Clark Company estimated the net realizable value of its accounts receivable as of December 31, 2019, to be $178,000, based on an aging schedule of accounts receivable. Clark has also provided the following information: The accounts receivable balance on December 31, 2019 was $190,600. Uncollectible accounts receivable written off during 2019 totaled $13,300. The allowance for doubtful accounts balance on January 1, 2019 was $17,600. How much is Clark's 2019 bad debt expense

Answer: $8,300

Explanation:

Clark Company estimates that the net realizable value of their Accounts Receivable is $178,000. This is while their Accounts Receivable balance on the same date is $190,600.

This would infer that out of $190,600, they only intend on recovering $178,000.

The difference in these figures will be the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts balance at the end of the year because that is the amount that they do not believe they'll receive.

= 190,600 - 178,000

= $12,600

When the year started, the Allowance Balance was $17,600. Uncollectible Amount written off was $13,300. This amount would be written off from this account which would supposedly leave the balance to be,

= 17,600 - 13,300

= $4,300

The balance on the Allowance account is supposed be $12,600 yet the amount written off brings it to $4,300. The bad debts Expense for the year therefore, is the difference between these 2 figures because it is the bad debt expense that was written off from the $12,600 to bring it to $4,300.

= 12,600 - 4,300

= $8,300

Clark's 2019 Bad Debt expense is $8,300