A company's board of directors votes to declare a cash dividend of $1.00 per share on its 12,000 common shares outstanding. The journal entry to record the payment of the cash dividend is:

Multiple Choice

• Debit Dividend Expense $12,000; credit Cash $12,000.

• Debit Dividend Expense $12,000; credit Common Dividend Payable $12,000.

• Debit Common Dividend Payable $12,000; credit Cash $12,000.

• Debit Retained Earnings $12,000; credit Common Dividend Payable $12,000.

• Debit Common Dividend Payable $12,000; credit Retained Earnings $12,000.