Variable Costing—A Tool for Management Show Learning Objectives
Chapter Overview A. Overview of Variable and Absorption Costing. At least two methods can be used in manufacturing companies to value units of product for accounting purposes—absorption costing and variable costing. These methods differ only in how they treat fixed manufacturing overhead costs.
B. Comparison of Absorption and Variable Costing. When comparing absorption costing and variable costing income statements, a number of points should be noted:
C. Extended Comparison of Income Data. Exhibit 7-3 in the text presents a comparison of absorption costing and variable costing income statements over three years in which production is constant but sales vary. Exhibit 7-6 in the text also presents comparative income statements over three years but holds annual sales constant and varies annual production. From these Exhibits, several generalizations can be drawn. (All of these generalizations assume the LIFO inventory flow assumption is being used. The generalizations may not hold in some rare cases if a company uses an inventory flow assumption other than LIFO.)
D. The Matching Principle. Accountants and managers have been arguing for decades concerning the relative merits of absorption and variable costing. In practice, absorption costing is used far more than variable costing even for internal reports. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, although the perception that absorption costing is required for external reporting undoubtedly plays a key role. The argument for using absorption costing in external reports seems to be based on the matching principle.
E. Advantages of the Contribution Approach. There are a number of advantages to using variable costing (and the contribution approach) in internal reports and analysis.
F. Impact of JIT Inventory Methods. When companies use JIT methods for controlling their operations, the distortions of income that can occur under absorption costing largely (or completely) disappear.
How are fixed manufacturing costs treated under absorption costing?Absorption costing treats fixed manufacturing overhead as a product cost (included in inventory on the balance sheet until sold), while variable costing treats fixed manufacturing overhead as a period cost (expensed on the income statement as incurred).
How are fixed manufacturing costs handled under variable costing?Under variable costing, fixed manufacturing overhead is treated as a period cost and is immediately expensed on the income statement. treated as period costs under both variable costing and absorption costing.
Is fixed manufacturing overhead included in absorption costing?Absorption costing is a costing system that is used in valuing inventory. It not only includes the cost of materials and labor, but also both variable and fixed manufacturing overhead costs.
Which costs are treated differently under absorption costing and variable costing?Absorption costing entails allocating fixed overhead costs to all units produced for an accounting period. Variable costing includes all of the variable direct costs in COGS but excludes direct, fixed overhead costs.
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