Vaughn Company provides for bad debt expense at the rate of 3% of accounts receivable. The following data are available for 2018: Allowance for doubtful accounts, 1/1/18 (Cr.) $ 11900 Accounts written off as uncollectible during 2018 9900 Ending accounts receivable 1197000 The Allowance for Doubtful Accounts balance at December 31, 2018, should be

The Allowance for Doubtful Accounts balance at December 31, 2018, should be $35,613.

Explanation:

The question did not tell us whether the ending balance of accounts receivable had already been adjusted for with the write-off that happened during the year. If we assume, it was not adjusted for, the required journals would be:

Debit Allowance for doubtful accounts             $9,900

Credit Accounts receivable                                $9,900

(To write-off accounts receivable)

The impact on accounts receivable is $1,197,000 - $9,900 = $1,187,100

The impact on Allowance for doubtful accounts  is $11,900 - $9,900 = $2,000

3% of accounts receivable ($1,187,100) = $35,613

The required bad debt expense is $35,613 - $2,000 = $33,613

Debit Bad debt expense                                      $33,613

Credit Allowance for doubtful accounts             $33,613

(To record bad debt expense for the year)