Allocation definition — AccountingTools (2024)

What is an Allocation?

An allocation is the process of shifting overhead costs to cost objects, using a rational basis of allotment. Allocations are most commonly used to assign costs to produced goods, which then appear in the financial statements of a business in either the cost of goods sold or the inventory asset. If financial statements are not to be distributed outside of an entity, then there is less need to use allocations.

Advantages of Allocations

A proper allocation methodology brings a business into compliance with the applicable accounting framework. By doing so, the firm’s financial statements can now be audited, and the external auditor can give them a favorable opinion. This opinion is needed when an organization needs audited financial statements to obtain funding from investors.

Related AccountingTools Courses

Accounting for Inventory

Activity-Based Costing

Cost Accounting Fundamentals

Disadvantages of Allocations

If used improperly, cost allocations can cause incorrect management decisions. For example, assigning overhead costs to a product can make it appear to have an excessively low profit, which could lead to a decision to terminate a product that is still generating a reasonable contribution margin. Another concern is that the basis of an allocation can change, resulting in a change in the amount of the allocation. For example, when $5 of overhead is allocated based on an hour of machine time, and then the machine time is changed to two hours, then the allocated overhead doubles to $10. These changes in applied overhead can lead to incorrect management decisions.

Allocation definition —  AccountingTools (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of allocation in accounting? ›

Definition: Allocations divide costs between different departments or activities within a company. For instance, overhead costs such as the rent and utilities are often allocated to the company's operating units. Determining accruals and allocations nearly always entails making assumptions and estimates.

What is the best definition for allocation? ›

the process of giving someone their part of a total amount of something to use in a particular way: the allocation of resources/funds/time. Allocation of the grants was handled by a charity that provides support and advocacy for disabled children.

What describes allocation? ›

1. : to apportion for a specific purpose or to particular persons or things : distribute. allocate tasks among human and automated components. 2. : to set apart or earmark : designate.

What is the meaning of expense allocation? ›

An expense allocation occurs when indirect costs are assigned to cost objects. Expense allocations are required by several accounting frameworks in order to report the full cost of inventory in the financial statements. A cost object is anything for which a cost is compiled.

What is the allocation basis in accounting? ›

An allocation base in business accounting is a measure, such as labour hours or machine hours, used to assign indirect costs to activities, products, or services. It facilitates an equitable distribution of cost among different cost objects.

What is an example of an allocation? ›

One of the most common allocation examples in the modern world is supply and demand. Supply and demand describe the price associated with a resource that is based on the availability of a resource and how much consumers are willing to pay. This is common in free markets.

Which definition best describes the term allocation? ›

Definition of allocation. as in subsidy. a sum of money allotted for a specific use by official or formal action recognizing the importance of the arts in the health of a city, the council increased the allocation for the city's annual jazz festival.

What are 3 forms of allocation? ›

Before creating an allocation, it is important to determine which type of allocation suits your needs. There are Indirect Allocations, Direct Allocations and Simple Allocations.

What does allocation only mean? ›

Select Allocation Only when running a Fulfillment Plan if you want to allocate inventory, but not pick, pack, and ship them yet. If you want to Allocate Inventory to one or more orders, but you are not yet ready to complete the Pick, Pack, Ship processes, choose "Allocation Only" when fulfilling orders.

What does allocation of funds mean in finance? ›

A distribution of funds or an expenditure limit established for an organizational unit or function. ALL UNIVERSITY. EXPENSES (AUE) Budget that is allocated to a division to cover expenditures that are restricted to a specific type of expense and cannot be used for any other purpose.

What determines allocation? ›

Well, it depends on the type of system that society has. The economic system used by society, like a market, command, or mixed economy, has a substantial impact on resource allocation. Each system has its own set of legal frameworks for allocating limited resources and output.

What do allocation details mean? ›

Allocation Details combines Workday compensation plans, costing allocations, scheduled weekly hours, payroll actuals, encumbrances, and unit codes to display employee salary information in a format similar to what was previously shown by the AL1 and AL4 commands in DEFINE.

What are allocations in accounting? ›

Allocations, also referred to as cost allocations, split costs between different activities, products, or departments (a more technical term for this is “cost objects”) within a company.

What is allocation of expenditure in accounting? ›

General Principles of Allocation -'Allocation' of expenditure implies identifying its source of Finance and should be distinguished from 'classification' which deals with the detailed heads of account under which expenditure is recorded in the accounting books of the Railway.

What is budget allocation in accounting? ›

Budget allocation is the process of designating specific amounts of money to each department within a company. How much money each group receives depends on: Company priorities. Revenue projections.

What do I put for allocation amount for direct deposit? ›

You will need to fill out the accounts you want to fund and the percentages of your income that go to each account. If you only have one account where you want to receive all your income, you will put 100% next to the account.

What is the meaning of allocation amount? ›

(Finance: General) An allocation is an amount of money that is given to a particular person or used for a particular purpose.

How do you calculate allocation in accounting? ›

Allocation Base Formula: Total indirect costs divided by total cost driver values. This formula yields an allocation rate, which is used to distribute indirect costs across cost objects based on their consumption of the associated cost driver.

What does allocation mean in funds? ›

A distribution of funds or an expenditure limit established for an organizational unit or function. ALL UNIVERSITY. EXPENSES (AUE) Budget that is allocated to a division to cover expenditures that are restricted to a specific type of expense and cannot be used for any other purpose.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Margart Wisoky

Last Updated:

Views: 5621

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Margart Wisoky

Birthday: 1993-05-13

Address: 2113 Abernathy Knoll, New Tamerafurt, CT 66893-2169

Phone: +25815234346805

Job: Central Developer

Hobby: Machining, Pottery, Rafting, Cosplaying, Jogging, Taekwondo, Scouting

Introduction: My name is Margart Wisoky, I am a gorgeous, shiny, successful, beautiful, adventurous, excited, pleasant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.