The entry for bad debts at the time of dissolution of a partnership firm:

When a partnership firm is dissolved, it is necessary to account for bad debts that may have been incurred. Bad debts refer to those debts that cannot be collected from the debtors due to various reasons such as insolvency, bankruptcy, or refusal to pay. The entry for bad debts at the time of dissolution involves adjusting the accounts of the partners and recording the loss incurred by the firm.

Adjusting the accounts:
1. Determine the amount of bad debts: The first step is to identify the amount of bad debts incurred by the partnership firm. Let's assume that the bad debts amount to $5,000.

2. Prepare the bad debts account: Create a new account called "Bad Debts" in the books of the firm. This account is used to record all the bad debts incurred during the dissolution process.

3. Debit the Bad Debts account: Record the amount of bad debts as a debit entry in the Bad Debts account. In this case, the entry would be: Bad Debts Dr. $5,000.

4. Credit the Debtors account: Reduce the balance of the Debtors account by the amount of bad debts. This entry transfers the bad debts from the Debtors account to the Bad Debts account. The entry would be: Debtors Cr. $5,000.

Recording the loss:
5. Debit the Bad Debts account: Since bad debts result in a loss for the partnership firm, the Bad Debts account needs to be debited with the amount of bad debts incurred. The entry would be: Bad Debts Dr. $5,000.

6. Credit the Profit and Loss account: Transfer the amount of bad debts from the Bad Debts account to the Profit and Loss account. This entry represents the loss incurred by the firm due to the uncollectible debts. The entry would be: Profit and Loss Cr. $5,000.

7. Allocate the loss among the partners: The loss incurred by the firm needs to be distributed among the partners according to their profit-sharing ratio. This allocation is done by debiting the respective capital accounts of the partners and crediting the Profit and Loss account with their share of the loss.

It is important to note that the above entries are just an example, and the actual entries may vary depending on the specific circumstances of the partnership firm. It is recommended to consult with a professional accountant or refer to the partnership agreement for accurate guidance during the dissolution process.