Question

On December 31, 2011, Colonial Corporation had the following account balances related to credit sales and receivables prior to recording adjusting entries:

Accounts receivable: $25,000 debit balance
Allowance for doubtful accounts: $200 credit balance
Sales revenue (all sales on credit): $4

Present the necessary year-end adjusting entry related to uncollectible accounts for each of the following independent assumptions:A. An aging of accounts receivable is completed. It is estimated that $2,150 of the receivables outstanding at year-end will be uncollectible.B. It is estimated that 1% of credit sales for the year will prove to be uncollectible.
C. Assume the same information presented above except that prior to adjustment, the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts had a debit balance of $200 rather than a credit balance of $200.

Answer 1

Colonial corporation

Journal entries

A. $2,150 uncollectible of the year end Accounts receivable balance.

Debit Uncollectible Account with $2,150

Credit Account Receivable Account with $2,150

(Being aged debt that is uncollectible at year end)

Debit Allowance for doubtful debt with $200

Credit Uncollectible debt Account with $200

(Being reversal of allowance for doubtful debt no longer required after ageing review of debt)

B. 1% of credit sales is uncollectible

1% of $400,000 = $4,000

Debit Uncollectible Account with $4,000

Credit Account Receivable Account with $4,000

(Being 1% of credit sales that is uncollectible at year end)

Debit Allowance for doubtful debt with $200

Credit Uncollectible debt Account with $200

(Being reversal of allowance for doubtful debt no longer required after ageing review of debt)

C. (assuming a above but allowance for doubtful debt is a debit balance of $200)

i. $2,150 uncollectible of the year end Accounts receivable balance.

Debit Uncollectible Account with $2,150

Credit Account Receivable Account with $2,150

(Being aged debt that is uncollectible at year end)

ii. 1% of credit sales is uncollectible

1% of $400,000 = $4,000

Debit Uncollectible Account with $4,000

Credit Account Receivable Account with $4,000

(Being 1% of credit sales that is uncollectible at year end)

The debit receivable balance could relate to debts once written off but now being paid.