Question Completion:
Assume that Happy Lawn uses the percentage of credit sales method to directly calculate the bad debt expense) instead of the aging method, and it is estimated that it will not collect 1% of the total credit sales.
Answer:
Happy Lawn Company
Given the above information and considering the recording of Bad Debt Expense for the year, regardless of the method used to estimate bad debts, the ending Allowance for Doubtful Accounts balance for 20X1 will be:
= $8,140.
Explanation:
a) Data and Calculations:
Total credit sales:
Cash collected from customers = $750,000
Accounts receivable balance       60,000
Write-off of debts                 4,000
Total credit sales for the year    $814,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts    8,140 ($814,000 * 1%)
Bad Debts Expense = $12,140 ($8,140 + $4,000)
b) Since Happy Lawn is a new outfit, it does not have beginning balances of Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. Â With a debit balance of $4,000 in the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, signifying a write-off (contrary entry from the Accounts Receivable), the balance in the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts at year-end is expected to be equal to 1% of the credit sales. Â This will require a credit entry for Bad Debts Expense.
