Abbott Company uses the allowance method of accounting for uncollectible accounts. Abbott estimates that 3% of credit sales will be uncollectible. On January 1, the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts had a credit balance of $3,700. During the year, Abbott wrote-off accounts receivable totaling $2,700 and made credit sales of $118,000. After the adjusting entry, the December 31 balance in Bad Debt Expense would be

a. $4,540
b. $3,540
c. $3,700
d. $7,240

Allowance for uncollectible accounts is a contra asset account and it has credit nature. It needs to be debited to decrease the balance and credited to increase the balance. Balance of this account is adjusted in the account receivable to report the net receivable balance in the balance sheet.

As per given data

Beginning allowance for uncollectible accounts balance = $3,700

Write off is the adjustment mad in this account and it needs to be debited in this account, this transaction will reduce the balance.

Adjusted Balance = $3,700 - 2,700 = $1,000

Credit sales = $118,000

Estimated allowance for uncollectible accounts balance = $118,000 x 3% = $3,540

As allowance for uncollectible accounts has already have balance of $1,000, Bad debt expense for the year is $2,540 ($3,540 - $1,000).