How are Payments to be applied to Accounts Receivable?

When a payment is received from a customer the adjusting entry is really simple. Cash has to be adjusted for the amount received since the company is actually receiving cash. Accounts recievable will also be adjusted to show payment was received. For example if the payment was in the amount of $500, you would want to Debit Cash and Credit Accounts Receivable, both for that amount of $500.