Final answer:
The correct journal entry on May 15 when Rawlings pays out dividends is a debit to dividends payable of $12,000 and a credit to cash of the same amount. Therefore, the correct entry for this date would be option A: debit dividends payable $12,000.
Step-by-step explanation:
On May 15, when Rawlings pays out the dividend declared on April 1 of $0.30 per share with 40,000 shares issued and outstanding, the journal entry would include a debit to dividends payable for $12,000 and a credit to cash for $12,000 to record the payment of the dividend. The calculation is 40,000 shares × $0.30 = $12,000. Therefore, the correct entry for this date would be option A: debit dividends payable $12,000.