Kingbird, Inc. uses the percentage-of-receivables basis to record bad debt expense and concludes that 3% of accounts receivable will become uncollectible. Accounts receivable are $429,500 at the end of the year, and the allowance for doubtful accounts has a credit balance of $2,950. (a) Prepare the adjusting journal entry to record bad debt expense for the year. (b) If the allowance for doubtful accounts had a debit balance of $870 instead of a credit balance of $2,950, prepare the adjusting journal entry for bad debt expense.

(a) The adjusting journal entry to record bad debt expense for the year:

Debit Bad debt expense  $5,640

Credit Allowance for doubtful accounts  $5,640

(To record bad debt expense)

(b) If the allowance for doubtful accounts had a debit balance of $870 instead of a credit balance of $2,950, The appropriate journal entries are:

Debit Bad debt expense $9,460

Credit Allowance for doubtful accounts  $9,460

(To record bad debt expense)

Explanation:

To arrive at the bad debt expense for Kingbird, Inc., we simply need to calculate 3% of accounts receivable, as follows:

2% of $429,500 = $8,590

Since the allowance for doubtful accounts has a credit balance of $2,950, the bad debt expense will be: $8,590 - $2,950 = $5,640. The appropriate journal entries are as provided above.

However, if the allowance for doubtful accounts had a debit balance of $870 instead of a credit balance of $2,950, the bad debt expense will be: $8,590 + $870 = $9,460. The addition is necessary in order to reinstate the allowance account to $8,590. The appropriate journal entries are as provided above.

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