Answer: After closing the balance in the retained earnings account will be $20,000.
We arrive at Retained earnings for a given year as follows:
[tex]Retained Earnings = Revenues - Expenses - Dividends[/tex]
[tex]Retained Earnings = 3000 - 2000 - 500[/tex]
[tex]Retained Earnings = $500[/tex]
We then find the closing balance in the Retained Earnings account as follows:
[tex]Closing Balance = Opening Balance + Current year's retained earnings[/tex]
[tex]Closing Balance = 19500 + 500[/tex]
[tex]Closing Balance = $20,000[/tex]