12 OVERHEAD MAY BE UNDERAPPLIED FOR SEV-BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF THE A...

3-12 Overhead may be underapplied for sev-

based on the amount of the allocation base at

eral reasons. Control over overhead spending

capacity and the plant is operated at less than

may be poor. Or, some of the overhead may be

capacity, overhead will ordinarily be underapplied.

fixed and the actual amount of the allocation base

This occurs because actual activity is less than the

was less than estimated at the beginning of the

activity the predetermined overhead rate is based

period. In this situation, the amount of overhead

on.

applied to inventory will be less than the actual