What is the dollar-value method of LIFO inventory valuation? What advantage does the dollar-value method have over the specific goods approach of LIFO inventory valuation? Why will the traditional LIFO inventory costing method and the dollar-value LIFO inventory costing method produce different inventory valuations if the composition of the inventory base changes?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The dollar value LIFO method is an alternative to the traditional LIFO method to overcome the issue of LIFO liquidation. This method allows goods replacement and prevents erosion of LIFO layers. Difference in inventory value arises because dollar-value method considers the index and base price.

Step by step solution

01

Dollar-value LIFO method

The dollar value LIFO method is the measure to determine the ending inventory value in dollar (value) terms and not in physical quantity terms. In this method, total pool values of inventories are taken instead of valuing inventories individually.

02

Advantage of dollar-value LIFO method over specific goods method

The dollar value LIFO method has an added advantage over specific goods method in the term that –

a) Dollar value LIFO method consists of a larger pool of similar goods.

b) This method permits the replacement of goods.

c) This method prevents the erosion of LIFO layers.

03

Difference in results between dollar value LIFO and traditional LIFO

The dollar value LIFO method provides the result after taking into effect of price index and base prices. Thus LIFO liquidation is minimum in this approach. In contrast, traditional LIFO does not address these issues and the LIFO layers get erosion due to the lesser range of goods in the pool.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Presented below is information related to Kaisson Corporation for the last 3 years.

Quantities Base-Year Cost Current-Year Cost

in Ending

Item Inventories Unit Cost Amount Unit Cost Amount

December 31, 2016

A 9,000 \(2.00 \)18,000 \(2.20 \)19,800

B 6,000 3.00 18,000 3.55 21,300

C 4,000 5.00 20,000 5.40 21,600

Totals \(56,000 \)62,700

December 31, 2017

A 9,000 \(2.00 \)18,000 \(2.60 \)23,400

B 6,800 3.00 20,400 3.75 25,500

C 6,000 5.00 30,000 6.40 38,400

Totals \(68,400 \)87,300

December 31, 2018

A 8,000 \(2.00 \)16,000 \(2.70 \)21,600

B 8,000 3.00 24,000 4.00 32,000

C 6,000 5.00 30,000 6.20 37,200

Totals \(70,000 \)90,800

Instructions

Compute the ending inventories under the dollar-value LIFO method for 2016, 2017, and 2018. The base period is January 1, 2016,and the beginning inventory cost at that date was $45,000. Compute indexes to two decimal places.

Cruise Industries purchased \(10,800 of merchandise on February 1, 2017,

subject to a trade discount of 10% and with credit terms of 3/15, n/60. It returned \)2,500 (gross price before trade or cash discount)on February 4. The invoice was paid on February 13.

Instructions

(a) Assuming that Cruise uses the perpetual method for recording merchandise transactions, record the purchase, return, and payment using the gross method.

(b) Assuming that Cruise uses the periodic method for recording merchandise transactions, record the purchase, return, and payment using the gross method.

(c) At what amount would the purchase on February 1 be recorded if the net method were used?

Assume that in an annual audit of Harlowe Inc. at December 31, 2017, you findthe following transactions near the closing date.

1. A special machine, fabricated to order for a customer, was finished and specifically segregated in the back part of the shippingroom on December 31, 2017. The customer was billed on that date and the machine excluded from inventory althoughit was shipped on January 4, 2018.

2. Merchandise costing \(2,800 was received on January 3, 2018, and the related purchase invoice recorded January 5. Theinvoice showed the shipment was made on December 29, 2017, f.o.b. destination.

3. A packing case containing a product costing \)3,400 was standing in the shipping room when the physical inventory wastaken. It was not included in the inventory because it was marked “Hold for shipping instructions.” Your investigationrevealed that the customer’s order was dated December 18, 2017, but that the case was shipped and the customer billedon January 10, 2018. The product was a stock item of your client.

4. Merchandise received on January 6, 2018, costing \(680 was entered in the purchase journal on January 7, 2018. The invoiceshowed shipment was made f.o.b. supplier’s warehouse on December 31, 2017. Because it was not on hand at December31, it was not included in inventory.

5. Merchandise costing \)720 was received on December 28, 2017, and the invoice was not recorded. You located it in thehands of the purchasing agent; it was marked “on consignment.”

Instructions

Assuming that each of the amounts is material, state whether the merchandise should be included in the client’s inventory, andgive your reason for your decision on each item.

The following example was provided to encourage the use of the LIFO method. In a nutshell, LIFO subtracts inflation from inventory costs, deducts it from taxable income, and records it in a LIFO reserve account on the books. The LIFO benefit grows as inflation widens the gap between current-year and past-year (minus inflation) inventory costs.

This gap is:

With LIFO Without LIFO

Revenues \(3,200,000 \)3,200,000

Cost of goods sold 2,800,000 2,800,000

Operating expenses 150,000 150,000

Operating income 250,000 250,000

LIFO adjustment 40,000 0

Taxable income \( 210,000 \) 250,000

Income taxes @ 36% \( 75,600 \) 90,000

Cash flow \( 174,400 \) 160,000

Extra cash \( 14,400 0

Increased cash flow 9% 0%

Instructions

(a) Explain what is meant by the LIFO reserve account.

(b) How does LIFO subtract inflation from inventory costs?

(c) Explain how the cash flow of \)174,400 in this example was computed. Explain why this amount may not be correct.

(d) Why does a company that uses LIFO have extra cash? Explain whether this situation will always exist.

The dollar-value LIFO method was adopted by Enya Corp. on January 1, 2017. Its inventory on that date was \(160,000. On December 31, 2017, the inventory at prices existing on that date amounted to \)140,000. Theprice level at January 1, 2017, was 100, and the price level at December 31, 2017, was 112.

Instructions

(a) Compute the amount of the inventory at December 31, 2017, under the dollar-value LIFO method.

(b) On December 31, 2018, the inventory at prices existing on that date was $172,500, and the price level was 115. Computethe inventory on that date under the dollar-value LIFO method.

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