Transfer pricing
A transfer price is the charge for goods or services supplied between parts of the same organisation. It affects reported divisional profit and incentives even though an internal transfer does not itself create group revenue from an external customer. Methods include market-based, cost-based and negotiated prices, with trade-offs between autonomy, motivation and performance comparison. A decision-support price should consider relevant incremental costs and opportunity costs where scarce resources or external sales are displaced.
Worked example
A supplying division incurs $10 incremental cost and gives up $4 contribution from an external sale. Its minimum economically acceptable transfer price is $14 on those assumptions.
Common mistake
A locally profitable transfer can still harm the group if it encourages an avoidable external purchase or misuses scarce capacity.
Where it appears in your exams
| Qualification | Exam | Relationship | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCA | APM | Supporting | September 2026–June 2027 |
| ACCA | PM | Direct | September 2026–June 2027 |
