Meaning and Definition

CHAPTER 18
Overheads
Aggregate of all expenses relating to indirect material cost, indirect labour cost and indirect expenses
is known as Overhead. Accordingly, all expenses other than direct material cost, direct wages and direct
expenses are referred to as overhead.
According to Wheldon, Overhead may be defined as "the cost of indirect material, indirect labour
and such other expenses including services as cannot conveniently be charged to a specific unit."
Blocker and WeItmer define overhead as follows :
"Overhead costs are operating cost of a business enterprise which cannot be traced directly to a
particular unit of output. Further such costs are invisible or unaccountable."
Importance of Overhead Cost
Nowadays business is a dynamic organism. Advancement of technological development and
innovation, economic situations and social considerations are the important factors for modernization of
industries at mass production to meet its more demand. The overhead charges are heavily increased and
they represent major portion of total cost. Therefore, it assumes greater importance for cost control and
cost reduction.
Classification of Overheads
Classification of overheads is the process of grouping of costs based on the features and objectives of
the business organization. The following are the important methods on which the overheads are classified:
(a) On the basis of Nature.
(b) On the basis of Function.
(c) On the basis of Variability.
(d) On the basis of Normality.
(e) On the basis of Control.
Overheads
The following chart can explain the further classification of overhead :
Nature
t
(1) Indirect Material
(2) Indirect Labour
(3) Indirect Expenses
1
Function
1
(1) Manufacturing Overhead
(2) Administrative Overhead
(3) Selling Overhead
(4) Distribution Overhead
(1) On the Basis of Nature
Classification of Overhead
On the Basis of
Variability
t
(1) Fixed Overhead
(2) Variable Overhead
(3) Semi-Variable Overhead
1
Control
1
Normality
t
(1) Normal Overhead
(2) Abnormal Overhead
(1) Controllable Overhead
(2) Uncontrollable Overhead
403
One of the important classifications is on the basis of nature or elements. Based on nature the
aggregate of all indirect material cost, indirect labour cost and indirect other expenses are known as
overheads. Accordingly, overheads are grouped into (a) Indirect Material Cost (b) Indirect Labour Cost
and (c) Indirect Expenses.
(a) Indirect Material Cost: Indirect materials do not form part of the finished products. Indirect
materials are indirectly or generally used for production which cannot be identified directly. For example,
oil, lubricants, cotton waste, tools for repairs and maintenance etc. are indirect materials.
(b) Indirect Labour Cost: Indirect labour is for work in general. The importance of the distribution
lies in the fact that whereas direct labour can be identified with and charged to the job, indirect labour
cannot be so charged and has, therefore, to be treated as part of the factory overheads to be included in the
cost of production. Examples are salaries and wages of supervisors, storekeepers, maintenance labour etc.
(c) Indirect Expenses: Any expenses that are not specifically incurred for or can be readily charged
to or identified with a specific job. These are the expenses incurred in general for more than one cost
centre. Examples of indirect expenses are rent, insurance, lighting, telephone, stationery expenses etc.
(2) On the Basis of Function
The classification overheads on the basis of the various function of the business concern is known as
function wise overheads. Here there are four important functional overheads such as :
(a) Production Overhead
(c) Selling Overhead
(b) Administration Overhead
(d) Distribution Overhead
(a) Production Overhead: Production overhead is also termed as manufacturing overhead or works
overhead or factory overhead. It is the aggregate of all indirect expenses which are incurred for work in
404 A Textbook of Financial Cost and Management Accounting
operation or factory. These costs are normally incurred during the period when the production process is
carried on. For example, factory rent, factory light, power, factory employees' salary, oil, lubrication of
plant & machinery, etc.
(b) Administrative Overhead: Administrative expenses are incurred in general for management to
discharge its functions of planning organizing, controlling, co-ordination and directing. These expenses are
not specifically incurred and cannot be identified with the specific job. It is also termed as office cost. For
example, office rent, rates, printing, stationery, postage, telegram, legal expenses etc. are the office and
administrative costs.
(c) Selling Overheads: Selling expenses are overheads which are incurred for promoting sales,
securing orders, creating demand and retaining customers. For example, salesmen's salaries, advertisement,
rent and rates of show room, samples, commission etc.
(d) Distribution Overhead: Distribution overhead are incurred for distribution of products or output
from producers to the ultimate consumers. For example, warehouse staff salaries, expenses of delivery van,
storage expenses, packing etc.
(3) On the Basis of Variability
One of the important classifications is on the basis of variability. According to this, the expenses can
be grouped into (a) Fixed Overhead (b) Variable Overhead and (c) Semi-Variable Overhead.
(a) Fixed Overhead: Fixed cost or overhead incurred remain constant due to change in the volume
output or change in the volume of sales. For example, rent and rates of buildings, depreciation of plant,
salaries of supervisors etc.
(b) Variable Overhead: Variable overhead may be defined as "they tend to increase or decrease in
total amount with changes in the volume of output or volume of sales." Accordingly the change is in direct
proportion to output. Indirect materials, Indirect labour, repair and maintenance, power, fuel, lubricants etc.
are examples of variable overhead costs.
(c) Semi-Variable Overheads: Semi-variable overheads are incurred with a change in the volume of
output or turnover. They neither remain fixed nor do they tend to vary directly with the output. These costs
remain fixed upto a certain volume of output but they will vary at other part of activity. Semi-variable
overheads are mixed cost, i.e., partly fixed and partly variable. For example, power, repairs and
maintenance, depreciation of plant and machinery telephone etc.
(4) On the Basis of Normality
Overheads are classified into normal overheads and abnormal overheads on the basis of normality
features. According to this normal overheads are incurred in achieving the target output or fixed plan. On
the other hand, abnormal overhead costs are not expected to be incurred at a given level of output in the
conditions in which the level of output is normally produced. For example, abnormal idle time, abnormal
wastage etc. Such expenses are transferred to Profit and Loss Account.
(5) On the Basis of Control
It is one of important classifications of overhead on the basis of control. Based on control it is
grouped into controllable overhead and uncontrollable overhead. Controllable overhead which can be
controlled by the action of a specified number of undertaking. For example, idle time, wastages etc. can be
controlled. Uncontrollable overheads cannot be controlled by the action of the executive heading the
responsibility centre. For example, rent and rates of building cannot be controlled.
Overheads
Usefulness of Overhead Classification
(1) It ensures effective cost control.
(2) It helps the management for effective decision making.
405
(3) The application of marginal costing is essentially for profit planning, cost control, decision
making etc. are based on the classification of overheads.
(4) On the basis of classification of fixed and variable cost, flexible budgets are prepared at
different levels of activity.
(5) It facilitates fixing of selling price.
(6) Cost classification is useful for break-even analysis. Break-even analysis mainly depends on
overall.cost and profi"t which can be useful for making or buying decision.
(7) It helps to find out the unit cost of production.
Codification of Overhead
Codification is a process of representing each item by a number, the digits of which indicate the
group, the subgroup, the type and the dimension of the item.
Advantages of Codification
(1) It enables systematic grouping of similar items and avoids confusion caused by long description
of the items.
(2) It serves as the starting point of implication and standardization.
(3) It helps in avoiding duplication of items and results in the minimisation of number of items,
leading to accurate records.
(4) It ~ e l p s in allocation and apportionment of overheads to different cost centres.
(5) It assists the grouping of overheads for cost control.
(6) It helps in reducing clerical efforts to the minimum.
Methods of Codification
There are different methods used for codification. The following are the three important methods
used:
(1) Numerical Codes Method.
(2) Decimal Codes Method.
(3) Codes with a Combination of Numbers and Alphabets.
(1) Numerical Method: Under this method, numerical codes are assigned to each item of expenses.
For example,
100 Indirect labour.
400 Power.
500 Maintenance.
800 Fixed charges.
406 A Textbook of Financial Cost and Management Accounting
(2) Decimal Codes: Under this method, the whole numbers are allotted to indicate master group and
the decimals indicate the sub-group. For example,
Factory Overheads:
1.1.1 Indirect materials.
1.1.2 Consumable stores.
1.1.3 Lubricating oils.
(3) Codes with a Combination of Numbers and Alphabet : Under this method the alphabet
indicates the main group and the type of expenses is indicated by the numerical. For example,
Rl - Repairs to machinery.
R2 - Repairs to plant.
R3 - Repairs to furniture.
Procedure or Steps in Overhead
Overheads are incurred for work in general. Overhead is added tQ the prime cost in order to measure
the total cost of production or cost of goods sold. For allocation and apportionment of overhead in the cost
of production or cost of goods sold the following procedures are involved:
(1)
(2)
(3)
Classification of Overhead
Collection of Overhead
. Overhead Analysis:
'
(a) Distribution of overhead to production and service departments, i.e., AllocatiOllnmd
.,,'
Apportionment of overhead to cost centre. ' .
(b) Re-distribution of overhead from service department to production department, i.e.,
Allocation and Apportionment of service centres to production centres or departments.
(4) Absorption of overhead by cost units, i.e., computation of overhead absorption rates.
(1) Classification Overhead: We have already discussed the classification of in the
preceding pages, and the discussion on other procedures would follow in this chapter and the subsequent one.
(2) Collection of Overhead: The production overheads or factory overheads are collected and
identified under separate overhead code numbers or standing order numbers. These overheads are
collected from different sources and documents. The following are the important sources and documents :
Overhead Expenses
(1) Indirect Materials
(2) Power and light
(3) Indirect wages
(4) Salaries
(5) Depreciation
(6) Rates
(7) Rates
(8) Office Stationery
(9) Postage
Sources and Documents Used
Materials Requisition
Meter Reading
Time Cards, Pay Rolls, Wage Analysis
Salaries Sheet
Plant Register, Machinery Register
Lease
Local Government Assessment
Supplier's Invoices
Postage Book
Overheads 407
(3) Overhead Analysis : (a) Allocation and Apportionment of Overhead to Cost Centres
The first step of overhead analysis is distribution of overhead to production department and service
department. Before analysing overhead, we should know the concept of Allocation, Absorption and
Apportionment.
Allocation: Cost allocation refers to the allotment of whole item of cost to cost centres. The technique
of charging the entire overhead expenses to a cost centre is known as cost allocation.
Absorption: Cost absorption refers to the process of absorbing all overhead costs allocated to
apportioned over particular cost centre or production department by the unit produced.
Apportionment: Apportionment is the process of distribution factory overheads to cost centres or
cost units on an equitable basis. The term apportionment refers to the allotment of expenses which cannot
be identified wholly with a particular department. Such expenses require division and apportionment over
two or more cost centres in proportion to estimated benefits received.
Allocation Vs Apportionment
(1) Allocation deals with whole amount of factory overheads while apportionment deals with
proportion of item of cost or proportion to cost centres.
(2) The item of factory overhead directly allocated and identified with specific cost centers.
Whereas apportionment requires suitable and equitable basis. For example, factory rent may be
allocated to the factory and has to be apportioned among the producing and service departments
on an equitable basis.
Basis of Apportionment
Overhead apportionment depends upon matching with principles. Accordingly the basis for
apportionment should be related to the basis on which the expenditure is incurred. The following are the
usual basis adopted for apportionment of overhead :
Basis of Apportionment
Overhead Cost
(1) Lighting
(2) Rent, Rates and Taxes
(3) Insurance of building }
Depreciation of building,
Heating
(4) Depreciation of plant }
and Machinery and
Equipments
(5) E S I, Canteen, Safety, }
compensation, supervision
welfare, fringe benefits
(6) Delivery Van, }
Internal Transport
(7) Audit fees
(8) Storekeeper's expenses
(9) Power
Basis of Distribution
- No. of light points, floor space or meter reading
- Floor Area
Area of floor
- Book value
- No. of employees
- Weight, volume ton
- Sales or Total Cost
- Weight, value of materials or Number of requisitions
- H. P. Hours or K. W. Hours
408
Illustration: 1
A Textbook of Financial Cost and Management Accounting
A departmental store has several departments. What bases would you recommend for apportioning
the following items of expenses to its departments :
(I) Fire Insurance of building
(2) Sales commission
(3) Advertisement
(4) Salesmen's salaries
(5) Commission paid to salesmen
(6) Show room expenses
(7) Depreciation on plant
(8) Rent of finished goods, warehouse
(9) Factory power
(10) Delivery Van expenses
Solution:
Items
(I) Fire Insurance Building
(2) Sales Commission
(3) Advertisement
(4) Salesmen's Salaries
(5) Commission paid to Salesmen
(6) Show room expenses
(7) Depreciation on plant
(8) Rent of finished goods warehouse
(9) Factory power
(10) Delivery Van expenses
Illustration: 2
Basis of Apportionment
Floor space or Value
Sales value
Sales value
Sales value
Sales value
Sales value or Total cost
Value of plant
Floor space or Area
H.P. Power (or) K.W. hours
Weight, Volume
A factory has three production departments and two service departments. The following figures have
been extracted from the financial books :
Supervision
Repairs of Plant and Machinery
Rent
Light
Power
Employer's contribution to ESI
Canteen Expenses
Rs.
6,000
3,000
8,000
2,000
3,000
600
1,000
The following further details have been extracted from the books of the respective departments :
Particulars A B C D E
Direct Wages (Rs.)
4,000 3,000 2,000 2,000 1,000
Area of Square feet 2,000 1,000 500 500 100
No. of Employees
50 40 20 20 10
Value of Machinery 10,000 5,000 3,000 3,000 1,000
Light Points
80 60 30 30 20
H.P. of Machines 200 100 50 50 20
Overheads 409
Solution:
Primary Overhead Distribution Summary
Basis of Total Production Department Sen'ice Dept.
Particulars Apportionment Rs. Departments Department
A B C D E
Supervision No. of Employees 6,000 2,142 1,715 857 857 429
5:4:2:2:1
Repairs of Plant } Value Machinery 3,000 1,364 681 409 409 137
and Machinery 10:5:3:3:1
Rent Area of square feet 8,000 3,902 1,951 976 976 195
20:10:5:5:1
Light Light points 2,000 727 545 273 273 182
8: 6: 3 : 3: 2
Power H.P. of Machines 3,000 1,429 714 357 357 143
20:10:5:5:2
Employers Direct Wages 600 200 150 100 100 50
Contribution to ESI 4: 3 : 2 : 2: 1
Canteen Expenses No. of Employees 1,000 357 286 143 143 71
5:4:2:2:1
Total 23,600 10,121 6,044 3,115 3,115 1,207
(b) Re-apportionment (Re-distribution): Re-distribution of overhead from various service departments
to production departments is known as Re-apportionment or Secondary distribution. Accordingly, allocation
and apportionment of overheads from service departments or centres to production centres or departments.
The following are the important bases adopted for apportionment of secondary distribution:
Service Department
(1) Purchase Department
(2) Maintenance and Repairs Department
(3) Stores Department
(4) Personnel Department
(Canteen, Welfare, Medical,
Employer's liability)
(5) Time Keeping Department
(6) Pay roll Department
(7) Accounts Department
(8) Tool Room
Service Department
(9) Transport Department
(10) Power House
(11) Fire Insurance
Methods or Re-apportionment or Re-distribution
Basis of Apportionment
Number of Purchase Orders or Number of
Purchase Requision or Value of Materials
Hours worked
No. of Requisition or Value of Materials
No. of Employees or Direct wages
No. of Employee or Labour Hours or Direct Wages
No. of Employees or Direct Wages
No. of Employees
Direct Labour Hours or Machine Hours or Direct Wages
Basis of Apportionment
Car hours, Truck hours, Tonnage handled
K.W. Hours
Stock Value
The following are the important methods of re-distribution of service department overheads to
production department :
410 A Textbook of Financial Cost and Management Accounting
(1) Direct Re-distribution Method
(2) Step Distribution Method
(3) Reciprocal Service Method - this method further grouped into:
(a) Repeated Distribution Method
(b) Simultaneous Equiation Method
(c) Trial and Error Method
The following chart explains more about the method of re-apportionment of service department cost:
Direct Re-distribution
Method
Methods of Secondary Distribution
!
Step
Method
Repeated Distribution
Method
1
Reciprocal Service
Method
Simultaneous
Equation
Method
Trial and Error
Method
(1) Direct Re-distribution Method: Under this method, the cost of service department is directed to
re-distribution to the production departments without considering the services rendered by one service
department to another service department.
Illustration: 3
Ramesh Ltd. has three production departments A, Band C and six service departments. The
following figures are extracted from the records of the company :
Production Departmentss
A Rs.16,Ooo
B Rs.IO,OOO
C Rs.12,OOO
Rs.38,OOO
Service Departments
Stores
Timekeeping
Maintenance
Power
Walfare
Supervision
Total
Rs.2,OOO
Rs.3,OOO
Rs. 1,000
Rs.2,OOO
Rs. 1,000
Rs.2,OOO
Rs.49,OOO
Overheads 411
The other information available in respect of the production departments :
Particulars Production Departments
,
A B C
I
No. of Employees 40 30 20
No. of Stores Requisition 30 20 10
Horse Power of Machines 500 500 600
Machine Hours 2500 1500 1000
You are required to apportion the costs of various service departments to production departments.
Solution:
Departmental Overhead Re-distribution Summary
Expenses Basis Total Production Departments
Rs. A B C
Rs. Rs. Rs.
As per primary } - 38,000 16,000 10,000 12,000
Departmental summary
Del2artm!<!lt ;
Stores No. of Stores
Requisitioned 2,000 1,000 667 333
30: 20 : 10
Timekeeping No. of Employees
40:30:20 3,000 1,333 1,000 667
Maintenance Machine Hours 1,000 500 300 200
25: 15: 10
Power Horse Power 2,000 625 625 750
5:5:6
Welfare No. of Employees 1,000 445 333 222
40:30:20
Supervision No. of Employees 2,000 889 667 444
40: 30: 20
Total 49,000 20,792 13,592 14,616
(2) Step Method: Under this method the cost of most serviceable department is first distributed to
production departments and other service departments. Thereafter, the next service department is distributed
and later the last service department until the cost of all the service departments are redistributed to the
production department.
Illustration: 4
A manufacturing company has two production departments A and B and three Service Departments
- Timekeeping, Stores and Maintenance. The departmental summary showed the following expenses for
Dec. 2003.
Production Departments:
A
B
Service Departments:
Timekeeping
Stores
Maintenance
Total Overhead Expenses
Rs.
32,000
10,000
8,000
10,000
6,000
66,000
412 A Textbook of Financial Cost and Management Accounting
The following information about departments is available and is used as a basis for distribution :
Particular Production Service Departments
Departments
A B Timekeeping Stores Maintenance
No. of Employees 20
'15
10
No. of Stores Requisitions 12 10 -
Machine Hours 1200 800 -
You are required to apportion these costs to production departments :
Solution:
Departments Primary
Distribution
Rs.
Timekeeping 8000 (-) 8,000
Stores 10,000 3,334
Maintenance 6,000 2,500
A 32,000 1,333
B 10,000 833
Total 66,000
Basis of Apportionment:
Timekeeping: 20 : 15 : 8 : 5 (No. of Employees)
Stores: 12 : 10 : 3 ( No. of Stores Requisition)
Maintenance: 12 : 8 (Machine Hours)
(-) 13,334
1,600
6,400
5,334
8 5
- 3
- -
(-) 10,100
6,060 45,793
4,040 20,207
66,000
(3) Reciprocal Service Method : This method recognizes the fact that if a service department
receives services from other department, the services should be charged in the receiving department. Thus,
the cost of inter departmental services is taken into account on reciprocal basis. The following are the three
important methods available for dealing with reciprocal distribution :
(a) Simultaneous Equation Method.
(b) Repeated Distribution Method.
(c) Trail and Error Method.
(a) Simultaneous Equation Method: Under this method, the true cost of total overhead of each
service department is ascertained with the help of Simultaneous or Algebraic Equation. The obtained
result reapportioned to production department on the basis of given percentage.
(b) Repeated Distribution Method: Under this method, the total overhead costs of the service
departments are distributed to service and production departments according to given percentage of the
service departments are exhausted, in tum repeatedly until the figures become too small to matter.
(c) Trail and Error Method: In this method, the cost of a service centre is apportioned to another
service centre. Then, the cost of another service centre along with the apportioned cost from the first centre
is again apportioned back to the first service centre. This process is repeated till the amount to be
apportioned becomes zero or negligible.
Overheads 413
Illustration: 5
The following particulars related to a manufacturing company has three production departments : P,
Q, : and R and two service departments X and Y :
Production Departments:
P Rs.2,ooO
Q Rs.l,5oo
R Rs.l,ooo
Service Departments:
S Rs. 500
T Rs.4oo
The service department expenses are charged on a percentage basis as folIows :
Productions Departments Service Departments
Service Depts. :
S
T
P
20%
30%
Q
30%
30%
R
40%
20%
S
20%
T
10%
Prepare a statement showing the distribution of the two service departments expenses to three production
departments under (1) Simultaneous Equation Method and (2) Repeated Distribution Method.
Solution:
(1) Simultaneous Equation Method:
Let X be the total expenses of Departments S
Let Y be the total expenses of Department T
X = 500 + 0.20 Y
Y = 400 + 0.10 X
X = 500 + 0.20 (400 + O.IOX)
X = 500 + 80 + 0.02X
X - 0.20X = 580
(or) 0.98 X = 580
580
.. X = -- = 59l.83
0.98
Y = 400 + 0.10 (592)
= 400 + 59
Y =459
Departmental Overhead Distribution Summary
Particulars Production Departments
P Q R
Rs. Rs. Rs.
Overhead as per Summary 2,000 1,500 1,000
Department S 118 178 237
Department T 138 137 92
Total 2,256 1,815 1,329
Service Departments
S T
Rs. Rs.
500 400
(-) 592 59
92 (-) 459
- -
414 A Textbook of Financial Cost and Management Accounting
Repeated Distribution Method
Particulars Production Departments Service Departments
P Q R S T
Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs.
Total Department overhead as per
Primary Distribution 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 400
Service Department S 100 150 200 (-) 500 50
Service Department T 135 135 90 90 (-) 450
Service Department S 18 27 36 (-) 90 9
Service Department T 3 3 3 - (-) 9
Total 2,256 1,815 1,329
-
-
Illustration: 6
You are supplied with the following infonnation and required to work out the production hour rate of
recovery of overhead in Departments X, Y and Z.
Production Deplts.
Particulars Total X Y Z
Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs.
Rent 12,000 2,400 4,800 2,000
Electricity 4,000 800 2,000 500
Indirect Labour 6,000 1,200 2,000 1,000
Depreciation 5,000 2,500 1,600 200
Sundries 4,500 910 2,143 847
Estimated working
Hours 1,000 2,500 1,400
Expenses of Service Department P and Q are apportioned as under :
Solution:
P
Q
Particulars
Rent
Electricity
Indirect Labour
Depreciation
Sundries
Total
X
30%
10%
y
40%
20%
z
20%
50%
P Q
10%
20%
Departmental Overhead Distribution Summary
Production Deptts.
Total X Y Z
Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs.
12,000 2,400 4,800 2,000
4,000 800 2,000 500
6,000 1,200 2,000 1,000
5,000 2,500 1,600 200
4,500 910 2,143 847
31,500 7,810 12,543 4,547
Service Deptts.
P Q
Rs. Rs.
2,000 800
400 300
800 1,000
500 200
300 300
(C7A Inter, 2Ck71)
Service Deptts.
P'
Q
Rs. Rs.
2,000 800
400 300
800 1,000
500 200
300 300
4,000 2,600
Overheads
Repeated Distribution Method
Particulars Total
Total Departmental
Overheads as per
Primary distribution
Exp. of P Dept
Total
Exp. of Q Dept.
Total
Exp. of P Dept.
Total
Exp. of Q Dept.
Total
Exp. of P Dept
Total 31.500
Working hours
Rate per hour
(ii) Simultaneous Equations Method
Let p be the expenses of Service Dept. P and
Let q be the expenses of Service Dept. Q
1
Production Depts.
X Y
7.810 12.543
1.200 1.600
9.010 14.143
300 600
9.310 14.743
180 240
9.490 14.983
6 12
9,496 14.995
4 5
9.500 15.000
1.000 2.500
Rs.9.53 Rs.6
Z
4.574
800
5,437
1.500
6.847
120
6.967
30
6.997
3
7.000
1,400
Rs.5.oo
Then p = 1,000 + - q (service 20% of q wi\1 be apportioned to dept. P) and
5
1
q=2,600+ - P
10
1 1
q = 2.600 + - (4,000 + - q) (putting the value of p)
10 5
1
q = 2,600 + 400 + - q
50
1
q= 3,000 + - q
50
50q = 1,50,000 + q
49q = 1,50.000
q = 3,061
1
P = 4.000 + - (3061) = 4612
5
415
Service Depts.
P Q
4.000 2.600
(-4.000) 400
-
3.000
600 (-3000)
600
-
(-600) 60
- 60
12 (-60)
12
-
(-12) -
- -
416 A Textbook of Financial Cost and Management Accounting
Departmental Overhead Distribution Summary
x
y
z P Q
Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs.
Total (given) 7,810 12,543 4,547 4,000 2,600
Exp. of P Dept. Rs. 4,612 1,384 1,845 922 (-4,612) 461
Exp. of Deptt Q Rs. 3,061 306 612 1,531 612 (-3,061)
9,500 15,000 7,000
-
Estimated Working Hours 1,000 2,500 1,400
Rate Per Hour Rs. 9.50 6.00 5.00
Illustration: 7
RST Ltd. produces machine parts on a job order basis. Most of the business is obtained through
bidding. Most of the firms competing. with RST Ltd. bid full cost plus a 20% markup. Recently, with the
expectation of gaining mbre sales, RST Ltd. reduced its markup from 25% to 20%. The company operates
two service departments and two producing departments. The budgeted costs and the normal levels of
activity for each department are given below:
Particulars Service Department Production Department
A B C D
Overhead Costs 5,00,000 10,00,000 5,00,000 2,50,000
Number of Employees 40 35 150 150
Maintenance Hours 10,000 1,000 32,000 8,000
Machine Hours
- -
50,000 5,000
Labour Hours - -
5,000 50,000
The direct costs of Department A are allocated on the basis of employees; those of Department B are allocated
on the basis of maintenance hours. Departmental overhead rates are used to assign costs to products. Department C uses
machine hours, and Department D uses labour hours. The firm is preparing to on ajob Gob Z) that requires three machine
hours per unit produced in Department C and no time in Department D. The expected prime cost per unit is Rs. 85.
Required
(1) Allocate the service costs to the production departments using the direct method.
(2) What will be the bid for Job Z, if the direct method of allocation is used?
(3) Allocate the service costs to the production departments using the Sequential or Repeated Method.
(4) What will be the bid for Job Z, if the Sequential Method is used?
(5) Allocate the service costs to the production departments using the Reciprocal Method.
(6) What will be the bid for Job Z, if the Reciprocal Method is used?
(CA Inter., Nov. 2002)
Solution:
(1) Allocation of Service Costs to Production Department (Direct Method)
Particulars Service Department Production Department
A B C D
Direct Cost (Rs.) 5,00,000 10,00,000 5,00,000 2,50,000
Department A
(No. of Employees 1: 1) (5,00,000)
-
2,50,000 2,50,000
Department B
(Maintenance hours4: 1) - (10,00,000) 8,00,000 2,00,000
Total Rs. 15,50,000 7,00,000
Overheads
Total Cost
Department C Overhead Rate
=
Machine Hours
15,50,000
=
50,000
(2) Product Cost and bid price for job Z
Rs.
Prime Cost
Overheads
(3 hours x Rs.31 per hour)
Total unit cost
85
93
Rs. 178
:. Bid Price [Rs. 178 x 1.2] @ 20% makeup = Rs. 213.60
417
= Rs. 31 Per machine hours
(3) Statement Showing allocation of Service Cost to Production Department (Sequential method)
Particulars Service Departments Production Departments
A '8
C D
Over heads 5,00,000 10,00,000 5,00,000 2,50,000
Dept. A Cost allocated
[ No. of Employees ]
(5,00,000) 46,667 2,00,000 2,00,000
40 : 35 : 150 : 150 53,333
Dept. B Cost allocated (l0,46,667)
Maintance Hours 2,05,229 20,523 6,56,732 1,64,183
10 : 1 : 32 : 8
Dept. A Cost allocated (2,58,562)
27,580 24,132 1,03,425 1,03,425
8,756 (44,655) 28,019 7,005
Dept. B Cost allocated (36,336) 875
3,876 3,391 14,535 14,534
Dept. A Cost allocated (4,266)
836 84 2,677 669
Dept. B Cost allocated (4,172)
503 440 1,884 1,885
Dept. A Cost allocated (524)
103 10 329 82
Dept. B Cost allocated (606)
65 56 243 242
Dept. A Cost allocated (66)
13
-
41 12
Dept. B Cost allocated (78)
Dept A Cost allocated -
39 39
Total Costs 15,07,924 7,42,076

418
A Textbook of Fi1Ul1lciai Cost and Management Accounting
Department C Overhead Rate =
=
Total Cost of Dept. C
Machine Hours
15,07,924
50,000
= Rs. 30.16 per hour
(4) Product cost and bid price for job Z
Prime Cost
=
Rs.85.00
Overheads
(3 hours x Rs.30.16)
=
Rs.90.48
Total unit cost
=
Rs. 175.48
Profit @ 20% of 175.48
=
Rs.35.10
Total
=
Rs.210.58
(5) Allocation of Service costs to production department (Reciprocal Method)
Working Notes:
Allocation of Ratios
Proportion of output used by
A
'A'
(based on number of
Employees) -
'B'
(based on maintenance hours) 20%
A = Rs.5,00,000 + 20% of B
B = Rs.IO,OO,OOO + 10.45% of A
A = Rs.5,00,000 + 20% [10,00,000 + 10.45% of A]
A = Rs.5,00,000 + Rs.2,00,000 + 2.09% of A
0.9791 A = R s . 7 , O O ~ O O O
7,00,000
A
=
= Rs.7,14,942
0.9791
B
10.45%
-
B
=
Rs.IO,OO,OOO + 10.45% (7,14,942)
=
10,00,000 + 74,711
=
Rs.IO,74,711
C
44.78%
64%
Statement of allocation of Service Department cost to Production Department
Particulars A B C
Direct Cost Rs.5.00,000 Rs.IO,OO,OOO Rs.5,00,000
Dept. B
(as per note above)
-
(10,74,711) 6,87,815
(64%)
Dept. A
(as per note above) (7,14,942)
-
3,20,151
(44,78%)
Total Costs 15,07,966
D
44.78%
16%
D
Rs.2,50,000
1,71,954
(16%)
3,20,151
(44.78%)
7,42,105
Overheads
Total Cost
Department C Overhead Rate =------
=
(6) Product cost and Bid price for job Z
Prime cost Overheads
(3 hours x Rs.30.16 per machine hours)
Total unit cost
Bid Price (Rs.l75.48 x 1.20)
Illustration: 8
Machine Hours
15,07,966
50,000
= Rs. 30.16 per machine hour
= Rs.85
= Rs.90.48
= Rs.175.48
= Rs.210.58
419
e-books is an online book retailer. The Company has four departments. The two sales departments
are Corporate Sales and Consumer Sales. The two support-departments are Administrative (Human
resources, Accounting), and Information systems. Each of the sales departments conducts merchandising
and marketing operations independently.
The following data are available for October, 2003 :
Departments Revenues Number of Employees
Corporate Sales Rs. 16,67,750 42
Consumer Sales Rs. 8,33,875 28
Administrative
-
14
Information Systems
-
21
Cost incurred in each of four departments for October, 2003 are as follows:
Corporate Sales
Consumers Sales
Administrative
Information Systems
Rs. 12,97,751
Rs. 6,36,818
Rs. 94,510
Rs. 3,04,720
Processing TIme used
(in minutes)
2,400
2,000
400
1,400
The company uses number of employees as a basis to allocate Administrative costs and processing time as a
basis to allocate Information systems costs.
Required:
(I) Allocate the support department costs to the sales departments using the direct method.
(II) Rank the support departments based on percentage of their services rendered to other support
departments. Use this ranking to allocate support costs based on the step-down allocation method.
(III) How could you have ranked the support departments differently?
(IV) Allocate the support department costs to two sales departments using the reciprocal allocation
method.
(CA PE II, Nov., 2003)
420
Solution:
A Textbook of Financial Cost and Management Accounting
(i) Direct and step-down allocation
Costs incurred
Allocation of Admn.
( 42nO,28nO)
Allocation of
Information Systems
(24/44,20/44)
(i) Support Departments
Admn. Information Systems
Rs. Rs.
94,510 3,04,720
(94,510)
(3,04,720)
(ii) Operating Departments
Corporate Consumer
Rs. Rs.
12,97,750 6,36,818
56,706 37,804
1,66,211 1,38,509
15,20,667 8,13,131
(ii) Rank on percentage of services rendered to other support departments.
Administration provides 23.077% of its services to information systems
21 21
= = - ,= 23.077%
42+28+21 91
Information system provides 8.333% of its services to administrative
400 400
= x 100 = -- x 100 = 8.33%
2,400+2,000+400 4800
Thus 23.07% of Rs. 94,510 Admn. Dept costs is = Rs. 21,810
Thus 8.33% of Rs. 3,04,720 Information systems dept. cost is Rs. 25,392
(i) Support Departments
Admn. Information Systems
(ii) Operating Departments
Corporate Consumer
Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs.
Costs incurred 94,510 3,04,720 12,97,750 6,36,818
Allocation of Admn. }
(42n0,28nO) (94,510) 21,810 43,620 29,080
Allocation of
Information Systems} 3,26,530
(24/44,20/44) (3,26,530) 1,78,107 1,48,423
Rs. 15,19,477 Rs. 8,14,321
(iii) An alternative + ranking is based on the Re-amount of services rendered to other service departments,
using the numbers from requirement 2, this approach would use the following sequence.
Allocation of information systems overheads first (Rs. 25,383 provided to a4ministrative).
Allocated administrative overheads second (Rs: 21,810 provided to information systems).
Overheads
(iv) Administrative (AD) = Rs.94,510 + 0.08333 IS
Information Services (IS) = Rs.3,04,720 + 0.23077 AD
AD = 94,510 + 0.08333 {3,04,720 + 0.23077 AD}
AD = 94,510 + 25,392.32 + 0.01923 AD
0.98077 AD = 1,19,902.32
AD = Rs. 1,22,253
IS = Rs. 3,04,720 + 0.23077 x 1,22,253
= Rs. 3,32,932
Costs incurred
Allocation of Admn. }
( 42170,28nO)
Allocation of
Information }
Systems
(24/44,20/44)
QUESTIONS
(i) Suppon Depanments
Admn. Information Systems
Rs. Rs.
94,510 3,04,720
(1,22,253) 28,212
27,744 (3,32,932)
1. What do you understand by overhead charges?
( it ) Operating Departments
Corporate Consumer
Rs. Rs.
12,97,750
56,424
1,66,466
15,20,640
6,36,818
37,616
1,38,722
8,13,156
421
2. "Overheads may be classified according to their nature and a number of other charactertics." Discuss this statement
while classifying cost.
3. Define overhead charges. Explain the different methods of classification of overhead.
4. Discuss the usefulness of overhead classification.
S. What do you understand by codification of overhead charges?
6. Discuss in brief the different methods used in codification of overhead.
7. What is meant by allocation and apportionment? Distinguish between a\1ocation and apportionment of overhead.
8. What basis you would adopt for apportionment of the fo\1owing items of overhead expenses to different departments?
(a) Power and light. (b) Depreciation on building. (c) Rent and Rates. (d) Postage. (e) Indirect Wages.
9. Explain the different methods of re-apportionment of overheads.
10. The following particulars were obtained from the books of a light Engineering Company for the half year ended 30th
September, 2003. Calculate the departmental overhead rate for each of the production departments assuming the
overheads are recovered as a percentage of direct wages.
Particulars Production Departments Service Departments
A B C X Y
Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs.
Direct wages 7,000 6,000 S,OOO 1,000 1,000
Direct materials 3,000 2,SOO 2,000 I,SOO 1,000
Employees 200 ISO ISO SO SO
Electricity 8,000 6,000 6,000 2,000 3,000
Light points 10 IS IS S S
Assets value SO,OOO 30,000 20,000 10,000 10,000
Area occupied 800 600 600 200 200
The expenses for 6 months were :
Stores overhead Rs. 400 Depreciation Rs. 6,000
Motive power Rs. IS00 Repairs & Maintenance Rs. 1,200
Electric lighting 200 General overheads Rs. 10,000
Labour welfare Rs. 3000 Rent and Taxes Rs. 600
422 A Textbook of Financial Cost and Management Accounting
Apportion the expenses of Department X in the ratio of 4 : 3 : 3 and that of department Y, in proportion of direct wages,
to departments A, B, and C respectively.
[ ADS: Total overheads cost: A - Rs.1l396, B - Rs.8663, C - Rs.7341
Dept. overhead rate: A - 162.8%, B - 144.4%, C - 146.8%]
11. A company has three departments A, B, and C and two service departments X and Y. The expenses incurred by them
during the month of may 2003 are incurred by them during the month of may 2003 are :
A- 8000
B -7000
C - 5000
X - 2340
Y - 3000
The expenses of service departments are apportioned to the production departments in the following basis :
Particulars ABC X Y
Expenses of X 20% 40% 30% 10%
Expenses of Y 40% 20% 20% 20%
Show clearly as to how the expenses of X and Y departments would be apportioned to A, Band C departments under
Simultaneous Equitation Method
[Ans : Total cost of service department X = Rs. 3000
Total cost of service department Y = Rs. 3300]
12. You are supplied with the following information and required to work out the production hour rate of recovery of
overheads A, B, and C under the Repeated Distribution Method.
Production Departments Service Departments
ABC P Q
Rs. Rs. Rs.
As per primary }
Distribution summary 7,810 12,543 4,547
Expenses of service departments P and Q are apportioned as under:
ABC P
P 30% 40% 20%
Q 10% 20% 50% 20%
Estimated working hours of production are as under:
Departments :
A-l,ooo hours
B - 2,500 hours
C - 1,400 hours
[Ans : Total Overhead cost of
Dept. A - Rs. 9,500
Dept. B - Rs. 1,5000
Dept. C - Rs. 7,000
Overhead Rate: A - Rs. 9.50; B - Rs. 6; C - Rs. 5]
Rs.
4,000
Q
10%
Rs.
2,600
13. A factory consists of three Production Departments, viz., Turning. Milling and Grinding. Though maintenance is done
by the departments, the factory keeps four service departments too, viz., Stores, Planning, Canteen and Time Office.
For the month of November 2003 the Direct Departmental Expenses were recorded as follows:
Turning Rs. 72,000 Stores Rs. 36,000
Milling Rs. 84,000 Planning Rs. 60,000
Grinding Rs. 1,08,000 Canteen Rs. 48,000
Time Office Rs. 12,000
The expenses of stores are to be distributed on a percentage basis, viz., 20%, 40% to Turning. Milling and Grinding
respectively. The expenses of Planning are to be apportioned on the basis of Machine Hours worked and those of
Canteen and Time Office according to number of men employed in Production Departments.
Men employed No. of hours worked
22 10,000 Turning
32 15,000 Milling
46 25,000 Grinding
Prepare a statement showing the distribution of the Service Department's Expenses to the Production Departments and
also determine the final absorption rate.
[Ans: Total of Turning Rs. 1,04,400; Milling Rs. 1,35,600; Grinding Rs. 1,80,000; Aborption rate per hour 10.44:9.04
and 7.20]
Overheads 423
14. The following particulars relate to a manufacturing company which has three production departments, A, B, C and two
service departments X and Y :
Depanments
A B C X Y
Total departmental
Overhead as primary distribution Rs.63,OOO 74,000 28,000 45,000 20,000
The company decided to charge the service departments cost on the basis of the following percentages:
Service Dept. Production Depts. Service Dept.
ABC X Y
X 40% 30% 20% 10%
Y 30% 30% 29% 20%
Find the total overheads of production departments charging service departmental costs to production on the repeated
distribution method.
[Ans : A Rs. 90,500; B Rs. 96,500; C Rs. 43,000]
15. In a factory, there are two service departments P and Q and three production departments A, Band C. In April 1988 the
departmental expenses were:
Depanments Rs.
A 6,50,000
B 6,00,000
C 5,00,000
P 1,20,000
Q
1,00,000
The service departments, expenses are allocated on a percentage basis as follows :
Service Dept. Production Depts. Service Dept.
ABC X Y
X 30% 40% 15% 15%
Y 40% 30% 25% 5%
Prepare a statement showing the distribution of the two service departments expenses to the tree departments under the
"Repeated Distribution Method."
[Ans : Rs. 7,35,340; Rs. 6,86,045; Rs. 5,48,615]
16. A manufacturing concern has three production departments and two service departments. In July 2003, the
departmental expenses were as follows :
Production Departments
X
Y
Z
Service Depanments
p
Q
Rs.
16,000
13,000
14,000
4,000
6,000
The service department expenses are charged out on a percentage basis, viz. :
Expenses of dept. P
Expenses of dept. Q
X " Z P
20% 25% 35%
25% 25% 40% 10%
Prepare a statement of secondary distribution under repeated distribution method.
Q
20%
[Ans: Total Cost of Dept. X Rs. 18,674; Dept. Y Rs. 15,908; Dept. Z Rs. 18,418]
17. A Company has three production departments and two service departments and distribution summary of overhead is as
follows:
Production Depanments
A
B
C
Service Depanment
X
Y
Rs.
30,000
20,000
10,000
Rs.
2,340
3,000
424 A Textbook of Financial Cost and Management Accounting
The expenses of service departments are charged on a percentage basis which is as follows :
ABC X Y
Service Dept. X 20% 40% 30% 10%
Service Dept. Y 40% 20% 20% 20%
[Ans: Dept. A Rs. 65,340; Dept. B Rs.31,920; Dept. C Rs. 11,560]
18. In a factory, there are two service departments, P and Q and three production departments A, Band C. In March 2003
the departmental expenses were.
A Rs .6,50,000 P Rs. 1,20,000
B Rs.6,oo,ooo Q Rs. 1,00,000
C Rs. 5,00,000
The service department expenses are allocated on a percentage basis as follows.
X Y Z P Q
Dept. P 3% 40 15% 15%
Dept. Q 40% 30% 25% 5%
Prepare Q statement showing the distribution of two service departments expenses to three departments under
simultaneous equation method.
[Ans: Dept. A Rs.7,35,342; Dept. B Rs.6,86,046 Dept. C Rs.5,48,612]
000