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Over-absorption of overheads

RRobel6y ago
A company budgeted to produce 3,000 units of a single product in a period at a budgeted cost per unit as follows: Direct costs = $17 per unit Fixed overheads = $9 per unit Total costs = $26 per unit In the period covered by the budget, actual production was 3,200 units and actual fixed overhead expenditure was 5% above that budgeted. All other costs were as budgeted. What was the amount, if any, of over- or under-absorption of fixed overhead? Answer Fixed overhead absorbed (3,200 units × $9) = $28,800 Fixed overhead incurred ($27,000 × 1.05) = $28,350 Over-absorbed fixed overheads = $450 Why isn't incurred overhead calculated using the actual overhead expenditure, which was 5% above the budgeted? Thanks
John MoffatJohn MoffatTutor6y ago#1
But it has been calculated using the actual expenditure. 5% above the budget of $27,000 is $28,350.
RRobel6y ago#2
True, but we used 3000 units when the actual production was 3200 units. Why did we calculate it using 3000 units instead of 3200 units?
John MoffatJohn MoffatTutor6y ago#3
Because they originally budgeted on 3,000 units and therefore budgeted on fixed overheads of $27,000. Total fixed overheads do not change with the level of production, by definition.
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