ABCD, an accrual method taxpayer, operates a janitorial service business with a calendar year-end. At the beginning of the year the allowance for credit losses account had a credit balance of $20,000. At the end of the year, after ABCD recorded bad debt expense of $23,000, the balance of the allowance account decreased to $18,000 credit. What is ABCD's deduction for bad debt expense for the year?

		$25,000
		$2,000
		$20,000
		$23,000