At December 31, Amy Jo's Appliances had account balances in Accounts Receivable of $302,000 and in Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts of $640 (credit) before any adjustments. An analysis of Amy Jo's December 31 accounts receivable suggests that the allowance for uncollectible accounts should be 5% of accounts receivable. Bad debt expense for the year should be:

When a company makes sales on account, debit accounts receivable and credit sales. Based on assessment, some or all of the receivables may be uncollectible.

To account for this, debit bad debit expense and credit allowance for doubtful debt. Should the debt become uncollectible (i.e go bad), debit allowance for doubtful debt and credit accounts receivable.

Allowance for uncollectible accounts at 5%

= 5% * $302,000

= $1,510

Since the Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts was $640 (credit) before any adjustments, the bad debt expense for the year

= $1,510 - $640

= $870