CMA Study Group

  • 1.  Need help - Quiz Part 1

    Posted 10-16-2012 12:50 AM
    Hi,

    If anybody can help me on below question, I'd appreciate very much.
    My answer was $27,500. But, according to fedback, the correct answer shows $25,000 (Please see bold):

    Valyn Corporation employs an absorption costing system for internal reporting purposes; however, the company is considering using variable costing. Data
    regarding Valyn's planned and actual operations for the calendar year are presented below.

                                                      Planned Activity    Actual Activity
    Beginning finished goods                     
      inventory in units                           35,000                 35,000  
    Sales in units                                 140,000               125,000   
    Production in units                         140,000               130,000

                                                        Planned Costs                       Incurred
                                                   Per unit             Total                    Costs
    Direct Material                           $12.00       $1,680,000          $1,560,000
    Direct Labor                                  9.00          1,260,000            1,170,000
    Variable MFG overhead                 4.00            560,000                520,000
    Fixed MFG overhead                      5.00           700,000                715,000
    Variable selling expenses              8.00         1,120,000            1,000,000  
    Fixed selling expenses                  7.00            980,000               980,000
    Variable admin. expenses             2.00            280,000               250,000
    Fixed admin. expenses                 3.00            420,000               425,000
    Total                                          $50.00       $7,000,000          $6,620,000

    The planned per unit cost figures shown in the above schedule were based on Valyn producing and selling 140,000 units. Valyn uses a predetermined
    manufacturing overhead rate for applying manufacturing overhead to its product; thus, a combined manufacturing overhead rate of $9.00 per unit was employed
    for absorption costing purposes. Any over- or underapplied manufacturing overhead is closed to the Cost of Goods Sold account at the end of the reporting
    year.
    The beginning finished goods inventory for absorption costing purposes was valued at the previous year's planned unit manufacturing cost which was the same
    as the current year's planned unit manufacturing cost. There are no work-in-process inventories at either the beginning or the end of the year. The planned and
    actual unit selling price was $70.00 per unit.
    The difference between Valyn Corporation's operating income calculated on the absorption costing basis and calculated on the variable costing basis was

    a. 65,000.
    b. $25,000.
    c. $90,000.
    d. $40,000.

    The correct answer is: $25,000.
    Using absorption costing, product costs consist of direct material, direct labor, and indirect manufacturing costs (both variable and fixed
    overhead). Using variable costing, product costs consist of direct material, direct labor, and variable indirect manufacturing costs (variable
    overhead). Variable costing treats fixed overhead as a period cost. Therefore, the profit under absorption costing is equal to the profit under
    variable costing, plus the change in the fixed overhead in the absorption costing inventory. When the fixed overhead rate is constant, the only
    difference between the operating income amounts using variable and absorption costing will be related to the fixed overhead costs.
    So, calculate the difference between operating income using absorption costing and operating income using variable costing, by taking the fixed
    overhead rate per unit and multiplying that by the difference between the number of units produced and the number of units sold.
    In this case, the change (difference) = $5(130,000 units produced - 125,000 units sold) = $5(5,000 units) = $25,000
    -------------------------------------------
    Howon Kim
    Accountant
    Volumecocomo Apparel, Inc.
    Buena Park CA
    United States
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  • 2.  RE:Need help - Quiz Part 1

    Posted 10-16-2012 10:20 AM
    Hi Howon,

    To truly answer this question you need to understand the main difference of absorption costing and variable costing.Variable costing treats cost according to their behavior (variable and fixed) where in cost fluctuates according to the number of units sold; Absorption costing on the otherhand treats used the traditional way of recognizing cost, wherein some cost will form part of inventory and cost fluctuates to production. Fixed Mnfg expenses are recognized as whole no part will be treated as inventoriable in variable costing, absorption costing treat the fixed cost as inventoriable.

    Moreover, Units Sold (S) > Units Produced (P) = higher net income variable costing due to the fixed cost that were inventoried. 

    To summarized the difference lies on the treatment of the fixed manufacturing cost.

    So the $5/unit * (130k - 125k) = $25,000

    Hope this helps!

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    Leo Yatco CMA, CPA
    Accountant
    Sta Rosa
    Philippines
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