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Posner Company wrote off the following accounts receivable as uncollectible for

ID: 2369837 • Letter: P

Question

Posner Company wrote off the following accounts receivable as uncollectible for the first year of its operations ending December 31, 2010:

Customer

Amount

J. Jackson

$10,000

L. Stanton

9,500

C. Barton

13,100

S. Fenton

2,400

Total

$35,000

Required:

(1)

Journalize the write-offs for 2010 under the direct write-off method.

(2)

Journalize the write-offs for 2010 under the allowance method.  Also, journalize the adjusting entry for uncollectible accounts.  The company recorded $2,400,000 of credit sales during 2010. Based on past history and industry average, 1.50% of credit sales are expected to be uncollectible.

(3)

How much higher or lower would Posner Company

Customer

Amount

J. Jackson

$10,000

L. Stanton

9,500

C. Barton

13,100

S. Fenton

2,400

Total

$35,000

Explanation / Answer

A. Journalize the write-offs for 2010 under the direct write-off method. If an amount box does not require an entry, leave it blank.
Dr Debt Expense 35,000
Cr Accounts Receivable 35,000

B. Journalize the write-offs for 2010 under the allowance method. Also, journalize the adjusting entry for uncollectible accounts. The company recorded $2,400,000 of credit sales during 2010. Based on past history and industry averages, 1.5% of credit sales are expected to be uncollectible. If an amount box does not require an entry, leave it blank.

To write off the accounts:
Dr Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 35,000
Cr Accounts Receivable 35,000

Adjusting Entry:
2,400,000 x 0.015 = 36,000 adjusting entry
Dr Debt Expense 36,000
Cr Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 36,000

C. How much higher (lower) would Ponser Company's 2010 net income have been under the direct write-off method than under the allowance method?
Under the direct write-off method, debt expense was 35,000. Under the allowance method, debt expense was 36,000.
The difference is 36,000 - 35,000 = $1,000
That is how much higher net income would have been under the direct write-off method.