On January 1, 2013, the balance in Tabor Co.'s Allowance for Bad Debts account was $13,501. During the first 11 months of the year, bad debts expense of $21,413 was recognized. The balance in the Allowance for Bad Debts account at November 30, 2013, was $9,896. Required: (a) What was the total of accounts written off during the first 11 months? (Hint: Make a T-account for the Allowance for Bad Debts account.) (b) As the result of a comprehensive analysis, it is determined that the December 31, 2013, balance of the Allowance for Bad Debts account should be $9,276. Show the adjustment required in the journal entry format.

Total of accounts written off=$25, 018, part b is in the explanation column

Explanation:

Total of accounts (Bad debt) written off=Opening Balance in bad debt allowance account+

bad debt expense recognized during the period −

Closing balance in bad debt allowance account

=$13,501+$21,413−$9,896

=$25, 018

T---account

                                  Allowance for bad debts

                                                       $13,501   Balance from Jan 1st

                                                       $21,413    Bad debts expense

Bad debts written off $25, 018

                                                       $9,896 Balance on November 30

b)Adjusted journal entry for change in amount of allowance for bad debt account

December 31st 2013     Account        Debit         Credit

          Allowance for bad debts          $620  

         Bad debts expense                                        $620

calculation

The balance in allowance for bad debt account as on November 30 is $9 896 , when it was supposed to be $9,276. Therefore the bad debt expense is overstated by  

$9,896- $9, 276 = $620