Over-applied and Underapplied Overhead

Over-applied and Underapplied Overhead

Learning objectives of this article:

  1. Define, explain and calculate under-applied and over-applied overhead rate. Give an example.

Definition and Explanation of Over and Underapplied Overhead:

Since the predetermined overhead rate is established before a period begins and is based entirely on estimated data, the overhead cost applied to work in process (WIP) will generally differ from the amount of overhead cost actually incurred during a period. The difference between the overhead cost applied to work in process (WIP) and the actual overhead costs of a period is termed as either underapplied overhead or overapplied overhead. For example if a company calculates its predetermined overhead rate $6 per machine hour. 15,000 machine hours are actually worked and overhead applied to production is therefore $90,000 (15,000 hours × $6). If actual factory overhead is $95,000 then underapplied overhead is $5,000 ($95,000 – $90,000). If the situation is reverse and the company applies $95,000 and actual overhead is $90,000 the overapplied overhead would be $5,000.

Causes / Reasons of under applied or over applied overhead:

The causes / reasons of under or over-applied overhead can be complex. Nevertheless the basic problem is that the method of applying overhead to jobs using a predetermined overhead rate assumes that actual overhead costs will be proportional to the actual amount of the allocation base incurred during the period. If, for example, the predetermined overhead rate is $6 per machine hour, then it is assumed that actual overhead cost incurred will be $6 for every machine hour that is actually worked. There are actually two reasons why this may not be true. First, much of the overhead often consists of fixed costs that do not grow as the number of machine hours incurred increases. Second, spending on overhead items may or may not be under control. If individuals who are responsible for overhead costs do a good job, those costs should be less than were expected at the beginning of the period. If they do a poor job, those costs will be more than expected.

Example:

Suppose that two companies A and B have prepared the following estimated data for the coming year:

           Company            

A B
Predetermined overhead rate based on Machine-hours Direct materials cost
Estimated manufacturing overhead $300,000 $120,000
Estimated machine-hours 75,000
Estimated direct materials cost $80,000
Predetermined overhead rate, (a) ÷ (b) $4 per machine hour 150% of direct materials cost

Now assume that because of unexpected changes in overhead spending and changes in demand for the companies’ products, the actual overhead cost and the actual activity recorded during the year in each company are as follows:

              Company             

A B
Actual manufacturing overhead costs $290,000 $130,000
Actual machine-hours 68,000
Actual direct materials costs $90,000
For each company, note that the actual data for both cost and activity differ from the estimates used in computing the predetermined overhead rate. This results in underapplied overhead and overapplied overhead as follows:

                 Company                

A B
Actual manufacturing overhead costs $290,000 $130,000
Manufacturing overhead cost applied to work in process during the year:
68,000 actual machine hours × $4 per machine hour 272,000
$90,000 actual direct materials cost × 150% of direct materials cost 135,000
————- ————-
Under-applied (over-applied) overhead $ 18,000 $ (5,000)

For company A, notice that the amount of overhead cost that has been applied to work in process ($272,000) is less than the actual overhead cost for the year ($290,000). Therefore the overhead is under-applied. Also notice that original estimate of overhead in company A ($300,000) is not directly involved in this computation. Its impact is felt only through the $4 predetermined overhead rate that is used.For B company the amount of overhead cost that has been applied to work in process (WIP) ($135,000) is greater than the actual overhead cost for the year ($130,000), and so overhead is over-applied. A summary of the concepts discussed so for is presented below:

At the beginning of the period
Estimated total manufacturing overhead cost  ÷ Estimated total units in the allocation base = Predetermined overhead rate

During the period

Predetermined overhead rate × Actual total units of the allocation base incurred during the period = Total manufacturing overhead applied

At the end of the period

Actual total manufacturing overhead cost Total manufacturing overhead
applied
= Under-applied (over-applied)
overhead

What disposition should be made of any under or over applied overhead balance remaining in the manufacturing overhead account at the end of a period? To understand the procedure of disposing off any under or over applied overhead see disposition of any balance remaining in the manufacturing overhead account at the end of a period page.

You may also be interested in other useful articles from “job order costing system” chapter:

  1. Measuring Direct Materials Cost in Job Order Costing System
  2. Measuring Direct Labor Cost in Job Order Costing System
  3. Application of Manufacturing Overhead
  4. Job Order Costing System – The Flow of Costs
  5. Multiple Predetermined Overhead Rates
  6. Under-applied overhead and over-applied overhead calculation
  7. Disposition of any balance remaining in the manufacturing overhead account at the end of a period
  8. Predetermined Overhead Rate and Capacity
  9. Recording Non-manufacturing Costs
  10. Recording Cost of Goods Manufactured and Sold
  11. Job Order Costing in Services Companies
  12. Use of Information Technology in Job Order Costing
  13. Advantages and Disadvantages of Job Order Costing System
  14. Job Order Costing Discussion Questions and Answers
  15. Job Order Costing Exercises
  16. Case Studies

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