Fixed Overhead Cost Variance
Illustration - Problem
The factory worked for 26 days putting in 860 hours work every day and achieved an output of 2,050 units. The expenditure incurred as overheads was 49,200 towards variable overheads and 86,100 towards fixed overheads.
Calculate overhead variances
Standard | Actual | Absorbed | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Budgeted | for AO | for AI | for AP | |||
A | B | C | ||||
a) Output (units) b) Days c) Time (hrs) d) Overhead Cost 1) Variable 2) Fixed 3) Total | 2,000 25 40,000 80,000 1,20,000 | 2,050 26 49,200 86,100 1,35,300 |
The working table is populated with the information that can be obtained as it is from the problem data. The rest of the information that is present in a full fledged working table that we make use of in problem solving is filled below.
Formulae - Fixed Overhead Cost Variance ~ FOHCV
The Fixed Overhead Cost Variance is the difference between the fixed overhead absorbed and the actual fixed overhead incurred. It represents the Under/Over Absorbed Fixed Overhead.
⇒ Fixed Overhead Cost Variance (FOHCV)
= | AbC − AC Absorbed Cost − Actual Cost |
Actual Cost (Fixed Overhead)
Actual cost incurred is ascertained from the financial information.Where the actual fixed overhead cost incurred is not known, it can be calculated based on actual measure of the factor used for absorbing overheads like output, time worked etc. provided the related actual rate of overhead incurred is also known.
Actual Cost ~ AC
= | AO × AR/UO | |
Or | = | AI × AR/UI |
Or | = | AP × AR/UP |
Absorbed Cost (Fixed Overhead)
In problem solving absorbed cost may be provided as a calculated figure. In such a case we do not get concerned about the rate of absorption unless specifically needed in some calculation.Where the absorbed cost is not known we may have to calculate the cost. This calculation is based on the rate of absorption that has been used in the context to absorb total overheads.
Absorption based on output (units)
Absorbed Cost ~ AbC
= AO × AbR/UO Or = SI(AO) × AbR/UI Or = SP(AO) × AbR/UP Absorption based on inputs
Absorbed Cost ~ AbC
= AI × AbR/UI Or = SO(AI) × AbR/UO Or = SP(AI) × AbR/UP Absorption based on periods
Absorbed Cost ~ AbC
= AP × AbR/UP Or = SO(AP) × AbR/UO Or = SI(AP) × AbR/UI
Formula in useful forms
FOHCV | = | AbC − AC |
Absorption based on output units | ||
Or | = | AO × (AbR/UO − AR/UO) Actual Output × Difference between absorbed and actual Rates per unit output. |
Absorption based on input | ||
= | AI × (AbR/UI − AR/UI) Actual Input × Difference between budgeted and actual Rates per unit input | |
Absorption based on periods | ||
= | AP × (AbR/UP − AR/UP) Actual Periods × Difference between budgeted and actual Rates per period |
Note
- AbR/UO, AbR/UI, AbR/UP in the above calculations pertains to fixed overheads.
- Theoretically there are many possibilities. Only those that provide peculiar routes to solve problems are given as an academic exercise.
- Finding the costs by building up the working table and using the formula involving costs is the simplest way to find the FOHCV.
Taking time for input and days for periods
FOHCV | = | AbC − AC |
Absorption based on output units | ||
Or | = | AO × (AbR/UO − AR/UO) |
Absorption based on input | ||
= | AT × (AbR/UT − AR/UT) | |
Absorption based on periods | ||
= | AD × (AbR/D − AR/D) |
Solution - (Assuming absorption is based on Output)
Standard | Actual | Absorbed | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Budgeted | for AO | for AI | for AP | |||
A | B | C | ||||
I) Factor | 1.025 | |||||
a) Output (units) b) Periods (Days) c) Time (hrs) d) Overhead Cost 1) Variable e) Overhead Rate (/Unit) 2) Fixed 3) Total 1) Variable 2) Fixed 3) Total (d1) ÷ (a) (d2) ÷ (a) (d3) ÷ (a) 1) Variable 2) Fixed 3) Total (d1) ÷ (c) (d2) ÷ (c) (d3) ÷ (c) 1) Variable 2) Fixed 3) Total (d1) ÷ (b) (d2) ÷ (b) (d3) ÷ (b) | 2,000 25 20,000 40,000 80,000 1,20,000 40 4 3,200 | 25.625 20,500 | 2,050 26 22,360 49,200 86,100 1,35,300 42 | 82,000 =BR =BR =BR |
In the absence of information to the contrary we assume
AbR/UO(F) | = | BR/UO(F) |
= | 20 |
Absorbed Fixed Overhead Cost ~ AC(F)
= | AO × AbR/UO(V) |
= | 2,050 units × 40/unit |
= | 82,000 |
Fixed Overhead Cost Variance
FOHCV | = | AbC − AC |
= | 82,000 − 86,100 | |
= | − 4,100 [Adv] |
Alternatives
Fixed Overhead Cost Variance
FOHCV = AO × (AbR/U − AR/U) = 2,050 units × (40/unit − 42/unit) = 2,050 units × (− 2/unit) = − 4,100 [Adv]
(AO) | = |
| ||
= |
| |||
= | 1.025 |
Calculations based on input (time)
The absorbed overhead may be ascertained using the data relating to input.Standard input (time) for actual output and the overhead absorption rate per unit input are required for such a calculation.
One unit per 10 hours productive time
⇒ Budgeted Time per unit = 10 hours
Total Budgeted Time
= Budgeted Output × Budgeted Time/unit = 2,000 units × 10 hrs/unit = 20,000 hrs Total Actual Time
= Number of Days × Actual Time/day = 26 days × 860 hrs/day = 22,360 labor/labour hrs ST(AO) = BT × AO BO = 20,000 hrs × 1.025 = 20,500 hrs In the absence of information to the contrary we assume
AbR/UT(V) = BR/UT(V) = 4 Absorbed Fixed Overhead Cost ~ AbC(V)
= ST(AO) × AbR/UT(V) = 20,500 hrs × 4/hr = 82,000 Calculations based on periods (days)
The absorbed overhead may be ascertained using the data relating to periods, days in this case.Standard periods (days) for actual output and the overhead absorption rate per unit period (day) are required for such a calculation.
SD(AO) = BD × AO BO = 25 days × 1.025 = 25.625 days In the absence of information to the contrary we assume
AbR/D(V) = BR/D(V) = 3,200 Absorbed Fixed Overhead Cost ~ AbC(V)
= SD(AO) × AbR/D(V) = 25.625 days × 3,200/day = 82,000
Building the working table with all the values needed and then using the formula based on values would be the simplest method to arrive at the value of the variance.
The method of absorption adopted and the method of calculation adopted would influence the calculation of the overhead absorbed only.
Solution - (Assuming absorption is based on Input [time])
Standard | Actual | Absorbed | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Budgeted | for AO | for AI | for AP | |||
A | B | C | ||||
I) Factor | 1.118 | |||||
a) Output (units) b) Periods (Days) c) Time (hrs) d) Overhead Cost 1) Variable e) Overhead Rate (/Unit) 2) Fixed 3) Total 1) Variable 2) Fixed 3) Total (d1) ÷ (a) (d2) ÷ (a) (d3) ÷ (a) 1) Variable 2) Fixed 3) Total (d1) ÷ (c) (d2) ÷ (c) (d3) ÷ (c) 1) Variable 2) Fixed 3) Total (d1) ÷ (b) (d2) ÷ (b) (d3) ÷ (b) | 2,000 25 20,000 40,000 80,000 1,20,000 40 4 3,200 | 2,236 27.95 | 2,050 26 22,360 49,200 86,100 1,35,300 3.86 | 89,440 =BR =BR =BR |
4,305 |
1,118 |
One unit per 10 hours productive time
⇒ Budgeted Time per unit = 10 hours
Total Budgeted Time
= | Budgeted Output × Budgeted Time/unit |
= | 2,000 units × 10 hrs/unit |
= | 20,000 hrs |
Total Actual Time
= | Number of Days × Actual Time/day |
= | 26 days × 860 hrs/day |
= | 22,360 labor/labour hrs |
In the absence of information to the contrary we assume
AbR/UT(F) | = | BR/UT(F) |
= | 4/hr |
Absorbed Fixed Overhead Cost ~ AC(F)
= | AO × AbR/UT(F) |
= | 22,360 hrs × 4/hr |
= | 89,440 |
Fixed Overhead Cost Variance
FOHCV | = | AbC − AC |
= | 89,440 − 86,100 | |
= | + 3,340 [Fav] |
Alternatives
Fixed Overhead Cost Variance
FOHCV = AT × (AbR/UT − AR/UT) = 22,360 hrs × (4/hr −
/hr)4,305 1,118 = 22,360 hrs × (
/hr)4,472 − 4,305 559 = 20 × (167) = + 3,340 [Fav]
(AT) | = |
| ||
= |
| |||
= | 1.118 |
Calculations based on output
The absorbed overhead may be ascertained using the data relating to output.Standard output for actual input (time) and the overhead absorption rate per unit output are required for such a calculation.
SO(AT) = BO × AT BT = 2,000 units × 1.118 = 2,236 units In the absence of information to the contrary we assume
AbR/UO(F) = BR/UO(F) = 40 Absorbed Fixed Overhead Cost ~ AbC(F)
= SO(AT) × AbR/UO(F) = 2,236 units × 40/unit = 89,440 Calculations based on periods (days)
The absorbed overhead may be ascertained using the data relating to periods, days in this case.Standard periods (days) for actual output and the overhead absorption rate per unit period (day) are required for such a calculation.
SD(AT) = BD × AT BT = 25 days × 1.118 = 27.95 days In the absence of information to the contrary we assume
AbR/D(F) = BR/D(F) = 3,200 Absorbed Fixed Overhead Cost ~ AbC(F)
= SD(AO) × AbR/D(F) = 27.95 days × 3,200/day = 89,440
Building the working table with all the values needed and then using the formula based on values would be the simplest method to arrive at the value of the variance.
The method of absorption adopted and the method of calculation adopted would influence the calculation of the overhead absorbed only.
Solution - (Assuming absorption is based on Periods [days])
Standard | Actual | Absorbed | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Budgeted | for AO | for AI | for AP | |||
A | B | C | ||||
I) Factor | 1.04 | |||||
a) Output (units) b) Periods (Days) c) Time (hrs) d) Overhead Cost 1) Variable e) Overhead Rate (/Unit) 2) Fixed 3) Total 1) Variable 2) Fixed 3) Total (d1) ÷ (a) (d2) ÷ (a) (d3) ÷ (a) 1) Variable 2) Fixed 3) Total (d1) ÷ (c) (d2) ÷ (c) (d3) ÷ (c) 1) Variable 2) Fixed 3) Total (d1) ÷ (b) (d2) ÷ (b) (d3) ÷ (b) | 2,000 25 20,000 40,000 80,000 1,20,000 40 4 3,200 | 2,080 20,800 | 2,050 26 49,200 86,100 1,35,300 3,311.54 | 83,200 =BR =BR =BR |
43,050 |
13 |
In the absence of information to the contrary we assume
AbR/UT(F) | = | BR/UT(F) |
= | 3,200/day |
Absorbed Fixed Overhead Cost ~ AbC(F)
= | AD × AbR/D(F) |
= | 26 days × 3,200/day |
= | 83,200 |
Fixed Overhead Cost Variance
FOHCV | = | AbC − AC |
= | 83,200 − 86,100 | |
= | − 2,900 [Adv] |
Alternatives
Fixed Overhead Cost Variance
FOHCV = AD × (AbR/D − AR/D) = 26 days × (3,200/day −
/hr)43,050 13 = 26 days × (
/hr)41,600 − 43,050 13 = 2 × (− 1,450) = − 2,900 [Adv]
(AD) | = |
| ||
= |
| |||
= | 1.04 |
Calculations based on inputs (time)
The absorbed overhead may be ascertained using the data relating to input (time).Standard input (time) for actual periods (days) and the overhead absorption rate per unit input are required for such a calculation.
One unit per 10 hours productive time
⇒ Budgeted Time per unit = 10 hours
Total Budgeted Time
= Budgeted Output × Budgeted Time/unit = 2,000 units × 10 hrs/unit = 20,000 hrs Total Actual Time
= Number of Days × Actual Time/day = 26 days × 860 hrs/day = 22,360 labor/labour hrs ST(AD) = BT × AD BD = 20,000 hrs × 1.04 = 20,800 hrs In the absence of information to the contrary we assume
AbR/UT(F) = BR/UT(F) = 4 Absorbed Fixed Overhead Cost ~ AbC(F)
= ST(AD) × AbR/UT(F) = 20,800 hrs × 4/hr = 83,200 Calculations based on output
The absorbed overhead may be ascertained using the data relating to output.Standard output for actual periods (days) and the overhead absorption rate per unit output are required for such a calculation.
SO(AD) = BO × AD BD = 2,000 units × 1.04 = 2,080 units In the absence of information to the contrary we assume
AbR/UO(F) = BR/UO(F) = 40 Absorbed Fixed Overhead Cost ~ AbC(F)
= SO(AD) × AbR/UO(F) = 2,080 units × 40/unit = 83,200
Building the working table with all the values needed and then using the formula based on values would be the simplest method to arrive at the value of the variance.
The method of absorption adopted and the method of calculation adopted would influence the calculation of the overhead absorbed only.
Fixed Overhead Cost Variance - Miscellaneous Aspects
Nature of Variance
Based on the relations derived from the formulae for calculating FOHCV, we can identify the nature of Variance
- AbC ___ AC
One that is relevant from these depending on the basis for absorption used
- AbR/UO ___ AR/UO
- AbR/UI ___ AR/UI
- AbR/UP ___ AR/UP
The variance would be
- zero when =
- Positive when >
- Negative when <
Interpretation of the Variance
The following interpretations may be made
No Variance
The incurred fixed overhead is the same as the absorbed fixed overheadFavourable/Favorable
The incurred fixed overhead is lesser than the absorbed fixed overheadAdverse
The incurred fixed overhead is greater than the absorbed fixed overheadWho is answerable for the Variance?
Since the Fixed Overhead Cost Variance represents the total difference on account of a number of factors it would not be possible to make someone or some department answerable for the variance.This explains the reason for analysing the variance and segregating it into its constituent parts.
Reasons for variance not specific
The fixed overhead cost variance would only let us know that the actual fixed overhead cost is greater or lesser compared to the absorbed cost. It does not help us answer specific questions relating to the variance like, is it on account of the variation in the expenses incurred or the time taken for unit output etc.Taking the data from the above illustration, we can notice that variance in fixed overhead cost may be on account of
- The actual overhead incurrence rate per unit time/output being different from the budgeted rate.
Overhead Rate per unit - Actual 22 to 20 budgeted.
Overhead Rate per unit time - Actual 2.02 to 2 budgeted.
- The rate at which the output has been achieved is different from the budgeted rate.
Time per unit output - 10.91 actual to 10 budgeted.
Standard Actual Absorbed Budgeted for AO for AI for AP A B C a) Output (units)
b) Periods (Days)
c) Time (hrs)
d) Overhead Cost
...
g) Time/unit(hrs) (c) ÷ (a)2,000
25
20,000
102,050
26
22,360
10.91The actual time per unit shown as 10.91 is an approximation of2,236 205
- The actual overhead incurrence rate per unit time/output being different from the budgeted rate.
Constituents of Fixed Overhead Cost Variance
FOHCV | = | AbC − AC |
Adding and deduct BC (Budgeted Cost) on the RHS | ||
= | AbC − AC + BC − BC | |
= | AbC − BC + BC − AC | |
= | [AbC − BC] + [BC − AC] | |
= | Volume Variance + Expenditure Variance | |
= | FOHVOLV + FOHEXPV |
Formulae using Inter-relationships among Variances
- FOHCV = TOHCV − VOHCV
- FOHCV = TOHCV − VOHEFFV − VOHEXPV
- FOHCV = FOHEXPV + FOHVOLV
- FOHCV = FOHEXPV + FOHCALV + FOHCAPV + FOHEFFV
Verification
The interrelationships between variances would also be useful in verifying whether our calculations are correct or not.Basis of Absorption | |||
---|---|---|---|
Output | Input (Time) | Periods (Days) | |
VOHABSV + VOHEFFV + VOHEXPV | 0 − 3,720 − 4,480 | + 3,720 − 3,720 − 4,480 | + 600 − 3,720 − 4,480 |
a) VOHCV | − 8,200 | − 4,480 | − 7,600 |
FOHCALV + FOHCAPV + FOHEFV | — — — | — — — | — — — |
FOHVOLV FOHEXPV | — — | — — | — — |
b) FOHCV | − 4,100 | + 3,340 | − 2,900 |
TOHCV (a) + (b) | − 12,300 | − 1,140 | − 10,500 |
To enable understanding we have worked out the illustration under the three possible scenarios of overhead being absorbed on output, input and period basis.
Please be aware that only one of these methods would be in use.