Castle Company provides estimates for its uncollectible accounts. The allowance for uncollectible accounts had a credit balance of $17,280 at the beginning of 2021 and a $22,410 credit balance at the end of 2021 (after adjusting entries). If the direct write-off method had been used to account for uncollectible accounts (bad debt expense equals actual write-offs), the income statement for 2021 would have included bad debt expense of $17,100 and revenue of $2,200 from the collection of previously written off bad debts.

Required: Determine bad debt expense for 2018 according to the allowance method.

Dr Bad debt expense 20,030

     Cr Allowance for doubtful accounts 20,030

Explanation:

first we must determine the net amount of bad debt under direct write off = $17,100 - $2,200 = $14,900

now the increase in the allowance account during 2021 = $22,410 - $17,280 = $5,130

The journal entries following allowance method:

bad debts written off:

Dr Allowance for doubtful accounts 17,100

     Cr Accounts receivable 17,100

bad debts recovered:

Dr Accounts receivable 2,200

     Cr Allowance for doubtful accounts 2,200

Dr Cash 2,200

     Cr Accounts receivable 2,200

Adjustments following allowance method:

recording bad debt expenses (net amount of bad debt + increase in allowance for bad debt account = $14,900 + $5,130)

Dr Bad debt expense 20,030

     Cr Allowance for doubtful accounts 20,030

Now we can check:

$17,280 (beginning balance) - $17,100 write offs + $2,200 recoveries + $20,030 bad debt expense = $22,410 which is the ending balance of allowance for doubtful accounts