year’s provision (adjusting entry) for uncollectible accounts (bad debts). An aging of the Accounts Receivable revealed the following:

Estimated Percentage Uncollectible / Aging
Current accounts / $120,000 / 1% / $1,200
1 - 30 days past due / 23,000 / 5% / 1,150
31 - 60 days past due / 17,000 / 10% / 1,700
61 - 90 days past due / 5,000 / 15% / 750
Over 90 days past due / 7,000 / 40% / 2,800
Total Accounts Receivable / $172,000 / $7,600

a. Prepare the adjusting entry on December 31, 2001, to recognize bad debts expense.

b. Assume the same facts as above, except that the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts account had a $700 debit balance before the current year’s provision for bad debts. Prepare the adjusting entry for the current year’s provision for bad debts.

c. Assume that the company has a policy of providing for bad debts at the rate of 2% of Sales, that Sales for 2001 were $500,000, and that Allowance for Doubtful Accounts had a $850 credit balance before adjustment. Prepare the adjusting entry for the current year’s provision for bad debts.


Answers:

Problem 1.

a. 7/17 Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 1,400

A/R—Irwin Toady 1,400

Write off bad debt

b. 9/12 Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 4,000

A/R—Jeffrey Abernathy 4,000

Write off bad debt

c. 10/10 A/R—Irwin Toady 1,400

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 1400

Reinstate account

Cash 800

A/R—Irwin Toady 800

Collection on account

d. 11/10 Cash 600

A/R—Irwin Toady 600

Collection on account

e. 12/31 Bad debt expense 6,000

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 6,000

AJE to provide for bad debts

f.  $7,000

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

5,000

1,400

4,000 1,400

6,000

7,000

Problem 2.

a.  12/31 Bad debt expense 6,700

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 6,700

AJE to provide for bad debts

b.  12/31 Bad debt expense 8,300

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 8,300

AJE to provide for bad debts

c.  12/31 Bad debt expense 10,000

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 10,000

AJE to provide for bad debts

Handouts\Bad debt practice