He accounting for the allocation of overhead costs is a three-step process and occurs at three different points in the accounting cycle. List each of the three steps. For each step indicate when the step occurs and why the step is needed.

The correct answer is:

1. Calculating the predetermined overhead rate before the period .

2. Allocating overhead during the period .

3. Adjusting overhead at the end of the period.

Explanation:

A pre-determined overhead rate is the rate used to apply overload manufacturing to work in the inventory process. The pre-determined overhead rate is calculated before the period begins. The first step is to estimate the amount of the activity base that is required to support operations in the next period. The second step is to estimate the total manufacturing costs at that level of activity. The third step is to calculate the predetermined overhead rate by dividing the estimated total manufacturing overhead from the estimated total amount of cost factor or activity base. Common bases of activity used in the calculation are direct labor costs, direct working hours, or machine hours.

When calculating the cost of a product or service it is necessary to take into account direct and general or indirect expenses. These two elements influence the final price of an item or service. Determining what direct expenses are is very simple. However, when establishing overhead or indirect expenses, things change. Even so, we recommend that when determining the final price of a product or service, you also take into account the overhead.

The adjustments of expenses are those that before issuing financial statements, the necessary adjustments must be made to comply with the technical allocation rule, record the economic facts that have not been recognized, correct the entries that were made incorrectly and recognize the effect of the loss of purchasing power of the functional currency. These adjustments and corrections are necessary to be able to issue financial statements adjusted to the economic and financial reality of the company, in addition to complying with accounting principles.