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Microlesson · 5-min read

AS 2 – Exclusions from Cost and Abnormal Wastage

## Costs Excluded from Inventory (Charged to P&L)

Excluded CostException
Abnormal wastage (material, labour, OH)None — always P&L
Storage costs (post-production)If storage IS part of production process (e.g., ageing wine), include
Administrative overheads not related to productionNone
Selling and distribution overheadsNone
Interest / borrowing costsNone — always P&L under AS 2

> Interest Rule: Even if the supplier gives 1-year credit and interest is embedded in the price, the interest portion is a P&L expense, not part of inventory cost.

## Abnormal Wastage Calculation

When actual loss > normal (expected) loss, the excess = abnormal loss → P&L.

### Step-by-Step Method:

Step 1: Identify normal loss and abnormal loss

  • Total loss = Normal loss + Abnormal loss

Step 2: Revised cost per unit

$$\text{Revised cost p.u.} = \frac{\text{Total cost}}{\text{Total input units} - \text{Normal loss units}}$$

Step 3: Allocate

  • Actual good units × Revised cost p.u. → Inventory cost
  • Abnormal loss units × Revised cost p.u. → P&L expense

> If there is NO abnormal loss (actual loss ≤ normal loss), skip the above — allocate the full cost to inventory.

Worked example

### Example 1

1,000 books purchased @ ₹150 = ₹1,50,000 | Normal loss 5% = 50 books

Actual good units = 920 → Total loss = 80 → Abnormal loss = 80 − 50 = 30 books

Revised cost p.u. = ₹1,50,000 ÷ (1,000 − 50) = ₹1,50,000 ÷ 950 = ₹157.89

→ Inventory: 920 × ₹157.89 = ₹1,45,259

→ P&L (abnormal loss): 30 × ₹157.89 = ₹4,737

Total: ₹1,49,996 ≈ ₹1,50,000 ✓

### Example 2

Milk 5,000 litres @ ₹50 = ₹2,50,000 | Normal loss 2% = 100 litres

Actual received = 4,750 litres → Abnormal loss = 4,900 − 4,750 = 150 litres

Revised cost p.u. = ₹2,50,000 ÷ 4,900 = ₹51.02

→ Inventory: 4,750 × ₹51.02 = ₹2,42,347

→ P&L: 150 × ₹51.02 = ₹7,653

### Example 3

5,000 MT @ ₹1,000 = ₹50,00,000 | Normal loss 5% = 250 MT | Actual = 4,700 MT

Abnormal loss = 4,750 − 4,700 = 50 MT

Revised p.u. = ₹50,00,000 ÷ 4,750 = ₹1,052.63

→ Inventory: 4,700 × ₹1,052.63 = ₹49,47,361

→ P&L: 50 × ₹1,052.63 = ₹52,632

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Including abnormal loss in inventory cost — abnormal loss ALWAYS goes to P&L
  • Applying the revised cost formula even when there is no abnormal loss — if actual loss ≤ normal loss, allocate full cost to inventory
  • Including post-production storage costs in inventory cost — only pre-further-production storage counts
  • Adding interest/borrowing costs to inventory — interest is always a P&L item under AS 2, regardless of credit period
Bare-Act text Para 12 · AS 2 – Valuation of Inventories · click to expand
The following costs are excluded from the cost of inventories and are recognised as expenses in the period in which they are incurred: (a) abnormal amounts of wasted materials, labour, or other production costs; (b) storage costs, unless those costs are necessary in the production process prior to a further production stage; (c) administrative overheads that do not contribute to bringing the inventories to their present location and condition; and (d) selling and distribution costs.
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