## When One Process Department Charges Profit from Another Department
Up to this point, output has been transferred from one process to the next at cost only. However, in some organisations, one process department transfers goods to the next process at cost plus a profit margin — i.e., the next department "buys" from the previous one at a marked-up price.
### Why Charge Inter-Process Profit?
- To measure the performance of each department independently.
- To benchmark internal departments against external suppliers.
- To create a profit centre structure within a manufacturing chain.
### Format — Three-Column Process A/c
When inter-process profit is involved, the process account is prepared with three columns on each side: Total, Cost, and Profit.
| Particulars | Total | Cost | Profit | Particulars | Total | Cost | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Op. Stock | xx | xx | xx | By Trf to next process | xx | xx | xx |
| To Material, Labour, OH | xx | xx | — | By Closing Stock | xx | xx | xx |
| To Profit (loading) | xx | — | xx |
### Key Implications
1. The next process inherits the transfer price (cost + profit) as its opening material cost.
2. Closing stock at the end of a process must be split into actual cost and unrealised profit.
3. Unrealised Profit on closing stock must be eliminated from financial reporting (since it represents profit not yet realised through external sale).
### Unrealised Profit Formula
```
Unrealised Profit on Closing Stock = (Profit element in transfer price / Total transfer price) × Closing Stock value
```
A stock reserve is created for this unrealised profit and adjusted in P/L.
### Steps to Prepare
1. Maintain Total, Cost, and Profit columns separately on both sides.
2. Apply the profit mark-up on the cost of goods transferred out.
3. At period-end, identify closing stock in each process and separate its cost and profit components.
4. Create a Stock Reserve A/c for unrealised profit on closing stock.