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Chapter 15

Transfer Pricing

True / False Questions

1. A transfer price is the value assigned to the transfer of goods or services between divisions within

the same organization.

True False

2. Transfer prices are not used to record the exchange between two cost centers within the same

organization.

True False

3. Transfer prices cannot be used for decision making, product costing, or performance evaluation.

True False

4. From an organization's viewpoint, transfer prices have no effect on total profits assuming the
transfer occurs between the two responsibility centers.

True False

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5. If a transfer has no effect on divisional profit, risk-neutral managers will be indifferent between
making the transfer or not.

True False

6. If an intermediate market exists but divisions are prohibited from buying or selling from the
outside, the intermediate market can be ignored in determining the optimal transfer price.

True False

7. A perfect intermediate market exists if buyers can buy and sellers can sell outside of the

organization.

True False

8. When a perfect intermediate market exists, the optimal transfer price is the intermediate market
price.

True False

9. In general, the optimal transfer price for a division is the sum of its outlay costs and the

opportunity cost of not transferring its goods to another division.

True False

10. The use of an optimal transfer price eliminates potential conflicts between an organization's

interests and the divisional manager's interest.

True False

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11. A market price-based transfer price policy allows the selling division to determine the price for
transfers between divisions within the same organization.

True False

12. A selling division at capacity is indifferent between selling to outsiders and transferring inside at
the market price.

True False

13. When actual costs are used as the basis for a transfer, inefficiencies of the selling division are

transferred to the buying division.

True False

14. A transfer made at cost does not motivate the selling division to transfer its goods or services
internally.

True False

15. In general, negotiated transfer prices fall in a range between the selling division's differential

costs and the buying division's market price.

True False

16. In the United States, more companies use cost-based transfer prices than market-based transfer

prices.

True False

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17. In interstate transactions, transfers can reduce an organization's tax liability when the selling
division is in a lower tax jurisdiction than the buying division.

True False

18. Tax avoidance is unethical when inflated transfer prices are used in international transactions to
shift profits from a division in one country to a division in another country.

True False

19. An organization that has significant foreign operations must disclose how its transfer prices are

established between domestic and foreign divisions.

True False

20. The GAAP financial reporting rules for segments require that all companies use transfer prices
based on market prices.

True False

Multiple Choice Questions

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21. Which of the following statements is(are) false?

(A) From an organization's viewpoint, transfer prices have no effect on total profits assuming the

transfer occurs between the two responsibility centers.

(B) A transfer price is the value assigned to the transfer of goods or services between divisions

within the same organization.

A. Only A is false.

B. Only B is false.

C. Both A and B are false.

D. Neither A nor B is false.

22. Which of the following responsibility centers is affected by the use of market-based transfer

prices?

A. Cost center.

B. Profit center.

C. Revenue center.

D. Production center.

23. Transfer prices would not be used by:

A. production centers.

B. investment centers.

C. profit centers.

D. cost centers.

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24. A division can sell externally for $60 per unit. Its variable manufacturing costs are $35 per unit,
and its variable marketing costs are $12 per unit. What is the opportunity cost of transferring
internally, assuming the division is operating at capacity?

A. $13.

B. $25.

C. $35.

D. $47.

25. A division can sell externally for $60 per unit. Its variable manufacturing costs are $35 per unit,
and its variable marketing costs are $12 per unit. What is the optimal transfer price for

transferring internally, assuming the division is operating at capacity?

A. $12.

B. $35.

C. $47.

D. $60.

26. Division A has variable manufacturing costs of $50 per unit and fixed costs of $10 per unit.

Assuming that Division A is operating at capacity, what is the opportunity cost of an internal

transfer when the market price is $75?

A. $20.

B. $25.

C. $50.

D. $60.

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27. Division A has variable manufacturing costs of $50 per unit and fixed costs of $10 per unit.
Assuming that Division A is operating at capacity, what is the optimal transfer price of an internal
transfer when the market price is $75?

A. $20.

B. $25.

C. $50.

D. $75.

28. Division A has variable manufacturing costs of $50 per unit and fixed costs of $10 per unit.
Assuming that Division A is operating significantly below capacity, what is the optimal transfer

price of an internal transfer when the market price is $75?

A. $20.

B. $25.

C. $50.

D. $60.

29. Division B has variable manufacturing costs of $50 per unit and fixed costs of $10 per unit.

Assuming that Division B is operating significantly below capacity, what is the opportunity cost of

an internal transfer when the market price is $75?

A. $0.

B. $25.

C. $50.

D. $60.

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30. Dockside Enterprises Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a management division that owns and
manages bulk carriers on the Great Lakes and (2) a repair division that operates a dry dock in
Tampa, Florida. The repair division works on company ships, as well as other large-hull ships.

The repair division has an estimated variable cost of $37 per labor-hour. The repair division has a

backlog of work for outside ships. They charge $70.00 per hour for labor, which is standard for
this type of work. The management division complained that it could hire its own repair workers
for $45.00 per hour, including leasing an adequate work area.

What is the minimum transfer price per hour that the repair division should obtain for its services,
assuming it is operating at capacity?

A. $33.00.

B. $37.00.

C. $45.00.

D. $70.00.

31. Dockside Enterprises Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a management division that owns and

manages bulk carriers on the Great Lakes and (2) a repair division that operates a dry dock in
Tampa, Florida. The repair division works on company ships, as well as other large-hull ships.

The repair division has an estimated variable cost of $37 per labor-hour. The repair division has a

backlog of work for outside ships. They charge $70.00 per hour for labor, which is standard for
this type of work. The management division complained that it could hire its own repair workers
for $45.00 per hour, including leasing an adequate work area.

What is the maximum transfer price per hour that the management division should pay?

A. $33.00.

B. $37.00.

C. $45.00.

D. $70.00.

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32. Dockside Enterprises Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a management division that owns and
manages bulk carriers on the Great Lakes and (2) a repair division that operates a dry dock in
Tampa, Florida. The repair division works on company ships, as well as other large-hull ships.

The repair division has an estimated variable cost of $37 per labor-hour. The repair division has a

backlog of work for outside ships. They charge $70.00 per hour for labor, which is standard for
this type of work. The management division complained that it could hire its own repair workers
for $45.00 per hour, including leasing an adequate work area.

If the repair division had idle capacity, what is the minimum transfer price that the repair division
should obtain?

A. $33.00.

B. $37.00.

C. $45.00.

D. $70.00.

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33. You have been provided with the following information for Division X of a decentralized company:

Selling price $90

Variable cost per unit 66

Fixed cost per unit 20

Sales volume (units) 22,500

Capacity (units) 25,000

Division Y of the same company would like to purchase all of its units internally. Division Y needs
6,000 units each period and currently pays $84 per unit to an outside firm. What is the lowest
price that Division X could accept from Division Y? (Assume that Division Y wants to use a sole
supplier and will not purchase less than 6,000 from a supplier.)

A. $90.

B. $84.

C. $80.

D. $66.

34. When the selling division in an internal transfer has unsatisfied demand from outside customers

for the product that is being transferred, then the lowest acceptable transfer price as far as the
selling division is concerned is:

A. the variable cost of producing a unit of product.

B. the full absorption cost of producing a unit of product.

C. the market price charged to outside customers, less costs saved by transferring internally.

D. the amount that the purchasing division would have to pay an outside seller to acquire a
similar product for its use.

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35. Division A makes a part that it sells to customers outside of the company. Data concerning this
part appear below:

Selling price to outside customers $75

Variable cost per unit $50

Total fixed costs $400,000

Capacity in units 25,000

Division B of the same company would like to use the part manufactured by Division A in one of

its products. Division B currently purchases a similar part made by an outside company for $70
per unit and would substitute the part made by Division A. Division B requires 5,000 units of the

part each period. Division A can already sell all of the units it can produce on the outside market.
What should be the lowest acceptable transfer price from the perspective of Division A?

A. $75.

B. $66.

C. $16.

D. $50.

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36. Part 43X costs the Southern Division of Norris Corporation $26 to make - direct materials are
$10, direct labor is $4, variable manufacturing overhead is $9, and fixed manufacturing overhead
is $3. Southern Division sells Part 43X to other companies for $30. The Northern Division of

Norris Corporation can use Part 43X in one of its products. The Southern Division has enough

idle capacity to produce all of the units of Part 43X that the Northern Division would require. What
is the lowest transfer price at which the Southern Division should be willing to sell Part 43X to the
Northern Division?

A. $30.

B. $26.

C. $23.

D. $27.

37. The Wheel Division of Frankov Corporation has the capacity for making 75,000 wheel sets per
year and regularly sells 60,000 each year on the outside market. The regular sales price is $100
per wheel set, and the variable production cost per unit is $65. The Retail Division of Frankov

Corporation currently buys 30,000 wheel sets (of the kind made by the Wheel Division) yearly
from an outside supplier at a price of $90 per wheel set. If the Retail Division were to buy the

30,000 wheel sets it needs annually from the Wheel Division at $87 per wheel set, the change in

annual net operating income for the company as a whole, compared to what it is currently, would

be:

A. $600,000.

B. $225,000.

C. $750,000.

D. $135,000.

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38. Division X makes a part that it sells to customers outside of the company. Data concerning this
part appear below:

Selling price to outside


$50
customers

Variable cost per unit $30

Total fixed costs $400,000

Capacity in units 25,000

Division Y of the same company would like to use the part manufactured by Division X in one of

its products. Division Y currently purchases a similar part made by an outside company for $49

per unit and would substitute the part made by Division X. Division Y requires 5,000 units of the

part each period. Division X has ample excess capacity to handle all of Division Y's needs without
any increase in fixed costs and without cutting into outside sales. According to the formula in the

text, what is the lowest acceptable transfer price from the standpoint of the selling division?

A. $50.

B. $49.

C. $46.

D. $30.

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39. Division A makes a part that it sells to customers outside of the company. Data concerning this
part appear below:

Selling price to outside


$40
customers

Variable cost per unit $30

Total fixed costs $10,000

Capacity in units 20,000

Division B of the same company would like to use the part manufactured by Division A in one of

its products. Division B currently purchases a similar part made by an outside company for $38

per unit and would substitute the part made by Division A. Division B requires 5,000 units of the
part each period. Division A has ample capacity to produce the units for Division B without any

increase in fixed costs and without cutting into sales to outside customers. If Division A sells to

Division B rather than to outside customers, the variable cost be unit would be $1 lower. What
should be the lowest acceptable transfer price from the perspective of Division A?

A. $40.

B. $38.

C. $30.

D. $29.

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40. The Raisin Division of Trail Mix Foods, Inc. had the following operating results last year:

Sales (150,000 pounds of raisins) $60,000

Variable expenses 37,500

Contribution margin 22,500

Fixed expenses 12,000

Profit $10,500

Raisin expects identical operating results this year. The Raisin Division has the ability to produce

and sell 200,000 pounds of raisins annually.

Assume that the Peanut Division of Trail Mix Foods wants to purchase an additional 20,000

pounds of raisins from the Raisin Division. Raisin will be able to increase its profit by accepting

any transfer price above:

A. $0.40 per pound.

B. $0.08 per pound.

C. $0.15 per pound.

D. $0.25 per pound.

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41. The Raisin Division of Trail Mix Foods, Inc. had the following operating results last year:

Sales (150,000 pounds of raisins) $60,000

Variable expenses 37,500

Contribution margin 22,500

Fixed expenses 12,000

Profit $10,500

Raisin expects identical operating results this year. The Raisin Division has the ability to produce

and sell 200,000 pounds of raisins annually.

Assume that the Raisin Division is currently operating at its capacity of 200,000 pounds of

raisins. Also assume again that the Peanut Division wants to purchase an additional 20,000

pounds of raisins from the Raisin Division. Under these conditions, what amount per pound of

raisins would the Raisin Division have to charge Peanut in order to maintain its current profit?

A. $0.40 per pound.

B. $0.08 per pound.

C. $0.15 per pound.

D. $0.25 per pound.

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42. The Gear Division makes a part with the following characteristics:

Production capacity 25,000 units

Selling price to outside customers $18

Variable cost per unit $11

Fixed cost, total $100,000

Motor Division of the same company would like to purchase 10,000 units each period from the
Gear Division. The Motor Division now purchases the part from an outside supplier at a price of
$17 each.

Suppose the Gear Division has ample excess capacity to handle all of the Motor Division's needs
without any increase in fixed costs and without cutting into sales to outside customers. If the Gear

Division refuses to accept the $17 price internally and the Motor Division continues to buy from
the outside supplier, the company as a whole will be:

A. worse off by $70,000 each period.

B. better off by $10,000 each period.

C. worse off by $60,000 each period.

D. worse off by $20,000 each period.

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43. The Gear Division makes a part with the following characteristics:

Production capacity 25,000 units

Selling price to outside customers $18

Variable cost per unit $11

Fixed cost, total $100,000

Motor Division of the same company would like to purchase 10,000 units each period from the
Gear Division. The Motor Division now purchases the part from an outside supplier at a price of
$17 each.

Suppose that the Gear Division is operating at capacity and can sell all of its output to outside
customers. If the Gear Division sells the parts to Motor Division at $17 per unit, the company as a

whole will be:

A. better off by $10,000 each period.

B. worse off by $20,000 each period.

C. worse off by $10,000 each period.

D. There will be no change in the status of the company as a whole.

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44. Division A produces a part with the following characteristics:

Capacity in units 50,000

Selling price per unit $30

Variable costs per unit $18

Fixed costs per unit $3

Division B, another division in the company, would like to buy this part from Division A. Division B
is presently purchasing the part from an outside source at $28 per unit. If Division A sells to
Division B, $1 in variable costs can be avoided.

Suppose Division A is currently operating at capacity and can sell all of the units it produces on
the outside market for its usual selling price. From the point of view of Division A, any sales to

Division B should be priced no lower than:

A. $27.

B. $29.

C. $20.

D. $28.

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45. Division A produces a part with the following characteristics:

Capacity in units 50,000

Selling price per unit $30

Variable costs per unit $18

Fixed costs per unit $3

Division B, another division in the company, would like to buy this part from Division A. Division B
is presently purchasing the part from an outside source at $28 per unit. If Division A sells to
Division B, $1 in variable costs can be avoided.

Suppose that Division A has ample idle capacity to handle all of Division B's needs without any
increase in fixed costs and without cutting into its sales to outside customers. From the point of

view of Division A, any sales to Division B should be priced no lower than:

A. $29.

B. $30.

C. $18.

D. $17.

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46. The Pillar Division of the Gothic Building Company produces basic pillars which can be sold to
outside customers or sold to the Lantern Division of the Gothic Company. Last year, the Lantern
Division bought all of its 25,000 pillars from Pillar at $1.50 each. The following data are available

for last year's activities of the Pillar Division:

300,000
Capacity in units
pillars

Selling price per pillar to outside


$1.75
customers

Variable costs per pillar $0.90

Fixed costs, total $150,000

The total fixed costs would be the same for all the alternatives considered below.

Suppose there is ample capacity so that transfers of the pillars to the Lantern Division do not cut

into sales to outside customers. What is the lowest transfer price that would not reduce the profits
of the Pillar Division?

A. $0.90.

B. $1.35.

C. $1.41.

D. $1.75.

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47. The Pillar Division of the Gothic Building Company produces basic pillars which can be sold to
outside customers or sold to the Lantern Division of the Gothic Company. Last year, the Lantern
Division bought all of its 25,000 pillars from Pillar at $1.50 each. The following data are available

for last year's activities of the Pillar Division:

300,000
Capacity in units
pillars

Selling price per pillar to outside


$1.75
customers

Variable costs per pillar $0.90

Fixed costs, total $150,000

The total fixed costs would be the same for all the alternatives considered below.

Suppose the transfers of pillars to the Lantern Division cut into sales to outside customers by
15,000 units. What is the lowest transfer price that would not reduce the profits of the Pillar
Division?

A. $0.90.

B. $1.35.

C. $1.41.

D. $1.75.

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48. The Pillar Division of the Gothic Building Company produces basic pillars which can be sold to
outside customers or sold to the Lantern Division of the Gothic Company. Last year, the Lantern
Division bought all of its 25,000 pillars from Pillar at $1.50 each. The following data are available

for last year's activities of the Pillar Division:

300,000
Capacity in units
pillars

Selling price per pillar to outside


$1.75
customers

Variable costs per pillar $0.90

Fixed costs, total $150,000

The total fixed costs would be the same for all the alternatives considered below.

Suppose the transfers of pillars to the Lantern Division cut into sales to outside customers by

15,000 units. Further suppose that an outside supplier is willing to provide the Lantern Division
with basic pillars at $1.45 each. If the Lantern Division had chosen to buy all of its pillars from the
outside supplier instead of the Pillar Division, the change in net operating income for the company

as a whole would have been:

A. $1,250 decrease.

B. $10,250 increase.

C. $1,000 decrease.

D. $13,750 decrease.

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49. The Stake Division of the Outdoor Lumination Company produces stakes which can be sold to
outside customers or transferred to the Solar Light Division of the Outdoor Lumination Company.
Last year, the Solar Light Division bought 50,000 stakes from the Stake Division at $2.50 each.

The following data are available for last year's activities in the Stake Division:

400,000
Capacity in units
stakes

350,000
Quantity sold to outside customers
stakes

Selling price per stake to outside


$3.00
customers

Total variable costs per stake $2.00

Fixed operating costs $200,000

In order to sell 50,000 stakes to the Solar Light Division, the Stake Division must give up sales of
30,000 stakes to outside customers. That is, the Stake Division could sell 380,000 stakes each

year to outside customers (rather than only 350,000 stakes as shown above) if it were not making

sales to the Solar Light Division.

According to the formula in the text, what is the lowest acceptable transfer price from the

viewpoint of the selling division?

A. $2.50.

B. $2.00.

C. $2.60.

D. $3.00.

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50. The Stake Division of the Outdoor Lumination Company produces stakes which can be sold to
outside customers or transferred to the Solar Light Division of the Outdoor Lumination Company.
Last year, the Solar Light Division bought 50,000 stakes from the Stake Division at $2.50 each.

The following data are available for last year's activities in the Stake Division:

400,000
Capacity in units
stakes

350,000
Quantity sold to outside customers
stakes

Selling price per stake to outside


$3.00
customers

Total variable costs per stake $2.00

Fixed operating costs $200,000

In order to sell 50,000 stakes to the Solar Light Division, the Stake Division must give up sales of
30,000 stakes to outside customers. That is, the Stake Division could sell 380,000 stakes each

year to outside customers (rather than only 350,000 stakes as shown above) if it were not making

sales to the Solar Light Division.

Suppose that last year an outside supplier would have been willing to provide the Solar Light

Division with the basic stakes at $2.10 each. If the Solar Light Division had chosen to buy all of its
stakes from the outside supplier instead of the Stake Division, the change in net operating income
for the company as a whole would have been:

A. $45,000 increase.

B. $20,000 decrease.

C. $20,000 increase.

D. $25,000 increase.

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51. Division X makes a part that it sells to customers outside of the company. Data concerning this
part appear below:

Selling price to outside customers $50

Variable cost per unit $30

Total fixed costs $400,000

Capacity in units 25,000

Division Y of the same company would like to use the part manufactured by Division X in one of
its products. Division Y currently purchases a similar part made by an outside company for $49

per unit and would substitute the part made by Division X. Division Y requires 5,000 units of the

part each period. Division X can sell all of the units it makes to outside customers. What is the
lowest acceptable transfer price from the standpoint of the selling division?

A. $50.

B. $49.

C. $46.

D. $30.

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52. Division X of Operandi Corporation makes and sells a single product which is used by
manufacturers of fork lift trucks. Presently it sells 12,000 units per year to outside customers at
$24 per unit. The annual capacity is 20,000 units and the variable cost to make each unit is $16.

Division Y of Operandi Corporation would like to buy 10,000 units a year from Division X to use in

its products. There would be no cost savings from transferring the units within the company rather
than selling them on the outside market. What should be the lowest acceptable transfer price
from the perspective of Division X?

A. $24.00.

B. $21.40.

C. $17.60.

D. $16.00.

53. Division A of Chappelle Company has the capacity for making 3,000 motors per month and
regularly sells 1,950 motors each month to outside customers at a contribution margin of $62 per
motor. The variable cost per motor is $35.70. Division B of Chappelle Company would like to

obtain 1,400 motors each month from Division A. What should be the lowest acceptable transfer
price from the perspective of Division A?

A. $26.57.

B. $51.20.

C. $35.70.

D. $62.00.

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54. Which of the following statements is(are) true?

(A) If a transfer has no effect on divisional profit, managers will be indifferent between making the

transfer or not.

(B) If an intermediate market exists but divisions are prohibited from buying or selling from the

outside, the intermediate market can be ignored in determining the optimal transfer price.

A. Only A is true.

B. Only B is true.

C. Both A and B are true.

D. Neither A nor B is true.

55. In general, if a potential transfer has no effect on divisional profits:

A. no transfer will take place between the divisions.

B. managers will be indifferent between making the transfer or not.

C. the organization should not intervene to force a transfer.

D. the optimal transfer price is the opportunity cost for the buying division.

56. An intermediate market is perfect when:

A. there are no quality differences between inside and outside suppliers.

B. there are quality differences between inside and outside customers.

C. buyers and sellers can sell any quantity without affecting the market price.

D. buyers and sellers are motivated to make decisions that are consistent with those of the
organization.

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57. When there is no intermediate market:

A. there is no optimal transfer price.

B. the selling division cannot transfer its goods internally.

C. the buying division cannot purchase its goods externally.

D. there is no reason for top management to intervene in transfer pricing disputes.

58. The general principle on setting transfer prices that are in the organization's best interests is:

A. outlay cost plus opportunity cost of the resource at the point of transfer.

B. variable costs plus opportunity cost of the resource at the point of transfer.

C. lost contribution margin less the allocated fixed costs for the selling division.

D. gross margin for the buying division plus the gross margin for the selling division.

59. If the selling division has excess capacity, the transfer price should be set at its:

A. differential outlay costs.

B. differential outlay costs plus the foregone contribution to the organization of making the

transfer internally.

C. selling price less the variable costs.

D. selling price less the variable costs plus the foregone contribution to the organization of
making the transfer internally.

15-29
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60. Given a competitive outside market for identical intermediate goods, what is the best transfer
price, assuming all relevant information is readily available?

A. Standard production cost per unit.

B. Market price of the intermediate goods.

C. Actual full cost per unit plus a normal markup.

D. Market price of the final goods less any opportunity costs.

61. The optimal transfer price when there are intermediate markets is:

A. full cost.

B. outlay costs.

C. variable cost.

D. market prices.

62. A division can sell externally for $40 per unit. Its variable manufacturing costs are $15 per unit,
and its variable marketing costs are $6 per unit. What is the opportunity cost of transferring

internally, assuming the division is operating at capacity?

A. $15.

B. $19.

C. $21.

D. $25.

15-30
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63. Division A has variable manufacturing costs of $25 per unit and fixed costs of $5 per unit. Division
A is operating at capacity, what is the opportunity cost of an internal transfer when the market
price is $35?

A. $5.

B. $10.

C. $25.

D. $30.

64. Lock Division of Morgantown Corp. sells 80,000 units of part Z-25 to the outside market. Part Z-
25 sells for $40, has a variable cost of $22, and a fixed cost per unit of $10. The Lock Division

has a capacity to produce 100,000 units per period. The Cabinet Division currently purchases

10,000 units of part Z-25 from the Lock Division for $40. The Cabinet Division has been

approached by an outside supplier willing to supply the parts for $36. What is the effect on
Morgantown's overall profit if the Lock Division refuses the outside price and the Cabinet Division
decides to buy outside?

A. No change in Morgantown's profits.

B. $140,000 decrease in Morgantown's profits.

C. $80,000 decrease in Morgantown's profits.

D. $40,000 increase in Morgantown's profits.

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65. The Lock Division of Morgantown Corp. sells 80,000 units of part Z-25 to the outside market. Part
Z-25 sells for $40, has a variable cost of $22, and a fixed cost per unit of $10. The Lock Division
has a capacity to produce 100,000 units per period. The Cabinet Division currently purchases

10,000 units of part Z-25 from the Lock Division for $40. The Cabinet Division has been

approached by an outside supplier willing to supply the parts for $36. What is the effect on
Morgantown's overall profit if the Lock Division accepts the outside price and the Cabinet Division
continues to buy inside?

A. No change in Morgantown's profits.

B. $140,000 decrease in Morgantown's profits.

C. $80,000 decrease in Morgantown's profits.

D. $40,000 increase in Morgantown's profits.

66. Concrete Corporation has two producing centers, Contractor and Retailer. The Contractor
Division has a variable cost of $12 for its products and a total fixed cost of $120,000. The
Contractor Division also has idle capacity for up to 50,000 units per month. The Retailer Division

would like to purchase 20,000 units of the Contractor Division's products per month, but is unable
to convince the Contractor Division to transfer units to the Retailer Division at $16 per unit. The

Contractor Division has consistently argued that the market price of $20 is nonnegotiable. What is

The Contractor Division's opportunity cost of not transferring units to the Retailer Division?

A. $20.

B. $12.

C. $8.

D. $4.

15-32
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67. You have been provided with the following information for the Wool Division of a decentralized
company:

Selling price $45

Variable cost per unit 33

Fixed cost per unit 12

Sales volume (units) 22,500

Capacity (units) 25,000

The Blanket Division would like to purchase all of its units internally. The Blanket Division needs
6,000 units each period and currently pays $42 per unit to an outside firm. What is the lowest

price that Wool Division could accept from the Blanket Division? Assuming that the Blanket

Division wants to use a sole supplier and will not purchase less than 6,000 from a supplier, what
is the lowest price that Wool Division could accept from the Blanket Division?

A. $45.

B. $42.

C. $40.

D. $38.

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68. Given the following data for Keyboard Division:

Selling price to outside customers $25

Variable cost per unit 12

Fixed cost – Total 50,000

Capacity (in units) 125,000

The Computer Division would like to purchase 15,000 units each period from the Keyboard
Division. The Keyboard Division has ample excess capacity to handle all of the Computer

Division's needs. The Computer Division now purchases from an outside supplier at a price of
$20. If the Keyboard Division refuses to accept an $18 price internally, the company, as a whole,

will be worse off by:

A. $30,000.

B. $75,000.

C. $90,000.

D. $120,000.

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69. Given the following data for Electrical Cord Division:

Selling price to outside customers $40

Variable cost per unit 30

Fixed cost – Total 10,000

Capacity (in units) 2,000

Assume that Electrical Cord Division is selling all it can produce to outside customers. If it sells to
the Appliance Division, $1 can be avoided in variable cost per unit. The Appliance Division is
presently purchasing from an outside supplier at $38 per unit. From the point of view of the

company as a whole, any sales to the Appliance Division should be priced at:

A. $40.

B. $39.

C. $38.

D. The company would not want the transfer to take place.

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70. Given the following data for Handle Division:

Selling price to outside customers $150

Variable cost per unit 80

Fixed cost per unit (based on capacity) 30

Capacity (in units) 50,000

Cabinet Division would like to purchase 10,000 units from the Handle Division at a price of $125
per unit. Handle Division has no excess capacity to handle the Cabinet Division's requirements.
The Cabinet Division currently purchases from an outside supplier at a price of $140. If the

Handle Division accepts a $125 price internally, the company, as a whole, will be better or worse

off by:

A. $600,000

B. $(100,000)

C. $115,000

D. $250,000

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71. Altoona Corporation has two divisions, Hinges and Doors, which are both organized as profit
centers; the Hinge Division produces and sells hinges to the Door Division and to outside
customers. The Hinge Division has total costs of $35, $20 of which are variable. The Hinge

Division is operating significantly below capacity and sells the hinges for $50.

The Door Division has received an offer from an outsider vendor to supply all the hinges it needs
(20,000 hinges) at a cost of $45. The manager of the Door Division is considering the offer but
wants to approach the Hinge Division first.

What would be the profit impact to Altoona Corporation as a whole if the Door Division purchased
the 20,000 hinges it needs from the outside vendor for $45?

A. No change in profit to Altoona.

B. $100,000 increase in profits.

C. $100,000 decrease in profits.

D. $500,000 decrease in profits.

72. Altoona Corporation has two divisions, Hinges and Doors, which are both organized as profit

centers; the Hinge Division produces and sells hinges to the Door Division and to outside
customers. The Hinge Division has total costs of $35, $20 of which are variable. The Hinge

Division is operating significantly below capacity and sells the hinges for $50.

The Door Division has received an offer from an outsider vendor to supply all the hinges it needs
(20,000 hinges) at a cost of $45. The manager of the Door Division is considering the offer but
wants to approach the Hinge Division first.

What is the minimum transfer price from the Hinge Division to the Door Division?

A. $20.

B. $35.

C. $45.

D. $50.

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73. Altoona Corporation has two divisions, Hinges and Doors, which are both organized as profit
centers; the Hinge Division produces and sells hinges to the Door Division and to outside
customers. The Hinge Division has total costs of $35, $20 of which are variable. The Hinge

Division is operating significantly below capacity and sells the hinges for $50.

The Door Division has received an offer from an outsider vendor to supply all the hinges it needs
(20,000 hinges) at a cost of $45. The manager of the Door Division is considering the offer but
wants to approach the Hinge Division first.

What is the maximum transfer price from the Hinge Division to the Door Division?

A. $20.

B. $35.

C. $45.

D. $50.

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74. Retro Rides Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a management division that owns and manages
classic automobile rentals in Miami, Florida and (2) a repair division that restores classic
automobiles in Clearwater, Florida. The repair division works on classic motorcycles, as well as

other classic automobiles.

The Repair division has an estimated variable cost of $28.50 per labor-hour. The Repair division
has a backlog of work for automobile restoration. They charge $48.00 per hour for labor, which is
standard for this type of work. The Management division complained that it could hire its own

repair workers for $30.00 per hour, including leasing an adequate work area.

What is the minimum transfer price per hour that the Repair division should obtain for its

services, assuming it is operating at capacity?

A. $28.50.

B. $30.00.

C. $39.00.

D. $48.00.

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75. Retro Rides Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a management division that owns and manages
classic automobile rentals in Miami, Florida and (2) a repair division that restores classic
automobiles in Clearwater, Florida. The repair division works on classic motorcycles, as well as

other classic automobiles.

The Repair division has an estimated variable cost of $28.50 per labor-hour. The Repair division
has a backlog of work for automobile restoration. They charge $48.00 per hour for labor, which is
standard for this type of work. The Management division complained that it could hire its own

repair workers for $30.00 per hour, including leasing an adequate work area.

What is the maximum transfer price per hour that the Management division should pay?

A. $28.50.

B. $30.00.

C. $39.00.

D. $46.50.

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76. Retro Rides Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a management division that owns and manages
classic automobile rentals in Miami, Florida and (2) a repair division that restores classic
automobiles in Clearwater, Florida. The repair division works on classic motorcycles, as well as

other classic automobiles.

The Repair division has an estimated variable cost of $28.50 per labor-hour. The Repair division
has a backlog of work for automobile restoration. They charge $48.00 per hour for labor, which is
standard for this type of work. The Management division complained that it could hire its own

repair workers for $30.00 per hour, including leasing an adequate work area.

If the Repair division had idle capacity, what is the minimum transfer price that the Repair

division should obtain?

A. $28.50.

B. $30.00.

C. $39.00.

D. $46.50.

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77. Frocks and Gowns Inc., has two divisions, Day Wear and Night Wear. The Day Wear Division
has an investment base of $750,000 and produces (and sells) 100,000 units of Collars at a
market price of $10.00 per unit. Variable costs total $3.50 per unit, and fixed charges are $4.00

per unit (based on a capacity of 120,000 units). The Night Wear Division wants to purchase

25,000 units of Collars from The Day Wear Division. However, the Night Wear Division is only
willing to pay $6.75 per unit.

What is the contribution margin for the Day Wear Division without the transfer to the Night Wear

Division?

A. $250,000.

B. $650,000.

C. $675,000.

D. $1,000,000.

78. Frocks and Gowns Inc., has two divisions, Day Wear and Night Wear. The Day Wear Division
has an investment base of $750,000 and produces (and sells) 100,000 units of Collars at a

market price of $10.00 per unit. Variable costs total $3.50 per unit, and fixed charges are $4.00
per unit (based on a capacity of 120,000 units). The Night Wear Division wants to purchase

25,000 units of Collars from The Day Wear Division. However, the Night Wear Division is only

willing to pay $6.75 per unit.

What is the contribution margin for the Day Wear Division if it transfers 25,000 units to the Night
Wear Division at $6.75 per unit?

A. $250,000.

B. $650,000.

C. $675,000.

D. $698,750.

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79. Frocks and Gowns Inc., has two divisions, Day Wear and Night Wear. The Day Wear Division
has an investment base of $750,000 and produces (and sells) 100,000 units of Collars at a
market price of $10.00 per unit. Variable costs total $3.50 per unit, and fixed charges are $4.00

per unit (based on a capacity of 120,000 units). The Night Wear Division wants to purchase

25,000 units of Collars from The Day Wear Division. However, the Night Wear Division is only
willing to pay $6.75 per unit.

What is the minimum transfer price for the 25,000 unit order that the Day Wear Division would

accept if it wishes to maintain its pre-order contribution?

A. $3.50.

B. $4.00.

C. $4.80.

D. $6.00.

80. A company is highly centralized. The Cutting Division, which is operating at capacity, produces a
component that it currently sells in a perfectly competitive market for $13 per unit. At the current

level of production, the fixed cost of producing this component is $4 per unit and the variable cost
is $7 per unit. Grinding Division would like to purchase this component from the Cutting Division.

The price that the Cutting Division should charge the Grinding Division per unit for this component

is:

A. $7.

B. $11.

C. $13.

D. $15.

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81. A company has two divisions, Softwoods and Hardwoods, each operating as a profit center. The
Softwood Division charges the Hardwood Division $35 per unit (for each unit transferred to the
Hardwood Division). Other data for the Softwood Division are as follows:

Variable Cost per unit $30

Fixed Costs $10,000

Annual Sales to the Hardwood Division 5,000 units

Annual Sales to Outsiders 50,000 units

The Softwood Division is planning to raise its transfer price to $50 per unit. The Hardwood

Division can purchase units at $40 per unit from outsiders, but doing so would idle the Softwood

Division's facilities (now committed to producing units for the Hardwood Division). The Softwood
Division cannot increase its sales to outsiders. From the perspective of the company as a whole,
from who should the Hardwood Division acquire the units, assuming the Hardwood Division's

market is unaffected?

A. Outside vendors.

B. The Softwood Division, but only at the variable cost per unit.

C. The Softwood Division, but only until fixed costs are covered, then should purchase from
outside vendors.

D. The Softwood Division, in spite of the increased transfer price.

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82. Given the following information for Camping Division:

Selling price to outside customers $50

Variable cost per unit $30

Total fixed costs $400,000

Capacity in units 25,000

The Lantern Division would like to purchase internally from the Camping Division. The Lantern
Division now purchases 5,000 units each period from outside suppliers at $49 per unit. The

Camping Division has ample excess capacity to handle all of the Lantern Division's needs. What
is the lowest price that Camping Division could accept?

A. $50.00.

B. $49.00.

C. $46.00.

D. $30.00.

83. Accutron, a large manufacturing company, has several autonomous divisions that sell their

products in perfectly competitive external markets as well as internally to the other divisions of the

company. Top management expects each of its divisional managers to take actions that will

maximize the organization's goal as well as their own goals. Top management also promotes a
sustained level of management effort of all of its divisional managers. Under these
circumstances, for products exchanged between divisions, the transfer price that will generally

lead to optimal decisions for Accutron would be a transfer price equal to the: (CIA adapted)

A. full cost of the product.

B. full cost of the product plus a markup.

C. variable cost of the product plus a markup.

D. market price of the product.

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84. Martin Company currently manufactures all component parts used in the manufacture of various
hand tools. The Extruding Division produces a steel handle used in three different tools. The
budget for these handles is 120,000 units with the following unit cost.

Direct material $.60

Direct labor .40

Variable overhead .10

Fixed overhead .20

Total unit cost $1.30

Polishing Division purchases 20,000 handles from the Extruding Division and completes the

hand tools. An outside supplier, Venture Steel, has offered to supply 20,000 units of the handle to

Polishing Division for $1.25 per unit. The Extruding Division currently has idle capacity that
cannot be used.

What is the cost impact to Martin as a whole of purchasing from Venture Steel? (CMA adapted)

A. increase the handle unit cost by $0.05.

B. increase the handle unit cost by $0.15.

C. decrease the handle unit cost by $0.15.

D. decrease the handle unit cost by $0.25.

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85. Martin Company currently manufactures all component parts used in the manufacture of various
hand tools. The Extruding Division produces a steel handle used in three different tools. The
budget for these handles is 120,000 units with the following unit cost.

Direct material $.60

Direct labor .40

Variable overhead .10

Fixed overhead .20

Total unit cost $1.30

Polishing Division purchases 20,000 handles from the Extruding Division and completes the

hand tools. An outside supplier, Venture Steel, has offered to supply 20,000 units of the handle to

Polishing Division for $1.25 per unit. The Extruding Division currently has idle capacity that
cannot be used.

If Martin would like to develop a range of transfer prices, what would be the maximum transfer

price that Polishing would be willing to pay?

A. $1.00.

B. $1.10.

C. $1.25.

D. $1.30.

15-47
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86. Martin Company currently manufactures all component parts used in the manufacture of various
hand tools. The Extruding Division produces a steel handle used in three different tools. The
budget for these handles is 120,000 units with the following unit cost.

Direct material $.60

Direct labor .40

Variable overhead .10

Fixed overhead .20

Total unit cost $1.30

Polishing Division purchases 20,000 handles from the Extruding Division and completes the

hand tools. An outside supplier, Venture Steel, has offered to supply 20,000 units of the handle to

Polishing Division for $1.25 per unit. The Extruding Division currently has idle capacity that
cannot be used.

If Martin would like to develop a range of transfer prices, what would be the minimum transfer

price that Extruding would be willing to accept?

A. $1.00.

B. $1.10.

C. $1.25.

D. $1.30.

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87. The Alpha Division of a company, which is operating at capacity, produces and sells 1,000 units
of a certain electronic component in a perfectly competitive market. Revenue and cost data are
as follows: (CIA adapted)

Sales $50,000

Variable costs 34,000

Fixed costs 12,000

The minimum transfer price that should be charged to the Beta Division of the same company for
each component is:

A. $12.

B. $34.

C. $46.

D. $50.

88. The Hinges Division of Altoona Corp. sells 80,000 units of part Z-25 to the outside market. Part Z-
25 sells for $40, has a variable cost of $22, and a fixed cost per unit of $10. The Hinges Division
has a capacity to produce 100,000 units per period. The Door Division currently purchases

10,000 units of part Z-25 from the Hinges Division for $40. The Door Division has been

approached by an outside supplier willing to supply the parts for $36. If Altoona uses a negotiated

transfer pricing system, what is the maximum transfer price that should be charged for this
transaction?

A. $40.

B. $36.

C. $32.

D. $22.

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89. The Hinges Division of Altoona Corp. sells 80,000 units of part Z-25 to the outside market. Part Z-
25 sells for $40, has a variable cost of $22, and a fixed cost per unit of $10. The Hinges Division
has a capacity to produce 100,000 units per period. The Door Division currently purchases

10,000 units of part Z-25 from the Hinges Division for $40. The Door Division has been

approached by an outside supplier willing to supply the parts for $36. If Altoona uses a negotiated
transfer pricing system, what is the minimum transfer price that should be charged for this
transaction?

A. $40.

B. $36.

C. $32.

D. $22.

90. The Eastern Division sells goods internally to the Western Division at Tennessee Company. The
quoted external price in industry publications from a supplier near Eastern is $200 per ton plus
transportation. It costs $20 per ton to transport the goods to Western. Eastern's actual market

cost per ton to buy the direct materials to make the transferred product is $100. Actual per-ton
direct labor is $50. Other actual costs of storage and handling are $40. Tennessee Company's

president selects a $220 transfer price. This is an example of: (CIA adapted)

A. market-based transfer pricing.

B. cost-based transfer pricing.

C. negotiated transfer pricing.

D. cost plus 20% transfer pricing.

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91. Which of the following is the most significant disadvantage of a cost-based transfer price? (CIA
adapted)

A. Requires internally developed information.

B. Imposes market effects on company operations.

C. Requires externally developed information.

D. May not promote long-term efficiencies.

92. An appropriate transfer price between two divisions of The Fathom Company can be determined
from the following data: (CIA adapted)

Fabricating Division

Market price of
$50
subassembly

Variable cost of
$20
subassembly

Excess capacity (in units) 1,000

Assembling Division

Number of units needed 900

What is the natural bargaining range for the two divisions?

A. Between $20 and $50.

B. Between $50 and $70.

C. Any amount less than $50.

D. $50 is the only acceptable transfer price.

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93. A limitation of transfer prices based on actual cost is that they: (CIA adapted)

A. charge inefficiencies to the department that is transferring the goods.

B. charge inefficiencies to the department that is receiving the goods.

C. must be adjusted by some markup.

D. lack clarity and administrative convenience.

94. Which of the following is not an appropriate use of transfer pricing?

A. Product costing.

B. Decision making.

C. Establishing standards.

D. Evaluating performance.

95. An internal transfer between two divisions is in the best economic interest of the entire

organization when:

A. the variable costs plus the opportunity cost of the selling division is greater than the external
price for the buying division.

B. the variable costs plus the opportunity cost of the selling division is less than the external price
for the buying division.

C. there is excess capacity in the buying division with no alternative use.

D. there is no established market prices for the buying division.

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96. Top management intervention in settling transfer pricing disputes between two divisions should
be avoided unless

A. there is no intermediate markets.

B. the intermediate market is imperfect.

C. there is an extraordinarily large order.

D. there is no opportunity costs.

97. The transfer price that should be used by top management in evaluating whether a division
should buy within the company or from an outside supplier is:

A. negotiated transfer price.

B. transfer price based on full cost.

C. transfer price based on variable cost.

D. transfer price based on an open market price.

98. Some managers prefer to use cost rather than market price in controlling transfers between

divisions. If cost is to be used, then it should be:

A. full cost.

B. direct cost.

C. variable cost.

D. standard cost.

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99. Cost-based transfer prices that include a normal markup to the costs act as a surrogate for:

A. negotiated market prices.

B. opportunity costs.

C. differential costs.

D. market prices.

100.Multinational firms often face conflicting pressures when developing transfer pricing policies. Tax

avoidance results when:

A. inflated transfer prices are used to reduce the profits of divisions in high tax-rate countries.

B. inflated transfer prices are used to reduce the profits of divisions in low tax-rate countries.

C. cost-based transfer prices are used instead of market transfer prices in high tax-rate countries.

D. cost-based transfer prices are used instead of negotiated market transfer prices in low tax-rate

countries.

101.Which of the following transfer pricing methods must be used in segment reporting by the oil and

gas industry?

A. Absorption cost.

B. Differential cost.

C. Negotiated market price.

D. Market price.

Essay Questions

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102.Galena Corp. manufactures RD34 in its City Division. This output is sold to the Urban Division as
raw material in Urban's product. City also further processes the RD34 into RD35, and then sells it
to other companies.

The City Division's variable costs for the basic ingredient are $15 per unit. The Urban Division's

variable costs are $5 per unit in addition to what it pays the City Division. The Urban Division has
a capacity of 400,000 units and it can sell everything it produces. The market price for the
finished additive is $40 per unit. If the City Division converts the RD34 into RD35, it can receive
$25 per unit on the open market, but it incurs an additional $4 per unit for this processing.

Required:

a. What is the lowest price the City Division should be willing to transfer RD34 to the Urban

Division, assuming the City Division is not at full capacity?

b. What is the lowest price the City Division should be willing to transfer RD34 to the Urban
Division, assuming the City Division is at full capacity?

c. Ignore parts (a) and (b). Assume that the City Division has a capacity of 500,000 units, but can
only sell 300,000 on the open market. How many units should the City Division sell externally and

how many units should it sell to Urban Division at a transfer price of $20?

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103.Shipping Industries is a decentralized company that evaluates its divisions based on ROI. The
North Division has the capacity to produce 2,000 units of a component. The North Division's
variable costs are $85 per unit; fixed costs are $70 per unit.

The South Division can use the product as a component in one of its products. The South

Division would incur $65 of variable costs to convert the component into its own product which
sells for $310.

Required:

(consider each question independent of each other):

a. Assume the North Division can sell all that it produces for $185 each. The South Division
needs 100 units. What is the appropriate transfer price?

b. Assume the North Division can sell 1,800 units at $265. Any excess capacity will be unused

unless the units are purchased by the South Division (which can use up to 100 units). What are
the minimum and maximum transfer prices?

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104.Trevor Company operates several investment centers. The manager of the Genesis Division
expects the following results for the coming year.

Sales (50,000 units at $20) $1,000,000

Variable costs 600,000

Contribution margin $400,000

Fixed costs 250,000

Profit $150,000

Included in the Genesis Division's variable cost is $7 for a component it buys from an outside
supplier. One of these components is required in each unit of the Genesis Division's product. The

manager of the Genesis Division has just found that she can buy the component from the Solar

Division, another division of Trevor Company. The Solar Division sells 300,000 units of the
component to outsiders at $8 and its variable cost is $4 per unit. The Solar Division offers to sell
the component to Genesis at a price of $6. Solar is operating well below capacity.

Required:

a. If Genesis accepts the offer, what will happen to the income of the Solar Division?

b. If Genesis accepts the offer, what will happen to the income of the Genesis Division?

c. If Genesis accepts the offer, what will happen to the income of the Trevor Company?

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105.The Trevor Company operates several investment centers. The manager of the Genesis Division
expects the following results for the coming year.

Sales (50,000 units at $20) $1,000,000

Variable costs 600,000

Contribution margin $400,000

Fixed costs 250,000

Profit $150,000

Included in the Genesis Division's variable cost is $7 for a component it buys from an outside
supplier. One of these components is required in each unit of the Genesis Division's product. The

manager of the Genesis Division has just found that she can buy the component from the Solar

Division, another division of Trevor Company. The Solar Division sells 300,000 units of the
component to outsiders at $8 and its variable cost is $4 per unit. Solar offers to sell the
component to Genesis at a price of $6.

Solar has a capacity of 330,000 units. Assume that Genesis wants to buy all of its needs from

one source, so that Solar must supply all or none of the Genesis Division's need for 50,000 units.

Required:

a. Determine the change in income of the Solar Division of supplying the component to Genesis

at $6 as opposed to not supplying Genesis.


b. Determine the change in income of Trevor Company if Solar supplies Genesis at $6.

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106.The Barrel Division of Chemco Inc. has a capacity of 200,000 units and expects the following
results.

Sales (160,000 units at $4) $640,000

Variable costs, at $2 320,000

Fixed costs 260,000

Income $60,000

Tank Division of Chemco Inc. currently purchases 50,000 units of a part for one of its products

from an outside supplier for $4 per unit. The Tank Division's manager believes he could use a
minor variation of the Barrel Division's product instead, and offers to buy the units from the Barrel

Division at $3.50. Making the variation desired by the Tank Division would cost the Barrel
Division an additional $0.50 per unit and would increase the Barrel Division's annual cash fixed
costs by $20,000. Barrel's manager agrees to the deal offered by Tank's manager.

Required:

a. What is the effect of the deal on the Tank Division's income?

b. What is the effect of the deal on the Barrel Division's income?

c. What is the effect of the deal on the income of Chemco Inc. as a whole?

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107.Division A of Spangler Company expects the following results:

To To

Division B Outsiders

Sales (5,000 × $60) $300,000

(25,000 × $72) $1,800,000

Variable costs at $36 180,000 900,000

Contribution margin $120,000 $900,000

Fixed costs, all common,

allocated on the basis of 60,000 300,000


relative units

Profit $60,000 $600,000

Division B has the opportunity to buy its needs of 5,000 units from an outside supplier at $45
each.

Required:

(consider each question independent of each other):

a. Division A refuses to meet the $45 price, sales to outsiders cannot be increased, and Division
B buys from the outside supplier. Compute the effect on the income of Spangler.

b. Division A cannot increase its sales to outsiders, does meet the $45 price, and Division B

continues to buy from A. Compute the effect on the income of Spangler.

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108.Veritron Division of Argos Inc. has a capacity of 100,000 units and expects the following results
for the year.

Sales (90,000 units at $30) $2,700,000

Variable costs, at $20 1,800,000

Fixed costs 700,000

Income $200,000

Magnatron Division of Argos Inc. currently purchases 20,000 units of a part for one of its products
from an outside supplier at $32 per unit. Magnatron's manager believes she could use a minor

variation of Veritron's product instead, and offers to buy the units from Veritron at $26. Making

the variation desired by Magnatron would cost Veritron an additional $5 per unit and would
increase Veritron's annual cash fixed costs by $80,000. Veritron's manager agrees to the deal
offered by Magnatron's manager.

Required:

a. Find the effect of the deal on Magnatron's income.

b. Find the effect of the deal on Veritron's income.

c. Find the effect of the deal on the income of Argos Inc. as a whole.

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109.Division A of Spangler Company expects the following results:

To To

Division B Outsiders

Sales (5,000 × $60) $300,000

(25,000 × $60) $1,500,000

Variable costs at $36 180,000 900,000

Contribution margin $120,000 $600,000

Fixed costs, all common,

allocated on the basis of 60,000 300,000


relative units

Profit $60,000 $300,000

Division B has the opportunity to buy its needs of 5,000 units from an outside supplier at $45
each. Assume that Division A cannot increase sales to outsiders.

Required:

a. What would be the optimal transfer price?

b. Assume that Spangler allows the divisional managers to negotiate transfer prices. What would
the maximum transfer price be?

c. Assume that Spangler allows the divisional managers to negotiate transfer prices. What would

the minimum transfer price be?

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110.Winton Industries evaluates its divisions based on residual income. The Springfield Division has
the capacity to produce 20,000 units of a component. The Springfield Division's variable costs
are $150 per unit; fixed costs are $110 per unit.

The Monnett Division can use the product as a component in one of its products. The Monnett

Division would incur $75 of variable costs to convert the component into its own product which
sells for $300.

Required:

(consider each question independent of each other):

a. Assume the Springfield Division can sell all that it produces for $285 each. The Monnett
Division needs 1,000 units. What is the appropriate transfer price?

b. Assume the Springfield Division can sell 18,000 units at $285. Any excess capacity will be

unused unless the units are purchased by the Monnett Division (which can use up to 1,000
units). What are the minimum and maximum transfer prices?

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111.Table Lake Cruises Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a recreational division that owns and
manages charter boats on the lake and (2) a repair division that operates a division at Rogers.
The repair division works on small gasoline crafts, as well medium size diesel engine boats. The

repair division has an estimated variable cost of $45 per labor-hour. The repair division has a

backlog of work for diesel engines. They charge $125 per hour for labor & overhead, which is
standard for this type of work. The recreational division complained that it could hire its own
repair workers for $85 per hour, including leasing an adequate work area.

Required:

a. What is the minimum transfer price per hour that the repair division should obtain for its

services, assuming it is operating at capacity?

b. What is the maximum transfer price per hour that the recreational division should pay?

c. If the repair division had idle capacity, what is the minimum transfer price that the repair
division should obtain?

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112.The Counter Division can sell externally for $60 per unit. Its variable manufacturing costs are $35
per unit, and its fixed costs are $12 per unit.

Required:

a. What is the optimal transfer price for transferring internally, assuming the division is operating
at capacity?
b. What is the optimal transfer price for transferring internally, assuming the division is operating
at well below capacity?

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113.Salamander Company expects the following results:

Division A Division B

Sales A: (10,000 × $160) $1,600,000

B: (25,000 × $72) $1,800,000

Variable costs 1,360,000 900,000

Contribution margin $240,000 $900,000

Fixed costs 160,000 360,000

Profit $80,000 $540,000

Included in Division A's costs are 10,000 units of a subcomponent purchased from an outside

supplier for $45. The managers have recently initiated negotiations for Division B to supply the

components to Division A. Division B has a total capacity of 40,000 units.

Required:

a. Would the Salamander Company prefer the subcomponent used by A to be purchased


internally from B or from the outside vendor?

b. What would be the maximum and minimum transfer prices?

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114.The Salamander Company expects the following results:

Division A Division B

Sales A: (10,000 × $160) $1,600,000

B: (25,000 × $72) $1,800,000

Variable costs 1,360,000 900,000

Contribution margin $240,000 $900,000

Fixed costs 160,000 360,000

Profit $80,000 $540,000

Included in Division A's costs are 10,000 units of a subcomponent purchased from an outside
supplier for $45. The managers have recently initiated negotiations for Division B to supply the
components to Division A. Division B has a total capacity of 40,000 units.

Required:

a. Prepare a new segment reporting statement for the Salamander Company, assuming an

internal transfer at the maximum transfer price.

b. Prepare a new segment reporting statement for the Salamander Company, assuming an

internal transfer at the minimum transfer price.

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115.Thai Company has two divisions organized as profit centers: Redmon and Tomlin. Thai expects
the following results:

Redmon Tomlin

Sales

Redmon: (10,000 × $16) $1,600,000

Tomlin: (250,000 × $7.20) $1,800,000

Variable costs 1,360,000 1,000,000

Contribution margin $240,000 $800,000

Fixed costs 160,000 460,000

Profit $80,000 $340,000

Included in Redmon's costs are 100,000 units of a subcomponent purchased from an outside

supplier for $4.50. The managers have recently initiated negotiations for Tomlin to supply the

components to Redmon. Tomlin has a total capacity of 400,000 units.

Required:

a. Would Thai Company prefer the subcomponent used by Redmon to be purchased internally

from Tomlin or from the outside vendor? What would be the profit impact?

b. What would be the maximum and minimum transfer prices?

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116.Macon Motor Works has just acquired a new Battery Division. The Battery Division produces a
standard 12-volt battery that it sells to retail outlets at a competitive price of $20. The retail outlets
purchase about 800,000 batteries a year. Since the Battery Division has a capacity of 1,000,000

batteries a year, top management is thinking that it might be wise for the company's Automotive

Division to start purchasing batteries from the newly acquired Battery Division.
The Automotive Division now purchases 300,000 batteries a year from an outside supplier, at a
price of $18 per battery. The discount from the competitive $20 price is a result of the large
quantity purchased.

The Battery Division's cost per battery is shown below:

Direct materials $8

Direct labor 4

Variable overhead 2

Fixed overhead 2

Total cost $16

Fixed costs are based on 1,000,000 batteries.


Both divisions are to be treated as investment centers, and their performance is to be evaluated

by the ROI formula.

Required:

a. What transfer price would you recommend and why?


b. What transfer price would you recommend if the Battery Division is now selling 1,000,000

batteries a year to retail outlets?


c. Suppose the manager of the Battery Division can increase its capacity to 1,500,000 units for
$1,200,000. She then has the option of (a) cutting the retail price to $17.50 with the certainty that

sales will increase to 1,500,000 batteries, or (b) maintaining the outside price of $20.00 for the
800,000 batteries and transferring the 300,000 batteries to the Automotive Division at some price
that would produce the same income for the Battery Division as option (a). What is the minimum
transfer price you would recommend in this situation?

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117.Chattanooga Inc., has two divisions for its metal fabrication business. The Stamp Division stamps
the objects and then transfers them to the Finish Division, which finishes and sells them. Last
year, the Stamp Division had administrative expenses of $40,000. The Finish Division incurred

additional production costs of $120,000 (exclusive of amounts paid to the Stamp Division for the
stamped steel) to process 120,000 units. The Finish Division sold the finished goods for

$500,000 and incurred $80,000 in variable selling and administrative expenses.

Required:

a. Prepare income statements for each division. Use a transfer price of the Stamp Division's total

cost plus 5%. Assume Cost of Goods Sold for the Finish Division is $351,000.

b. Repeat (a), using a transfer price of $2.00 per unit; this is also the market price.

c. Repeat (a), using a negotiated transfer price of $1.90 per unit.


d. Which transfer price results in higher income to Chattanooga Inc.?

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118.Division S sells its product to unrelated parties at a price of $20 per unit. It incurs variable costs
of $7 per unit and has fixed costs of $50,000 per month. Monthly production is generally 10,000
units.

Division B uses Division S's product in its operations. It can purchase the units from Division S at

$20 per unit, but must pay a $1.50 per unit in shipping costs. Alternatively, Division B can buy
from Division S's competition at a delivered price of $21 per unit.

Required:

a. From the company's perspective, should Division B purchase the units internally or externally?
Assume Division S has ample capacity to handle all of Division B's needs.

b. Would your answer change if Division S can sell everything it produces to outside

customers?

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119.Calvin Machinery Company manufactures heavy-duty equipment used in foundries, mining
operations, and similar operations. The company is very decentralized, with various division
managers having control over capital investments and most production decisions. The Cylinder

Division fabricates a component which is used by the Press Division in its production of metal

presses. The Cylinder Division has been selling to the Press Division at a price of $3,000 per
unit. Because of a cost increase, the Cylinder Division wants to increase its price to $3,200, even
though the Press Division can still purchase an equivalent component externally for $3,000. The
following information has been gathered regarding this issue:

Press Division’s annual purchases 100 units

Cylinder Division’s variable costs $2,400 per unit

Cylinder Division’s fixed costs $600 per unit

Required:

a. If the Press Division buys its units externally, the Cylinder Division will have idle capacity for
which there are no alternative uses. Will the company as whole benefit if the Press Division

purchases its units externally for $3,000 per unit?

b. If the Press Division buys its units externally, the Cylinder Division will have idle capacity

which can be used to generate a positive cash flow of $40,000. Will the company as whole
benefit if the Press Division purchases its units externally for $3,000 per unit?

c. Refer to (b). Will your answer change if the price at which the Press Division can buy
externally decreases to $2,700 per unit? Support your answer.

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120.The GrowPro Manufacturing Company has a division (Division P) that produces an essential
ingredient used by the Lawn Division in making lawn fertilizer. Historically, 75% of Division P's
output has been purchased by Division L and 25% has been sold to other fertilizer companies.

The transfer price between Division P and Division L has been based on the outside sales price

less selling and administrative expenses directly applicable to the outside sales. Last year, the
transfer price was $35 per ton; Division P would like the same transfer price this year. However,
the general manager of Division L has found an outside supplier who will sell the ingredient for
$30 per ton. She would like to continue buying from Division P, but Division P's manager does

not want to match the $30 price because he thinks that the margin is too small. Top management
does not get involved in transfer pricing disputes, but rather, allows division managers to make

their own decisions concerning internal or external purchases and sales.


The following information has been gathered regarding Division P's operations last year:

Sales to L External

Sales $4,200,000 $2,000,000

Variable costs 3,000,000 1,000,000

Fixed costs 360,000 120,000

The information presented above is based on selling 120,000 tons internally and 40,000 tons

externally.

Required:

a. If Division L buys externally, Division P can increase its current external sales by only 20,000

tons. What arguments can the general manager of Division L make to help Division P to match
the $30 price?

b. Division L wants to use only one supplier, so Division P will either sell 120,000 tons to Division

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L or nothing. If Division L's capacity is 160,000 tons, how many units does Division P need to sell
to outsiders at $50 per ton before it is better off selling to outsiders? Ignore any additional
marketing costs which would be incurred to increase sales.

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121.The Measurement Division of Flow Co. produces pumps which it sells for $20 each to outside
customers. The Measurement Division's cost per pump, based on normal volume of 500,000
units per period, is shown below:

Variable costs $12

Fixed overhead 3

Total $15

Flow has recently purchased a small company which makes sprinkler systems. This new
company is presently purchasing 100,000 pumps each year from another manufacturer. Since
the Measurement Division has a capacity of 600,000 pumps per year and is now selling only

500,000 pumps to outside customers, management would like the new Sprinkler Division to
begin purchasing its pumps internally. The Sprinkler Division is now paying $20 per pump, less a

10% quantity discount. The Measurement Division could avoid $1 per unit in variable costs on

any sales to the Sprinkler Division.

Required:

a. Treating each division as an independent profit center, within what price range should the
internal sales price fall?

b. Now assume that the Measurement Division is selling 600,000 pumps per year on the outside.

Determine the appropriate transfer price. Show all computations.

(Note: Due to limitations in fonts and word processing software, > and < signs must be used in

this solution rather than "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" signs.)

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122.Finnish Corporation has a Supply Division that does work for other Divisions in the company as

well as for outside customers. The company's Custodial Products Division has asked the Supply
Division to provide it with 10,000 special items each year. The special items would require $15.00

per unit in variable production costs.


The Custodial Products Division has a bid from an outside supplier for the special items at
$29.00 per unit. In order to have time and space to produce the special items, the Supply

Division would have to cut back production of another product - the H56 that it presently is
producing. The H56 sells for $32.00 per unit, and requires $19.00 per unit in variable production
costs. Packaging and shipping costs of the H56 are $3.00 per unit. Packaging and shipping costs

for the new special part would be only $1.00 per unit. The Supply Division is now producing and

selling 40,000 units of the H56 each year. Production and sales of the H56 would drop by 20% if
the new special item is produced for the Custodial Products Division.

Required:

a. What is the range of transfer prices within which both the Divisions' profits would increase as

a result of agreeing to the transfer of 10,000 special parts per year from the Supply Division to
the Custodial Products Division?

b. Is it in the best interests of Finnish Corporation for this transfer to take place? Explain. (Note:
Due to limitations in fonts and word processing software, > and < signs must be used in this
solution rather than "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" signs.)

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123.Division N has asked Division M of the same company to supply it with 10,000 units of part P782
this year to use in one of its products. Division N has received a bid from an outside supplier for
the parts at a price of $25.00 per unit. Division M has the capacity to produce 50,000 units of part

P782 per year. Division M expects to sell 46,000 units of part P782 to outside customers this

year at a price of $26.00 per unit. To fill the order from Division N, Division M would have to cut
back its sales to outside customers. Division M produces part P782 at a variable cost of $17.00
per unit. The cost of packing and shipping the parts for outside customers is $1.00 per unit.
These packing and shipping costs would not have to be incurred on sales of the parts to Division

N.

Required:

a. What is the range of transfer prices within which both the Divisions' profits would increase as

a result of agreeing to the transfer of 10,000 parts this year from Division N to Division M?

b. Is it in the best interests of the overall company for this transfer to take place? Explain. (Note:

Due to limitations in fonts and word processing software, > and < signs must be used in this
solution rather than "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" signs.)

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124.Farris Yard Equipment Corporation manufactures lawn mowers and snow blowers. It also
manufactures engines that are used by the Lawn Mower Assembly Division (LMAD). The Engine
Division (ED) also sells about 40% of its output to the outside market (these are multipurpose

engines). Its annual capacity is 150,000 units and annual output 135,000 units. All engines sold

internally to the LMAD are priced at cost plus 20% markup.


In January 2016, the Snow Blower Assembly Division (SBAD) approached the ED to 'buy'
20,000 engines. Diane Rogers, the controller of ED, computed the costs of manufacturing these
engines as follows:

Total Per unit

Materials $300,000 $15.00

Labor 400,000 20.00

Special equipment 36,000 1.80

Quality inspection 24,000 1.20

Other manufacturing costs 350,000 17.50

Total costs $1,110,000 $55.50

Rogers quoted a price of $66.60 for each engine transferred to the SBAD. Jackson White, the

manager of SBAD, was furious to note that the ED was "trying to make money off a sister
division." He argued that the price must include only the cost of materials, as all other costs will

be incurred irrespective of whether or not SBAD places the order for 20,000 engines. Morton

Downey, the production manager of ED, pointed out that the special equipment will be purchased
only for fulfilling this internal order. Moreover, he argued that inspection must also be done just
like on all other engines; therefore, the inspection costs must also be included. Labor is paid a
flat monthly salary. Other manufacturing costs include both variable and fixed components (in
roughly equal proportion).

Required:

(a) Given that excess capacity exists, what is the minimum price that the ED must charge to the

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SBAD?
(b) What are the pros and cons of internal sourcing?

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125.Allentown Division of Sparks Inc. transfers its product to the Youngstown Division. The
Youngstown Division can either buy the item internally or externally (cost = $73 each). The
Allentown Division has just completed its annual cost update as follows:

Direct material $25.00

Direct labor 18.00

Variable manufacturing
6.00
overhead

Fixed manufacturing
3.50
overhead

Variable selling expenses 4.00

Fixed selling and


8.50
administrative expenses

Total costs $65.00

Desired return 14.00

Sales price $79.00

The Allentown Division is operating at 60 percent of its 400,000 unit capacity.

Required:

1) What is the minimum transfer price the Allentown Division should charge for internal

transfers?
2) What is the maximum price the Youngstown Division would be willing to pay?
3) Why should the Allentown Division reduce its price to the Youngstown Division?

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126.The following costs exist for Wiring Division of Corriander Corp.

Direct material $67,500

Direct labor 45,000

Manufacturing overhead (25%


45,000
variable)

Operating expenses (30% variable) 75,000

Output 30,000 Units

The output of the Wiring Division, which sells for $10/unit externally, is used by the Electrical
Harness Division.

Required:

Compute the transfer price for a unit of the Wiring Division's output using:

1) market price

2) variable production cost plus 30 percent

3) absorption cost plus 25 percent

4) variable cost
5) total cost plus 10 percent

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127.SEMO Inc. has a division located in Spain and another in the U.S. The Spanish division produces
a part needed for the product made by the U.S. division. There is substantial excess capacity in
the Spanish division. The tax rate of the Spanish division is 35% and U.S. division tax rate is

30%.

The part sells externally for $75 and the Spanish division's manufacturing costs are:

Direct material $32

Direct labor 12

Variable overhead 6

Fixed overhead 19

Required:

1) What would be the lowest acceptable transfer price for the Spanish division?
2) What would be the highest acceptable transfer price for the U.S. division?

3) What would be the transfer price that would be the best for SEMO Inc. and why?

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128.The following information is available for the two divisions of MAC Co.:

Division A

Selling price to outside market $55

Standard unit-level costs 35

Division B

Selling price of finished product $95

Standard unit-level costs for Division B 25

Division A has no excess production capacity.

Required:

1) In order to ensure the best use of the productive capacity of A, what transfer price should be
set by Division A and what effect does this transfer price have on the overall margin for the

company? Is the answer goal congruent under the general rule?

2) Should Division B accept a special order for its product if the selling price is reduced to $70.

Use your answer from #1 and explain.

3) Would your answer to #2 change if Division A had excess capacity? Explain.

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129.Division X has asked Division K of the Easton Company to supply it with 5,000 units of part L433
this year to use in one of its products. Division X has received a bid from an outside supplier for
the parts at a price of $26.00 per unit. Division K has the capacity to produce 30,000 units of part

L433 per year. Division K expects to sell 26,000 units of part L433 to outside customers this year

at a price of $30.00 per unit. To fill the order from Division X, Division K would have to cut back
its sales to outside customers. Division K produces part L433 at a variable cost of $21.00 per
unit. The cost of packing and shipping the parts for outside customers is $2.00 per unit. These
packing and shipping costs would not have to be incurred on sales of the parts to Division X.

Required:

a. What is the range of transfer prices within which both the Divisions' profits would increase as

a result of agreeing to the transfer of 5,000 parts this year from Division X to Division K?

b. Is it in the best interests of the overall Easton Company for this transfer to take place?
Explain.

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130.Pomme Corporation has a Motor Division that does work for other Divisions in the company as
well as for outside customers. The company's Equipment Division has asked the Motor Division
to provide it with 2,000 special motors each year. The special motors would require $17.00 per

unit in variable production costs. The Equipment Division has a bid from an outside supplier for

the special motors at $28.00 per unit. In order to have time and space to produce the special
motor, the Motor Division would have to cut back production of another motor - the J789 that it
presently is producing. The J789 sells for $34.00 per unit, and requires $22.00 per unit in variable
production costs. Packaging and shipping costs of the J789 are $4.00 per unit. Packaging and

shipping costs for the new special motor would be only $0.50 per unit. The Motor Division is now
producing and selling 10,000 units of the J789 each year. Production and sales of the J789

would drop by 10% if the new special motor is produced for the Equipment Division.

Required:

a. What is the range of transfer prices within which both the Divisions' profits would increase as a

result of agreeing to the transfer of 2,000 special motors per year from the Motor Division to the
Equipment Division?

b. Is it in the best interests of Pomme Corporation for this transfer to take place? Explain.

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131.Randolph Company has two divisions organized as profit centers: Redmon and Tomlin.
Randolph expects the following results:

Redmon Tomlin

Sales

Redmon: (10,000 × $16) $1,600,000

Tomlin: (250,000 × $7.20) $1,800,000

Variable costs 1,360,000 1,000,000

Contribution margin $240,000 $800,000

Fixed costs 160,000 460,000

Profit $80,000 $340,000

Included in Redmon's costs are 100,000 units of a subcomponent purchased from an outside

supplier for $4.50. The managers have recently initiated negotiations for Tomlin to supply the

components to Redmon. Tomlin has a total capacity of 400,000 units.

Required:

a. Prepare a new segment reporting statement for Randolph, assuming an internal transfer at the

maximum transfer price.

b. Prepare a new segment reporting statement for Randolph, assuming an internal transfer at
the minimum transfer price.

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132.Why is transfer pricing only a concern for profit or investment centers and not for cost or revenue
centers?

133.Explain the general principle for determining the optimal transfer price.

134.What is meant by a dual transfer pricing system? What are some advantages and disadvantages
of it?

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135.What are the limitations of market-based transfer prices?

136.What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a negotiated transfer price?

137.Why is transfer pricing important in tax accounting?

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138.What are the principal items that must be disclosed about each segment and how does this differ
if a company has significant foreign operations?

139.Hartland Company has used market price as its transfer price for the Sterling Division for many

years with no problems. This year, because of changes in the economy, the demand for its final

product has dropped along with the price.

Required:

Explain the problems of basing the transfer prices on distress market prices and possible

solutions to the problems.

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140.Midland Inc. has two divisions: production and marketing, which it treats as profit centers.
Because the production division has no marketing capabilities, it does not have a traditional
market price to consider and the company does not want to use negotiation.

Required:

Discuss the following cost-based transfer prices along with problems that might exist for each.

1) Standard unit-level cost.


2) Absorption (full) cost.
3) Actual cost.

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141.Mr. Massee, the Vice President of Production is looking at two of the Divisions that report to him.
These divisions are viewed as profit centers by the company. He has called in the head of Brake
Division A, which provides a part used by Wheel Division, because he has noticed that Wheel

Division is going to an external supplier for the part. Mr. Omsby, the head of the Brake Division,

tells him that he has set the transfer price at $38 per part even though the external price is $33
per part. The standard unit-level cost is $22. "I have set the $38 price because I am operating
with no excess capacity and do not want to have the internal transfer to the Wheel Division. I
have some good external customers and do not want to lose them by selling internally. If I had

excess capacity, I would be willing sell to the Wheel Division at a lower price."
Mr. Massee says that he has to think about this situation because something doesn't seem right

to him. After Mr. Omsby leaves the office, he calls his friend in the controller's department for
some help.

Required:

You are that friend. Explain to Mr. Massee the differences in transfer pricing when there is no
excess capacity and when there is excess capacity and what Mr. Omsby is doing wrong.

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142.Ms. Clarke, one of the marketing managers, has come to the meeting with a number of reports
about one of her products. The Vice President of Marketing sees her agitation and asks her what
the problem is. "Well, the product made by the East Coast Division is losing sales even after the

price had been lowered drastically. The manager of the division is threatening to close because

of the reduced demand."


The Vice President of Marketing asks why the lowered prices are a problem and Ms. Clarke says
that, according to the manager, the price used to transfer the goods to Southern Division are
based on market price and, with the lowered market price, the unit-level costs are no longer

being covered and he is losing money on every transfer as well as every third-party sale.

Required:

Explain further to the Vice President of Marketing the issues involved in transfer pricing when

there are distressed market prices.

143.Briefly discuss some of the general issues of multinational transfer pricing.

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144.During the current year Tuesday Company's foreign Division A incurred production costs of $4
million for units that are transferred to its other foreign Division, B. Costs in Division B, outside of
the costs of production of the final product are $8 million. These are third-party costs. Sales

revenue for the final product for Division B is $30 million. Other companies in the same country

import a similar type of part as Division B at a cost of $7 million. Tuesday has set its transfer
price at $14 million, justifying this price because of the special controls it has on the operations in
Division A as well as its special manufacturing method. The tax rate in the country where Division
A is located is 40% while the tax rate for Division B's country is 70%.

Required:

1) What would Tuesday's total tax liability for both divisions be if it used the $7 million transfer

price?

2) What would the liability be if it used the $14 million transfer price?

145.How do import duties affect transfer pricing?

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146.Space Inc. has just purchased a foreign subsidiary that makes a component used by one of the
domestic divisions. Ms. Jenner, the controller, has been asked about issues that should be
considered in establishing a transfer price for the new subsidiary. Since this is Space's first foray

into the multinational arena, there is little to no expertise in international issues in the company.

Ms. Jenner has told her boss that she will get back to him with a report as to the issues to be
considered. She then calls a friend of hers at a branch of one of the big-4 CPA firms that deals
with international issues for some help.

Required:

What is the basic information that Ms. Jenner will be given by her friend?

147.Briefly discuss transfer prices in relation to external segment reporting under GAAP.

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Chapter 15 Transfer Pricing Answer Key

True / False Questions

1. A transfer price is the value assigned to the transfer of goods or services between divisions
within the same organization.

TRUE

This is the definition of transfer pricing.

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Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-01 Explain the basic issues associated with transfer pricing.
Topic: What is Transfer Pricing and Why is it Important?

2. Transfer prices are not used to record the exchange between two cost centers within the same

organization.

TRUE

Transfer prices are used for profit and investment centers. Cost centers are not concerned

with profits.

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Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-01 Explain the basic issues associated with transfer pricing.
Topic: What is Transfer Pricing and Why is it Important?

3. Transfer prices cannot be used for decision making, product costing, or performance

evaluation.

FALSE

Transfer pricing is used in decision making, product costing, and performance evaluation.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-01 Explain the basic issues associated with transfer pricing.
Topic: What is Transfer Pricing and Why is it Important?

4. From an organization's viewpoint, transfer prices have no effect on total profits assuming the

transfer occurs between the two responsibility centers.

TRUE

Total profits are unaffected, divisional profits will have effects but they off-set.

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Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-01 Explain the basic issues associated with transfer pricing.
Topic: What is Transfer Pricing and Why is it Important?

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5. If a transfer has no effect on divisional profit, risk-neutral managers will be indifferent between
making the transfer or not.

TRUE

Since there is no effect on profit, there is no risk.

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Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

6. If an intermediate market exists but divisions are prohibited from buying or selling from the

outside, the intermediate market can be ignored in determining the optimal transfer price.

TRUE

Since the divisions are prohibited, the outside price is irrelevant.

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Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

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7. A perfect intermediate market exists if buyers can buy and sellers can sell outside of the
organization.

FALSE

A perfect market exists when buyers and sellers can have unlimited transactions with no
impact on prices.

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Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

8. When a perfect intermediate market exists, the optimal transfer price is the intermediate

market price.

TRUE

In a perfect market, the market price is optimal.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

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9. In general, the optimal transfer price for a division is the sum of its outlay costs and the
opportunity cost of not transferring its goods to another division.

FALSE

It is the opportunity cost of the resource at the point of the transfer. Normally this is the lost
contribution by not selling outside.

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Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Optimal Transfer Price: A General Principle

10. The use of an optimal transfer price eliminates potential conflicts between an organization's

interests and the divisional manager's interest.

FALSE

Conflicts may be reduced, but will not be eliminated.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: How to Help Managers Achieve Their Goals While Achieving the Organization's Goals

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11. A market price-based transfer price policy allows the selling division to determine the price for
transfers between divisions within the same organization.

FALSE

The market determines the price, not the division.

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Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Centrally Established Transfer Price Policies

12. A selling division at capacity is indifferent between selling to outsiders and transferring inside
at the market price.

TRUE

The profit would be the same in either case.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Centrally Established Transfer Price Policies

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13. When actual costs are used as the basis for a transfer, inefficiencies of the selling division are
transferred to the buying division.

TRUE

The selling division has no incentive to minimize the inefficiencies since they can all be passed
on.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Centrally Established Transfer Price Policies

14. A transfer made at cost does not motivate the selling division to transfer its goods or services

internally.

TRUE

There is no profit for the selling division.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Centrally Established Transfer Price Policies

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15. In general, negotiated transfer prices fall in a range between the selling division's differential
costs and the buying division's market price.

TRUE

The seller's differential costs are the lowest the seller would accept; the buyer's market price is
the highest the buyer would be willing to pay.

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Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Negotiating the Transfer Price

16. In the United States, more companies use cost-based transfer prices than market-based

transfer prices.

TRUE

Numerous surveys have shown this to be true.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-04 Explain the economic consequences of multinational transfer prices.
Topic: Global Practices

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17. In interstate transactions, transfers can reduce an organization's tax liability when the selling
division is in a lower tax jurisdiction than the buying division.

TRUE

The transfers can in effect move profits from one jurisdiction to another.

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Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-04 Explain the economic consequences of multinational transfer prices.
Topic: Multinational Transfer Pricing

18. Tax avoidance is unethical when inflated transfer prices are used in international transactions

to shift profits from a division in one country to a division in another country.

TRUE

The key is "inflated" prices. Market based prices would not be unethical.

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Learning Objective: 15-04 Explain the economic consequences of multinational transfer prices.
Topic: Multinational Transfer Pricing

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19. An organization that has significant foreign operations must disclose how its transfer prices
are established between domestic and foreign divisions.

TRUE

This is a requirement of GAAP.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-05 Describe the role of transfer prices in segment reporting.
Topic: Segment Reporting

20. The GAAP financial reporting rules for segments require that all companies use transfer prices

based on market prices.

FALSE

GAAP does not specify what method must be used for transfer pricing except for the oil and

gas industry.

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Learning Objective: 15-05 Describe the role of transfer prices in segment reporting.
Topic: Segment Reporting

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Multiple Choice Questions

21. Which of the following statements is(are) false?

(A) From an organization's viewpoint, transfer prices have no effect on total profits assuming
the transfer occurs between the two responsibility centers.
(B) A transfer price is the value assigned to the transfer of goods or services between

divisions within the same organization.

A. Only A is false.

B. Only B is false.

C. Both A and B are false.

D. Neither A nor B is false.

Transfer prices do not affect total profits, (B) is the definition of transfer price.

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Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-01 Explain the basic issues associated with transfer pricing.
Topic: What is Transfer Pricing and Why is it Important?

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22. Which of the following responsibility centers is affected by the use of market-based transfer
prices?

A. Cost center.

B. Profit center.

C. Revenue center.

D. Production center.

Transfer prices affect only profit or investment centers.

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Learning Objective: 15-01 Explain the basic issues associated with transfer pricing.
Topic: What is Transfer Pricing and Why is it Important?

23. Transfer prices would not be used by:

A. production centers.

B. investment centers.

C. profit centers.

D. cost centers.

Cost centers are not responsible for profits and don't have transfer pricing issues.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy

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Learning Objective: 15-01 Explain the basic issues associated with transfer pricing.
Topic: What is Transfer Pricing and Why is it Important?

24. A division can sell externally for $60 per unit. Its variable manufacturing costs are $35 per unit,

and its variable marketing costs are $12 per unit. What is the opportunity cost of transferring

internally, assuming the division is operating at capacity?

A. $13.

B. $25.

C. $35.

D. $47.

($60 - $35 - $12) = $13

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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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25. A division can sell externally for $60 per unit. Its variable manufacturing costs are $35 per unit,
and its variable marketing costs are $12 per unit. What is the optimal transfer price for
transferring internally, assuming the division is operating at capacity?

A. $12.

B. $35.

C. $47.

D. $60.

Operating at capacity: market price = $60

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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

26. Division A has variable manufacturing costs of $50 per unit and fixed costs of $10 per unit.
Assuming that Division A is operating at capacity, what is the opportunity cost of an internal

transfer when the market price is $75?

A. $20.

B. $25.

C. $50.

D. $60.

$75 - $50 = $25

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Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

27. Division A has variable manufacturing costs of $50 per unit and fixed costs of $10 per unit.
Assuming that Division A is operating at capacity, what is the optimal transfer price of an

internal transfer when the market price is $75?

A. $20.

B. $25.

C. $50.

D. $75.

Operating at capacity: market price = $75

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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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28. Division A has variable manufacturing costs of $50 per unit and fixed costs of $10 per unit.
Assuming that Division A is operating significantly below capacity, what is the optimal transfer
price of an internal transfer when the market price is $75?

A. $20.

B. $25.

C. $50.

D. $60.

Below capacity: variable cost = $50

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Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

29. Division B has variable manufacturing costs of $50 per unit and fixed costs of $10 per unit.
Assuming that Division B is operating significantly below capacity, what is the opportunity cost

of an internal transfer when the market price is $75?

A. $0.

B. $25.

C. $50.

D. $60.

There are no opportunity costs when operating below capacity.

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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

30. Dockside Enterprises Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a management division that owns and
manages bulk carriers on the Great Lakes and (2) a repair division that operates a dry dock in

Tampa, Florida. The repair division works on company ships, as well as other large-hull ships.
The repair division has an estimated variable cost of $37 per labor-hour. The repair division
has a backlog of work for outside ships. They charge $70.00 per hour for labor, which is

standard for this type of work. The management division complained that it could hire its own

repair workers for $45.00 per hour, including leasing an adequate work area.

What is the minimum transfer price per hour that the repair division should obtain for its

services, assuming it is operating at capacity?

A. $33.00.

B. $37.00.

C. $45.00.

D. $70.00.

When at capacity, the market price of $70 is the appropriate transfer price.

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Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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31. Dockside Enterprises Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a management division that owns and
manages bulk carriers on the Great Lakes and (2) a repair division that operates a dry dock in
Tampa, Florida. The repair division works on company ships, as well as other large-hull ships.

The repair division has an estimated variable cost of $37 per labor-hour. The repair division
has a backlog of work for outside ships. They charge $70.00 per hour for labor, which is

standard for this type of work. The management division complained that it could hire its own
repair workers for $45.00 per hour, including leasing an adequate work area.

What is the maximum transfer price per hour that the management division should pay?

A. $33.00.

B. $37.00.

C. $45.00.

D. $70.00.

Outside price of $45

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Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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32. Dockside Enterprises Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a management division that owns and
manages bulk carriers on the Great Lakes and (2) a repair division that operates a dry dock in
Tampa, Florida. The repair division works on company ships, as well as other large-hull ships.

The repair division has an estimated variable cost of $37 per labor-hour. The repair division
has a backlog of work for outside ships. They charge $70.00 per hour for labor, which is

standard for this type of work. The management division complained that it could hire its own
repair workers for $45.00 per hour, including leasing an adequate work area.

If the repair division had idle capacity, what is the minimum transfer price that the repair
division should obtain?

A. $33.00.

B. $37.00.

C. $45.00.

D. $70.00.

The selling division's variable cost of $37 is the appropriate transfer price.

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Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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33. You have been provided with the following information for Division X of a decentralized
company:

Selling price $90

Variable cost per unit 66

Fixed cost per unit 20

Sales volume (units) 22,500

Capacity (units) 25,000

Division Y of the same company would like to purchase all of its units internally. Division Y

needs 6,000 units each period and currently pays $84 per unit to an outside firm. What is the
lowest price that Division X could accept from Division Y? (Assume that Division Y wants to

use a sole supplier and will not purchase less than 6,000 from a supplier.)

A. $90.

B. $84.

C. $80.

D. $66.

[$66(2,500) + $90(3,500)]/6,000 = $80

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

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34. When the selling division in an internal transfer has unsatisfied demand from outside
customers for the product that is being transferred, then the lowest acceptable transfer price
as far as the selling division is concerned is:

A. the variable cost of producing a unit of product.

B. the full absorption cost of producing a unit of product.

C. the market price charged to outside customers, less costs saved by transferring internally.

D. the amount that the purchasing division would have to pay an outside seller to acquire a
similar product for its use.

Unsatisfied demand is the key for the division and firm to maximize profits.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


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Topic: Optimal Transfer Price: A General Principle

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35. Division A makes a part that it sells to customers outside of the company. Data concerning this
part appear below:

Selling price to outside customers $75

Variable cost per unit $50

Total fixed costs $400,000

Capacity in units 25,000

Division B of the same company would like to use the part manufactured by Division A in one
of its products. Division B currently purchases a similar part made by an outside company for

$70 per unit and would substitute the part made by Division A. Division B requires 5,000 units

of the part each period. Division A can already sell all of the units it can produce on the outside

market. What should be the lowest acceptable transfer price from the perspective of Division

A?

A. $75.

B. $66.

C. $16.

D. $50.

See calculation below.

Since Division A can sell all of the units it can produce on the outside market ($75 per unit), it
would unfairly penalize Division A to be required to sell to Division B at any price less than it
can sell for on the outside.

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

36. Part 43X costs the Southern Division of Norris Corporation $26 to make - direct materials are
$10, direct labor is $4, variable manufacturing overhead is $9, and fixed manufacturing

overhead is $3. Southern Division sells Part 43X to other companies for $30. The Northern
Division of Norris Corporation can use Part 43X in one of its products. The Southern Division

has enough idle capacity to produce all of the units of Part 43X that the Northern Division
would require. What is the lowest transfer price at which the Southern Division should be

willing to sell Part 43X to the Northern Division?

A. $30.

B. $26.

C. $23.

D. $27.

See calculation below.

The lowest price the part should be sold for is the total amount of variable costs that would be
incurred ($10 + $4 + $9 = $23).

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

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37. The Wheel Division of Frankov Corporation has the capacity for making 75,000 wheel sets per
year and regularly sells 60,000 each year on the outside market. The regular sales price is
$100 per wheel set, and the variable production cost per unit is $65. The Retail Division of

Frankov Corporation currently buys 30,000 wheel sets (of the kind made by the Wheel
Division) yearly from an outside supplier at a price of $90 per wheel set. If the Retail Division

were to buy the 30,000 wheel sets it needs annually from the Wheel Division at $87 per wheel
set, the change in annual net operating income for the company as a whole, compared to what

it is currently, would be:

A. $600,000.

B. $225,000.

C. $750,000.

D. $135,000.

See calculation below.

Price paid by the Retail Division for


$2,700,000
30,000 wheel sets

Less: Cost for Wheel Division to


(1,950,000)
produce 30,000 wheel sets × $65

Less: Lost profit for the Wheel Division

to cut back production ($100 - $65 ×


(525,000)
15,000 wheel sets)

Change in net annual operating


$225,000
income for the company as a whole

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Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

38. Division X makes a part that it sells to customers outside of the company. Data concerning this

part appear below:

Selling price to outside


$50
customers

Variable cost per unit $30

Total fixed costs $400,000

Capacity in units 25,000

Division Y of the same company would like to use the part manufactured by Division X in one

of its products. Division Y currently purchases a similar part made by an outside company for

$49 per unit and would substitute the part made by Division X. Division Y requires 5,000 units

of the part each period. Division X has ample excess capacity to handle all of Division Y's
needs without any increase in fixed costs and without cutting into outside sales. According to

the formula in the text, what is the lowest acceptable transfer price from the standpoint of the

selling division?

A. $50.

B. $49.

C. $46.

D. $30.

See calculation below.

Since Division X has ample excess capacity, the lowest price the part should be sold for is the

total amount of variable costs that would be incurred, or $30 per unit.

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Difficulty: 3 Hard
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Topic: Applying the General Principle

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39. Division A makes a part that it sells to customers outside of the company. Data concerning this
part appear below:

Selling price to outside


$40
customers

Variable cost per unit $30

Total fixed costs $10,000

Capacity in units 20,000

Division B of the same company would like to use the part manufactured by Division A in one

of its products. Division B currently purchases a similar part made by an outside company for

$38 per unit and would substitute the part made by Division A. Division B requires 5,000 units

of the part each period. Division A has ample capacity to produce the units for Division B
without any increase in fixed costs and without cutting into sales to outside customers. If

Division A sells to Division B rather than to outside customers, the variable cost be unit would
be $1 lower. What should be the lowest acceptable transfer price from the perspective of

Division A?

A. $40.

B. $38.

C. $30.

D. $29.

See calculation below.

Since Division X has ample excess capacity, the lowest price the part should be sold for is the
total amount of variable costs that would be incurred, or $29 per unit ($30 - $1).

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Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

40. The Raisin Division of Trail Mix Foods, Inc. had the following operating results last year:

Sales (150,000 pounds of raisins) $60,000

Variable expenses 37,500

Contribution margin 22,500

Fixed expenses 12,000

Profit $10,500

Raisin expects identical operating results this year. The Raisin Division has the ability to

produce and sell 200,000 pounds of raisins annually.

Assume that the Peanut Division of Trail Mix Foods wants to purchase an additional 20,000
pounds of raisins from the Raisin Division. Raisin will be able to increase its profit by accepting

any transfer price above:

A. $0.40 per pound.

B. $0.08 per pound.

C. $0.15 per pound.

D. $0.25 per pound.

See calculation below.

Variable expenses of $37,500 ÷ 150,000 pounds = $0.25 per pound.

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

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41. The Raisin Division of Trail Mix Foods, Inc. had the following operating results last year:

Sales (150,000 pounds of raisins) $60,000

Variable expenses 37,500

Contribution margin 22,500

Fixed expenses 12,000

Profit $10,500

Raisin expects identical operating results this year. The Raisin Division has the ability to
produce and sell 200,000 pounds of raisins annually.

Assume that the Raisin Division is currently operating at its capacity of 200,000 pounds of

raisins. Also assume again that the Peanut Division wants to purchase an additional 20,000

pounds of raisins from the Raisin Division. Under these conditions, what amount per pound of
raisins would the Raisin Division have to charge Peanut in order to maintain its current profit?

A. $0.40 per pound.

B. $0.08 per pound.

C. $0.15 per pound.

D. $0.25 per pound.

See calculation below.

Sales (200,000 pounds of raisins × $0.40) $80,000

Variable expenses ($0.25 per pound) 50,000

Contribution margin 30,000

Fixed expenses 12,000

Profit $18,000

Since the Raisin Division is already operating at capacity, it would have to charge the Peanut

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Division $0.40 per pound to maintain its current profit.

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

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42. The Gear Division makes a part with the following characteristics:

Production capacity 25,000 units

Selling price to outside customers $18

Variable cost per unit $11

Fixed cost, total $100,000

Motor Division of the same company would like to purchase 10,000 units each period from the
Gear Division. The Motor Division now purchases the part from an outside supplier at a price

of $17 each.

Suppose the Gear Division has ample excess capacity to handle all of the Motor Division's

needs without any increase in fixed costs and without cutting into sales to outside customers.
If the Gear Division refuses to accept the $17 price internally and the Motor Division continues

to buy from the outside supplier, the company as a whole will be:

A. worse off by $70,000 each period.

B. better off by $10,000 each period.

C. worse off by $60,000 each period.

D. worse off by $20,000 each period.

See calculations below.

Differential of 10,000 units at the outside customer price ($17) and the cost price ($11) of $6,
for a total of $60,000 worse off each period.

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43. The Gear Division makes a part with the following characteristics:

Production capacity 25,000 units

Selling price to outside customers $18

Variable cost per unit $11

Fixed cost, total $100,000

Motor Division of the same company would like to purchase 10,000 units each period from the
Gear Division. The Motor Division now purchases the part from an outside supplier at a price

of $17 each.

Suppose that the Gear Division is operating at capacity and can sell all of its output to outside

customers. If the Gear Division sells the parts to Motor Division at $17 per unit, the company

as a whole will be:

A. better off by $10,000 each period.

B. worse off by $20,000 each period.

C. worse off by $10,000 each period.

D. There will be no change in the status of the company as a whole.

See calculation below.

Differential of 10,000 units at the outside supplier price ($18) and the price to Motor Division
($17) of $1, for a total of $10,000 worse off each period.

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

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44. Division A produces a part with the following characteristics:

Capacity in units 50,000

Selling price per unit $30

Variable costs per unit $18

Fixed costs per unit $3

Division B, another division in the company, would like to buy this part from Division A.
Division B is presently purchasing the part from an outside source at $28 per unit. If Division A

sells to Division B, $1 in variable costs can be avoided.

Suppose Division A is currently operating at capacity and can sell all of the units it produces

on the outside market for its usual selling price. From the point of view of Division A, any sales

to Division B should be priced no lower than:

A. $27.

B. $29.

C. $20.

D. $28.

See calculation below.

Since Division A is already operating at capacity, it would have to charge Division B $29 per
unit ($30 less the $1 in variable cost that can be avoided).

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45. Division A produces a part with the following characteristics:

Capacity in units 50,000

Selling price per unit $30

Variable costs per unit $18

Fixed costs per unit $3

Division B, another division in the company, would like to buy this part from Division A.
Division B is presently purchasing the part from an outside source at $28 per unit. If Division A

sells to Division B, $1 in variable costs can be avoided.

Suppose that Division A has ample idle capacity to handle all of Division B's needs without

any increase in fixed costs and without cutting into its sales to outside customers. From the

point of view of Division A, any sales to Division B should be priced no lower than:

A. $29.

B. $30.

C. $18.

D. $17.

See calculation below.

Since Division A has excess operating capacity, it should charge Division B $17 per unit ($18
variable cost per unit less the $1 in variable cost that can be avoided).

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

46. The Pillar Division of the Gothic Building Company produces basic pillars which can be sold to
outside customers or sold to the Lantern Division of the Gothic Company. Last year, the

Lantern Division bought all of its 25,000 pillars from Pillar at $1.50 each. The following data
are available for last year's activities of the Pillar Division:

300,000
Capacity in units
pillars

Selling price per pillar to outside


$1.75
customers

Variable costs per pillar $0.90

Fixed costs, total $150,000

The total fixed costs would be the same for all the alternatives considered below.

Suppose there is ample capacity so that transfers of the pillars to the Lantern Division do not
cut into sales to outside customers. What is the lowest transfer price that would not reduce the

profits of the Pillar Division?

A. $0.90.

B. $1.35.

C. $1.41.

D. $1.75.

See calculations below.

Since the Pillar Division has excess operating capacity, it should charge the Lantern Division
the variable cost of $0.90 per unit.

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

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47. The Pillar Division of the Gothic Building Company produces basic pillars which can be sold to
outside customers or sold to the Lantern Division of the Gothic Company. Last year, the
Lantern Division bought all of its 25,000 pillars from Pillar at $1.50 each. The following data

are available for last year's activities of the Pillar Division:

300,000
Capacity in units
pillars

Selling price per pillar to outside


$1.75
customers

Variable costs per pillar $0.90

Fixed costs, total $150,000

The total fixed costs would be the same for all the alternatives considered below.

Suppose the transfers of pillars to the Lantern Division cut into sales to outside customers by

15,000 units. What is the lowest transfer price that would not reduce the profits of the Pillar

Division?

A. $0.90.

B. $1.35.

C. $1.41.

D. $1.75.

See calculation below.

Loss of existing outside sales at a

contribution margin of $0.85 ($1.75 - $12,750

$0.90) × 15,000 units

÷ Units to be supplied to the Lantern


25,000
Division

Additional cost per unit for the Lantern $0.51

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Division

Current cost ($0.90) + Additional costs


$1.41
($0.51)

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48. The Pillar Division of the Gothic Building Company produces basic pillars which can be sold to
outside customers or sold to the Lantern Division of the Gothic Company. Last year, the
Lantern Division bought all of its 25,000 pillars from Pillar at $1.50 each. The following data

are available for last year's activities of the Pillar Division:

300,000
Capacity in units
pillars

Selling price per pillar to outside


$1.75
customers

Variable costs per pillar $0.90

Fixed costs, total $150,000

The total fixed costs would be the same for all the alternatives considered below.

Suppose the transfers of pillars to the Lantern Division cut into sales to outside customers by
15,000 units. Further suppose that an outside supplier is willing to provide the Lantern Division
with basic pillars at $1.45 each. If the Lantern Division had chosen to buy all of its pillars from

the outside supplier instead of the Pillar Division, the change in net operating income for the
company as a whole would have been:

A. $1,250 decrease.

B. $10,250 increase.

C. $1,000 decrease.

D. $13,750 decrease.

See calculation below.

The incremental change in net operating income to the company as a whole would be 25,000
units @ $0.04 per unit, for a total of $1,000 in decreased profits.

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Difficulty: 3 Hard
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Topic: Applying the General Principle

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49. The Stake Division of the Outdoor Lumination Company produces stakes which can be sold to
outside customers or transferred to the Solar Light Division of the Outdoor Lumination
Company. Last year, the Solar Light Division bought 50,000 stakes from the Stake Division at

$2.50 each. The following data are available for last year's activities in the Stake Division:

400,000
Capacity in units
stakes

350,000
Quantity sold to outside customers
stakes

Selling price per stake to outside


$3.00
customers

Total variable costs per stake $2.00

Fixed operating costs $200,000

In order to sell 50,000 stakes to the Solar Light Division, the Stake Division must give up

sales of 30,000 stakes to outside customers. That is, the Stake Division could sell 380,000
stakes each year to outside customers (rather than only 350,000 stakes as shown above) if it

were not making sales to the Solar Light Division.

According to the formula in the text, what is the lowest acceptable transfer price from the
viewpoint of the selling division?

A. $2.50.

B. $2.00.

C. $2.60.

D. $3.00.

See calculation below.

Loss of existing outside sales at a $30,000

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contribution margin of $1 ($3.00 - $2.00) ×

30,000 units

÷ Units to be supplied to the Solar Light


50,000
Division

Additional cost per unit for the Solar Light


$0.60
Division

Current cost ($2.00) + Additional costs


$2.60
($0.60)

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50. The Stake Division of the Outdoor Lumination Company produces stakes which can be sold to
outside customers or transferred to the Solar Light Division of the Outdoor Lumination
Company. Last year, the Solar Light Division bought 50,000 stakes from the Stake Division at

$2.50 each. The following data are available for last year's activities in the Stake Division:

400,000
Capacity in units
stakes

350,000
Quantity sold to outside customers
stakes

Selling price per stake to outside


$3.00
customers

Total variable costs per stake $2.00

Fixed operating costs $200,000

In order to sell 50,000 stakes to the Solar Light Division, the Stake Division must give up

sales of 30,000 stakes to outside customers. That is, the Stake Division could sell 380,000
stakes each year to outside customers (rather than only 350,000 stakes as shown above) if it

were not making sales to the Solar Light Division.

Suppose that last year an outside supplier would have been willing to provide the Solar Light
Division with the basic stakes at $2.10 each. If the Solar Light Division had chosen to buy all of

its stakes from the outside supplier instead of the Stake Division, the change in net operating

income for the company as a whole would have been:

A. $45,000 increase.

B. $20,000 decrease.

C. $20,000 increase.

D. $25,000 increase.

See calculation below.

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Additional unit cost ($0.10) of purchasing from outside vendor × 50,000 units ($5,000)

Additional profit on 30,000 units that would have been made to outside customers that had to

be foregone by servicing the requirements of the Solar Light Division at a contribution margin
30,000
of $1 ($3.00 - $2.00) × 30,000 units

Increase in net income for the company as a whole $25,000

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51. Division X makes a part that it sells to customers outside of the company. Data concerning this
part appear below:

Selling price to outside customers $50

Variable cost per unit $30

Total fixed costs $400,000

Capacity in units 25,000

Division Y of the same company would like to use the part manufactured by Division X in one

of its products. Division Y currently purchases a similar part made by an outside company for
$49 per unit and would substitute the part made by Division X. Division Y requires 5,000 units

of the part each period. Division X can sell all of the units it makes to outside customers. What
is the lowest acceptable transfer price from the standpoint of the selling division?

A. $50.

B. $49.

C. $46.

D. $30.

See calculation below.

(Note: Due to limitations in fonts and word processing software, > and < signs must be used in
this solution rather than "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" signs.)
From the perspective of the selling division, profits would increase as a result of the transfer if,
and only if:

Transfer price > Variable cost + Opportunity cost


The opportunity cost is the contribution margin on the lost sales, divided by the number of
units transferred:

Opportunity cost = [($50 - $30) × 5,000] ÷ 5,000 = $20


Therefore, Transfer price > $30 + $20 = $50.

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52. Division X of Operandi Corporation makes and sells a single product which is used by
manufacturers of fork lift trucks. Presently it sells 12,000 units per year to outside customers at
$24 per unit. The annual capacity is 20,000 units and the variable cost to make each unit is

$16. Division Y of Operandi Corporation would like to buy 10,000 units a year from Division X
to use in its products. There would be no cost savings from transferring the units within the

company rather than selling them on the outside market. What should be the lowest
acceptable transfer price from the perspective of Division X?

A. $24.00.

B. $21.40.

C. $17.60.

D. $16.00.

See calculations below.

(Note: Due to limitations in fonts and word processing software, > and < signs must be used
in this solution rather than "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" signs.)

From the perspective of the selling division, profits would increase as a result of the transfer if,
and only if:

Transfer price > Variable cost + Opportunity cost

The opportunity cost is the contribution margin on the lost sales, divided by the number of
units transferred:
Opportunity cost = [($24 - $16) × 2,000*] ÷ 10,000 = $1.60
*10,000 - (20,000 - 12,000) = 2,000
Therefore, Transfer price > $16 + $1.60 = $17.60.

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

53. Division A of Chappelle Company has the capacity for making 3,000 motors per month and
regularly sells 1,950 motors each month to outside customers at a contribution margin of $62

per motor. The variable cost per motor is $35.70. Division B of Chappelle Company would like
to obtain 1,400 motors each month from Division A. What should be the lowest acceptable

transfer price from the perspective of Division A?

A. $26.57.

B. $51.20.

C. $35.70.

D. $62.00.

See calculations below.

(Note: Due to limitations in fonts and word processing software, > and < signs must be used

in this solution rather than "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" signs.)

From the perspective of the selling division, profits would increase as a result of the transfer if,
and only if:
Transfer price > Variable cost per unit + Opportunity cost

The opportunity cost is the contribution margin on the lost sales, divided by the number of

units transferred:

Opportunity cost = [$62 × 350*] ÷ 1,400 = $15.50


*1,400 - (3,000 - 1,950) = 350
Therefore, Transfer price > $35.70 + $15.50 = $51.20.

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54. Which of the following statements is(are) true?

(A) If a transfer has no effect on divisional profit, managers will be indifferent between making

the transfer or not.

(B) If an intermediate market exists but divisions are prohibited from buying or selling from the
outside, the intermediate market can be ignored in determining the optimal transfer price.

A. Only A is true.

B. Only B is true.

C. Both A and B are true.

D. Neither A nor B is true.

Both are true statements.

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55. In general, if a potential transfer has no effect on divisional profits:

A. no transfer will take place between the divisions.

B. managers will be indifferent between making the transfer or not.

C. the organization should not intervene to force a transfer.

D. the optimal transfer price is the opportunity cost for the buying division.

Managers are motivated by the profits of their division. If there is no effect, managers will be
indifferent.

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Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

56. An intermediate market is perfect when:

A. there are no quality differences between inside and outside suppliers.

B. there are quality differences between inside and outside customers.

C. buyers and sellers can sell any quantity without affecting the market price.

D. buyers and sellers are motivated to make decisions that are consistent with those of the
organization.

This is the definition of a perfect market.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

57. When there is no intermediate market:

A. there is no optimal transfer price.

B. the selling division cannot transfer its goods internally.

C. the buying division cannot purchase its goods externally.

D. there is no reason for top management to intervene in transfer pricing disputes.

The intermediate market is an external market for the goods.

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Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

58. The general principle on setting transfer prices that are in the organization's best interests is:

A. outlay cost plus opportunity cost of the resource at the point of transfer.

B. variable costs plus opportunity cost of the resource at the point of transfer.

C. lost contribution margin less the allocated fixed costs for the selling division.

D. gross margin for the buying division plus the gross margin for the selling division.

Incremental fixed costs may also occur and would be included in outlay costs.

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Topic: Optimal Transfer Price: A General Principle

59. If the selling division has excess capacity, the transfer price should be set at its:

A. differential outlay costs.

B. differential outlay costs plus the foregone contribution to the organization of making the

transfer internally.

C. selling price less the variable costs.

D. selling price less the variable costs plus the foregone contribution to the organization of
making the transfer internally.

The opportunity cost would be zero.

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60. Given a competitive outside market for identical intermediate goods, what is the best transfer
price, assuming all relevant information is readily available?

A. Standard production cost per unit.

B. Market price of the intermediate goods.

C. Actual full cost per unit plus a normal markup.

D. Market price of the final goods less any opportunity costs.

The best price is the market price if it exists.

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

61. The optimal transfer price when there are intermediate markets is:

A. full cost.

B. outlay costs.

C. variable cost.

D. market prices.

If markets exist the market price is the optimal transfer price.

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Topic: Optimal Transfer Price: A General Principle

62. A division can sell externally for $40 per unit. Its variable manufacturing costs are $15 per unit,

and its variable marketing costs are $6 per unit. What is the opportunity cost of transferring

internally, assuming the division is operating at capacity?

A. $15.

B. $19.

C. $21.

D. $25.

($40 - $15 - $6) = $19

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63. Division A has variable manufacturing costs of $25 per unit and fixed costs of $5 per unit.
Division A is operating at capacity, what is the opportunity cost of an internal transfer when the
market price is $35?

A. $5.

B. $10.

C. $25.

D. $30.

$35 - $25 = $10

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64. Lock Division of Morgantown Corp. sells 80,000 units of part Z-25 to the outside market. Part
Z-25 sells for $40, has a variable cost of $22, and a fixed cost per unit of $10. The Lock
Division has a capacity to produce 100,000 units per period. The Cabinet Division currently

purchases 10,000 units of part Z-25 from the Lock Division for $40. The Cabinet Division has
been approached by an outside supplier willing to supply the parts for $36. What is the effect

on Morgantown's overall profit if the Lock Division refuses the outside price and the Cabinet
Division decides to buy outside?

A. No change in Morgantown's profits.

B. $140,000 decrease in Morgantown's profits.

C. $80,000 decrease in Morgantown's profits.

D. $40,000 increase in Morgantown's profits.

($36 - $22) × 10,000 = $140,000 decrease in profits

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65. The Lock Division of Morgantown Corp. sells 80,000 units of part Z-25 to the outside market.
Part Z-25 sells for $40, has a variable cost of $22, and a fixed cost per unit of $10. The Lock
Division has a capacity to produce 100,000 units per period. The Cabinet Division currently

purchases 10,000 units of part Z-25 from the Lock Division for $40. The Cabinet Division has
been approached by an outside supplier willing to supply the parts for $36. What is the effect

on Morgantown's overall profit if the Lock Division accepts the outside price and the Cabinet
Division continues to buy inside?

A. No change in Morgantown's profits.

B. $140,000 decrease in Morgantown's profits.

C. $80,000 decrease in Morgantown's profits.

D. $40,000 increase in Morgantown's profits.

No change since costs have not changed for the Lock Division.

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66. Concrete Corporation has two producing centers, Contractor and Retailer. The Contractor
Division has a variable cost of $12 for its products and a total fixed cost of $120,000. The
Contractor Division also has idle capacity for up to 50,000 units per month. The Retailer

Division would like to purchase 20,000 units of the Contractor Division's products per month,
but is unable to convince the Contractor Division to transfer units to the Retailer Division at

$16 per unit. The Contractor Division has consistently argued that the market price of $20 is
nonnegotiable. What is The Contractor Division's opportunity cost of not transferring units to

the Retailer Division?

A. $20.

B. $12.

C. $8.

D. $4.

$16 - $12 = $4

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67. You have been provided with the following information for the Wool Division of a decentralized
company:

Selling price $45

Variable cost per unit 33

Fixed cost per unit 12

Sales volume (units) 22,500

Capacity (units) 25,000

The Blanket Division would like to purchase all of its units internally. The Blanket Division
needs 6,000 units each period and currently pays $42 per unit to an outside firm. What is the
lowest price that Wool Division could accept from the Blanket Division? Assuming that the
Blanket Division wants to use a sole supplier and will not purchase less than 6,000 from a

supplier, what is the lowest price that Wool Division could accept from the Blanket Division?

A. $45.

B. $42.

C. $40.

D. $38.

[$33(2,500) + $45(3,500)]/6,000 = $40

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68. Given the following data for Keyboard Division:

Selling price to outside customers $25

Variable cost per unit 12

Fixed cost – Total 50,000

Capacity (in units) 125,000

The Computer Division would like to purchase 15,000 units each period from the Keyboard
Division. The Keyboard Division has ample excess capacity to handle all of the Computer
Division's needs. The Computer Division now purchases from an outside supplier at a price of

$20. If the Keyboard Division refuses to accept an $18 price internally, the company, as a

whole, will be worse off by:

A. $30,000.

B. $75,000.

C. $90,000.

D. $120,000.

($20 - 12) × 15,000 = $120,000

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69. Given the following data for Electrical Cord Division:

Selling price to outside customers $40

Variable cost per unit 30

Fixed cost – Total 10,000

Capacity (in units) 2,000

Assume that Electrical Cord Division is selling all it can produce to outside customers. If it
sells to the Appliance Division, $1 can be avoided in variable cost per unit. The Appliance

Division is presently purchasing from an outside supplier at $38 per unit. From the point of
view of the company as a whole, any sales to the Appliance Division should be priced at:

A. $40.

B. $39.

C. $38.

D. The company would not want the transfer to take place.

The company as a whole would lose if the transfer was made. It is better off to buy from
outside at $38 and to sell outside at $40. The $1 savings is not enough to make up this

differential.

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70. Given the following data for Handle Division:

Selling price to outside customers $150

Variable cost per unit 80

Fixed cost per unit (based on capacity) 30

Capacity (in units) 50,000

Cabinet Division would like to purchase 10,000 units from the Handle Division at a price of
$125 per unit. Handle Division has no excess capacity to handle the Cabinet Division's

requirements. The Cabinet Division currently purchases from an outside supplier at a price of
$140. If the Handle Division accepts a $125 price internally, the company, as a whole, will be

better or worse off by:

A. $600,000

B. $(100,000)

C. $115,000

D. $250,000

($150 - 140) × 10,000 = $(100,000)

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71. Altoona Corporation has two divisions, Hinges and Doors, which are both organized as profit
centers; the Hinge Division produces and sells hinges to the Door Division and to outside
customers. The Hinge Division has total costs of $35, $20 of which are variable. The Hinge

Division is operating significantly below capacity and sells the hinges for $50.
The Door Division has received an offer from an outsider vendor to supply all the hinges it

needs (20,000 hinges) at a cost of $45. The manager of the Door Division is considering the
offer but wants to approach the Hinge Division first.

What would be the profit impact to Altoona Corporation as a whole if the Door Division
purchased the 20,000 hinges it needs from the outside vendor for $45?

A. No change in profit to Altoona.

B. $100,000 increase in profits.

C. $100,000 decrease in profits.

D. $500,000 decrease in profits.

Outside price $45 - Selling division's variable costs $20 = $25 higher costs × 20,000 units =

$500,000 increase in costs which leads to a $500,000 decrease in profits

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72. Altoona Corporation has two divisions, Hinges and Doors, which are both organized as profit
centers; the Hinge Division produces and sells hinges to the Door Division and to outside
customers. The Hinge Division has total costs of $35, $20 of which are variable. The Hinge

Division is operating significantly below capacity and sells the hinges for $50.
The Door Division has received an offer from an outsider vendor to supply all the hinges it

needs (20,000 hinges) at a cost of $45. The manager of the Door Division is considering the
offer but wants to approach the Hinge Division first.

What is the minimum transfer price from the Hinge Division to the Door Division?

A. $20.

B. $35.

C. $45.

D. $50.

Selling division's variable costs = $20

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73. Altoona Corporation has two divisions, Hinges and Doors, which are both organized as profit
centers; the Hinge Division produces and sells hinges to the Door Division and to outside
customers. The Hinge Division has total costs of $35, $20 of which are variable. The Hinge

Division is operating significantly below capacity and sells the hinges for $50.
The Door Division has received an offer from an outsider vendor to supply all the hinges it

needs (20,000 hinges) at a cost of $45. The manager of the Door Division is considering the
offer but wants to approach the Hinge Division first.

What is the maximum transfer price from the Hinge Division to the Door Division?

A. $20.

B. $35.

C. $45.

D. $50.

Maximum price would be the market price the buyer would pay: $45

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74. Retro Rides Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a management division that owns and manages
classic automobile rentals in Miami, Florida and (2) a repair division that restores classic
automobiles in Clearwater, Florida. The repair division works on classic motorcycles, as well

as other classic automobiles.

The Repair division has an estimated variable cost of $28.50 per labor-hour. The Repair

division has a backlog of work for automobile restoration. They charge $48.00 per hour for
labor, which is standard for this type of work. The Management division complained that it

could hire its own repair workers for $30.00 per hour, including leasing an adequate work
area.

What is the minimum transfer price per hour that the Repair division should obtain for its
services, assuming it is operating at capacity?

A. $28.50.

B. $30.00.

C. $39.00.

D. $48.00.

When at capacity, the market price of $48 is the appropriate transfer price.

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75. Retro Rides Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a management division that owns and manages
classic automobile rentals in Miami, Florida and (2) a repair division that restores classic
automobiles in Clearwater, Florida. The repair division works on classic motorcycles, as well

as other classic automobiles.

The Repair division has an estimated variable cost of $28.50 per labor-hour. The Repair

division has a backlog of work for automobile restoration. They charge $48.00 per hour for
labor, which is standard for this type of work. The Management division complained that it

could hire its own repair workers for $30.00 per hour, including leasing an adequate work
area.

What is the maximum transfer price per hour that the Management division should pay?

A. $28.50.

B. $30.00.

C. $39.00.

D. $46.50.

$30, what the management division can purchase from outside.

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76. Retro Rides Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a management division that owns and manages
classic automobile rentals in Miami, Florida and (2) a repair division that restores classic
automobiles in Clearwater, Florida. The repair division works on classic motorcycles, as well

as other classic automobiles.

The Repair division has an estimated variable cost of $28.50 per labor-hour. The Repair

division has a backlog of work for automobile restoration. They charge $48.00 per hour for
labor, which is standard for this type of work. The Management division complained that it

could hire its own repair workers for $30.00 per hour, including leasing an adequate work
area.

If the Repair division had idle capacity, what is the minimum transfer price that the Repair
division should obtain?

A. $28.50.

B. $30.00.

C. $39.00.

D. $46.50.

The selling division's variable cost of $28.50 is the appropriate transfer price.

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77. Frocks and Gowns Inc., has two divisions, Day Wear and Night Wear. The Day Wear Division
has an investment base of $750,000 and produces (and sells) 100,000 units of Collars at a
market price of $10.00 per unit. Variable costs total $3.50 per unit, and fixed charges are

$4.00 per unit (based on a capacity of 120,000 units). The Night Wear Division wants to
purchase 25,000 units of Collars from The Day Wear Division. However, the Night Wear

Division is only willing to pay $6.75 per unit.

What is the contribution margin for the Day Wear Division without the transfer to the Night

Wear Division?

A. $250,000.

B. $650,000.

C. $675,000.

D. $1,000,000.

100,000 units × ($10 - $3.50) = $650,000

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78. Frocks and Gowns Inc., has two divisions, Day Wear and Night Wear. The Day Wear Division
has an investment base of $750,000 and produces (and sells) 100,000 units of Collars at a
market price of $10.00 per unit. Variable costs total $3.50 per unit, and fixed charges are

$4.00 per unit (based on a capacity of 120,000 units). The Night Wear Division wants to
purchase 25,000 units of Collars from The Day Wear Division. However, the Night Wear

Division is only willing to pay $6.75 per unit.

What is the contribution margin for the Day Wear Division if it transfers 25,000 units to the

Night Wear Division at $6.75 per unit?

A. $250,000.

B. $650,000.

C. $675,000.

D. $698,750.

(95,000 × $6.50) + [25,000 × ($6.75 - $3.50)] = $698,750

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79. Frocks and Gowns Inc., has two divisions, Day Wear and Night Wear. The Day Wear Division
has an investment base of $750,000 and produces (and sells) 100,000 units of Collars at a
market price of $10.00 per unit. Variable costs total $3.50 per unit, and fixed charges are

$4.00 per unit (based on a capacity of 120,000 units). The Night Wear Division wants to
purchase 25,000 units of Collars from The Day Wear Division. However, the Night Wear

Division is only willing to pay $6.75 per unit.

What is the minimum transfer price for the 25,000 unit order that the Day Wear Division would

accept if it wishes to maintain its pre-order contribution?

A. $3.50.

B. $4.00.

C. $4.80.

D. $6.00.

Opportunity cost = 5,000 × $6.50 = $32,500; transfer price: $3.50 + (32,500/25,000) = $4.80

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80. A company is highly centralized. The Cutting Division, which is operating at capacity, produces
a component that it currently sells in a perfectly competitive market for $13 per unit. At the
current level of production, the fixed cost of producing this component is $4 per unit and the

variable cost is $7 per unit. Grinding Division would like to purchase this component from the
Cutting Division. The price that the Cutting Division should charge the Grinding Division per

unit for this component is:

A. $7.

B. $11.

C. $13.

D. $15.

Since The Cutting Division is at full capacity, the appropriate transfer price is its market price.

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

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81. A company has two divisions, Softwoods and Hardwoods, each operating as a profit center.
The Softwood Division charges the Hardwood Division $35 per unit (for each unit transferred
to the Hardwood Division). Other data for the Softwood Division are as follows:

Variable Cost per unit $30

Fixed Costs $10,000

Annual Sales to the Hardwood


5,000 units
Division

50,000
Annual Sales to Outsiders
units

The Softwood Division is planning to raise its transfer price to $50 per unit. The Hardwood

Division can purchase units at $40 per unit from outsiders, but doing so would idle the

Softwood Division's facilities (now committed to producing units for the Hardwood Division).
The Softwood Division cannot increase its sales to outsiders. From the perspective of the
company as a whole, from who should the Hardwood Division acquire the units, assuming the
Hardwood Division's market is unaffected?

A. Outside vendors.

B. The Softwood Division, but only at the variable cost per unit.

C. The Softwood Division, but only until fixed costs are covered, then should purchase from

outside vendors.

D. The Softwood Division, in spite of the increased transfer price.

The company as a whole only pays the $30 variable cost which is less than the $40 outside
price. The overall company would like an internal transfer.

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Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

82. Given the following information for Camping Division:

Selling price to outside customers $50

Variable cost per unit $30

Total fixed costs $400,000

Capacity in units 25,000

The Lantern Division would like to purchase internally from the Camping Division. The
Lantern Division now purchases 5,000 units each period from outside suppliers at $49 per

unit. The Camping Division has ample excess capacity to handle all of the Lantern Division's

needs. What is the lowest price that Camping Division could accept?

A. $50.00.

B. $49.00.

C. $46.00.

D. $30.00.

The minimum transfer price is the variable costs of the selling division when the selling division
has excess capacity.

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83. Accutron, a large manufacturing company, has several autonomous divisions that sell their
products in perfectly competitive external markets as well as internally to the other divisions of
the company. Top management expects each of its divisional managers to take actions that

will maximize the organization's goal as well as their own goals. Top management also
promotes a sustained level of management effort of all of its divisional managers. Under these

circumstances, for products exchanged between divisions, the transfer price that will generally
lead to optimal decisions for Accutron would be a transfer price equal to the: (CIA adapted)

A. full cost of the product.

B. full cost of the product plus a markup.

C. variable cost of the product plus a markup.

D. market price of the product.

Since the market is perfect, market price is the best.

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Difficulty: 2 Medium
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Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

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84. Martin Company currently manufactures all component parts used in the manufacture of
various hand tools. The Extruding Division produces a steel handle used in three different
tools. The budget for these handles is 120,000 units with the following unit cost.

Direct material $.60

Direct labor .40

Variable overhead .10

Fixed overhead .20

Total unit cost $1.30

Polishing Division purchases 20,000 handles from the Extruding Division and completes the
hand tools. An outside supplier, Venture Steel, has offered to supply 20,000 units of the
handle to Polishing Division for $1.25 per unit. The Extruding Division currently has idle

capacity that cannot be used.

What is the cost impact to Martin as a whole of purchasing from Venture Steel? (CMA
adapted)

A. increase the handle unit cost by $0.05.

B. increase the handle unit cost by $0.15.

C. decrease the handle unit cost by $0.15.

D. decrease the handle unit cost by $0.25.

Make: $0.60 + 0.40 + 0.10 = $1.10; Buy: $1.25; Differential: Buy $1.25 - Make $1.10 = $0.15
more cost if buying outside

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

85. Martin Company currently manufactures all component parts used in the manufacture of
various hand tools. The Extruding Division produces a steel handle used in three different

tools. The budget for these handles is 120,000 units with the following unit cost.

Direct material $.60

Direct labor .40

Variable overhead .10

Fixed overhead .20

Total unit cost $1.30

Polishing Division purchases 20,000 handles from the Extruding Division and completes the

hand tools. An outside supplier, Venture Steel, has offered to supply 20,000 units of the
handle to Polishing Division for $1.25 per unit. The Extruding Division currently has idle
capacity that cannot be used.

If Martin would like to develop a range of transfer prices, what would be the maximum transfer

price that Polishing would be willing to pay?

A. $1.00.

B. $1.10.

C. $1.25.

D. $1.30.

Maximum price would be the market price = $1.25

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Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Negotiating the Transfer Price

86. Martin Company currently manufactures all component parts used in the manufacture of
various hand tools. The Extruding Division produces a steel handle used in three different
tools. The budget for these handles is 120,000 units with the following unit cost.

Direct material $.60

Direct labor .40

Variable overhead .10

Fixed overhead .20

Total unit cost $1.30

Polishing Division purchases 20,000 handles from the Extruding Division and completes the
hand tools. An outside supplier, Venture Steel, has offered to supply 20,000 units of the

handle to Polishing Division for $1.25 per unit. The Extruding Division currently has idle
capacity that cannot be used.

If Martin would like to develop a range of transfer prices, what would be the minimum transfer
price that Extruding would be willing to accept?

A. $1.00.

B. $1.10.

C. $1.25.

D. $1.30.

The minimum price would be variable costs plus any opportunity costs: $1.10

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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Negotiating the Transfer Price

87. The Alpha Division of a company, which is operating at capacity, produces and sells 1,000
units of a certain electronic component in a perfectly competitive market. Revenue and cost
data are as follows: (CIA adapted)

Sales $50,000

Variable costs 34,000

Fixed costs 12,000

The minimum transfer price that should be charged to the Beta Division of the same company
for each component is:

A. $12.

B. $34.

C. $46.

D. $50.

Since it is a perfect market at full capacity, transfer price is the market price: $50,000/1,000 =
$50

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Topic: Applying the General Principle

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88. The Hinges Division of Altoona Corp. sells 80,000 units of part Z-25 to the outside market.
Part Z-25 sells for $40, has a variable cost of $22, and a fixed cost per unit of $10. The Hinges
Division has a capacity to produce 100,000 units per period. The Door Division currently

purchases 10,000 units of part Z-25 from the Hinges Division for $40. The Door Division has
been approached by an outside supplier willing to supply the parts for $36. If Altoona uses a

negotiated transfer pricing system, what is the maximum transfer price that should be charged
for this transaction?

A. $40.

B. $36.

C. $32.

D. $22.

Maximum price is the outside market price for the buying division: $36

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Difficulty: 2 Medium
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prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Negotiating the Transfer Price

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89. The Hinges Division of Altoona Corp. sells 80,000 units of part Z-25 to the outside market.
Part Z-25 sells for $40, has a variable cost of $22, and a fixed cost per unit of $10. The Hinges
Division has a capacity to produce 100,000 units per period. The Door Division currently

purchases 10,000 units of part Z-25 from the Hinges Division for $40. The Door Division has
been approached by an outside supplier willing to supply the parts for $36. If Altoona uses a

negotiated transfer pricing system, what is the minimum transfer price that should be charged
for this transaction?

A. $40.

B. $36.

C. $32.

D. $22.

Minimum price is the outlay cost plus any opportunity costs: $22

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Topic: Negotiating the Transfer Price

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90. The Eastern Division sells goods internally to the Western Division at Tennessee Company.
The quoted external price in industry publications from a supplier near Eastern is $200 per ton
plus transportation. It costs $20 per ton to transport the goods to Western. Eastern's actual

market cost per ton to buy the direct materials to make the transferred product is $100. Actual
per-ton direct labor is $50. Other actual costs of storage and handling are $40. Tennessee

Company's president selects a $220 transfer price. This is an example of: (CIA adapted)

A. market-based transfer pricing.

B. cost-based transfer pricing.

C. negotiated transfer pricing.

D. cost plus 20% transfer pricing.

Since the market is perfect, market price is the best.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Centrally Established Transfer Price Policies

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91. Which of the following is the most significant disadvantage of a cost-based transfer price?
(CIA adapted)

A. Requires internally developed information.

B. Imposes market effects on company operations.

C. Requires externally developed information.

D. May not promote long-term efficiencies.

Cost-based transfer prices pass on inefficiencies from the selling division so there is no
incentive for improvement.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
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Topic: Centrally Established Transfer Price Policies

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92. An appropriate transfer price between two divisions of The Fathom Company can be
determined from the following data: (CIA adapted)

Fabricating Division

Market price of
$50
subassembly

Variable cost of
$20
subassembly

Excess capacity (in


1,000
units)

Assembling Division

Number of units needed 900

What is the natural bargaining range for the two divisions?

A. Between $20 and $50.

B. Between $50 and $70.

C. Any amount less than $50.

D. $50 is the only acceptable transfer price.

The minimum is the variable cost, while the maximum is the market price.

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Difficulty: 3 Hard
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prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Negotiating the Transfer Price

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93. A limitation of transfer prices based on actual cost is that they: (CIA adapted)

A. charge inefficiencies to the department that is transferring the goods.

B. charge inefficiencies to the department that is receiving the goods.

C. must be adjusted by some markup.

D. lack clarity and administrative convenience.

There is no motivation for the supplier to work on efficiency since all costs are passed on.

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Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Centrally Established Transfer Price Policies

94. Which of the following is not an appropriate use of transfer pricing?

A. Product costing.

B. Decision making.

C. Establishing standards.

D. Evaluating performance.

Transfer prices do not affect standard costs.

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Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: How to Help Managers Achieve Their Goals While Achieving the Organization's Goals

95. An internal transfer between two divisions is in the best economic interest of the entire
organization when:

A. the variable costs plus the opportunity cost of the selling division is greater than the
external price for the buying division.

B. the variable costs plus the opportunity cost of the selling division is less than the external
price for the buying division.

C. there is excess capacity in the buying division with no alternative use.

D. there is no established market prices for the buying division.

If the variable cost plus opportunity cost is less than the external price, the company will show
a higher profit.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
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Topic: How to Help Managers Achieve Their Goals While Achieving the Organization's Goals

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96. Top management intervention in settling transfer pricing disputes between two divisions
should be avoided unless

A. there is no intermediate markets.

B. the intermediate market is imperfect.

C. there is an extraordinarily large order.

D. there is no opportunity costs.

Intervention removes authority from the decentralized units.

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Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Top-Management Intervention in Transfer Pricing

97. The transfer price that should be used by top management in evaluating whether a division

should buy within the company or from an outside supplier is:

A. negotiated transfer price.

B. transfer price based on full cost.

C. transfer price based on variable cost.

D. transfer price based on an open market price.

If there is an open market, that price should be used.

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Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Top-Management Intervention in Transfer Pricing

98. Some managers prefer to use cost rather than market price in controlling transfers between
divisions. If cost is to be used, then it should be:

A. full cost.

B. direct cost.

C. variable cost.

D. standard cost.

A standard cost will not pass along inefficiencies.

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Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
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Topic: Centrally Established Transfer Price Policies

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99. Cost-based transfer prices that include a normal markup to the costs act as a surrogate for:

A. negotiated market prices.

B. opportunity costs.

C. differential costs.

D. market prices.

The goal is to approximate market prices.

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Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
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Topic: Centrally Established Transfer Price Policies

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100. Multinational firms often face conflicting pressures when developing transfer pricing policies.
Tax avoidance results when:

A. inflated transfer prices are used to reduce the profits of divisions in high tax-rate countries.

B. inflated transfer prices are used to reduce the profits of divisions in low tax-rate countries.

C. cost-based transfer prices are used instead of market transfer prices in high tax-rate

countries.

D. cost-based transfer prices are used instead of negotiated market transfer prices in low tax-
rate countries.

Taxes are avoided when profits are reduced in a high tax country (and by extension profits

would be higher in a low tax country).

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Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-04 Explain the economic consequences of multinational transfer prices.
Topic: Multinational Transfer Pricing

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101. Which of the following transfer pricing methods must be used in segment reporting by the oil
and gas industry?

A. Absorption cost.

B. Differential cost.

C. Negotiated market price.

D. Market price.

This is a GAAP requirement.

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Learning Objective: 15-05 Describe the role of transfer prices in segment reporting.
Topic: Segment Reporting

Essay Questions

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102. Galena Corp. manufactures RD34 in its City Division. This output is sold to the Urban Division
as raw material in Urban's product. City also further processes the RD34 into RD35, and then
sells it to other companies.

The City Division's variable costs for the basic ingredient are $15 per unit. The Urban

Division's variable costs are $5 per unit in addition to what it pays the City Division. The Urban
Division has a capacity of 400,000 units and it can sell everything it produces. The market
price for the finished additive is $40 per unit. If the City Division converts the RD34 into RD35,
it can receive $25 per unit on the open market, but it incurs an additional $4 per unit for this

processing.

Required:

a. What is the lowest price the City Division should be willing to transfer RD34 to the Urban

Division, assuming the City Division is not at full capacity?


b. What is the lowest price the City Division should be willing to transfer RD34 to the Urban

Division, assuming the City Division is at full capacity?


c. Ignore parts (a) and (b). Assume that the City Division has a capacity of 500,000 units, but

can only sell 300,000 on the open market. How many units should the City Division sell

externally and how many units should it sell to Urban Division at a transfer price of $20?

a. Since City is operating at less than full capacity, the lowest price is the variable cost of $15.
b. Opportunity cost: $25 for RD35 - $15 - $4 = $6. Optimal transfer price = outlay cost $15 +
opportunity cost $6 = $21.

c. Contribution margin is higher for outside sales ($25 - $15 - $4 = $6) than it is for internal
($20 - $15 = $5). Therefore, sell as much outside as possible. Open market 300,000 × $6 =

$1,800,000; internal (500,000 - 300,000) = 200,000 × ($20 - $15) = $1,000,000.

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Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.

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Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

103. Shipping Industries is a decentralized company that evaluates its divisions based on ROI. The
North Division has the capacity to produce 2,000 units of a component. The North Division's

variable costs are $85 per unit; fixed costs are $70 per unit.
The South Division can use the product as a component in one of its products. The South

Division would incur $65 of variable costs to convert the component into its own product which
sells for $310.

Required:

(consider each question independent of each other):

a. Assume the North Division can sell all that it produces for $185 each. The South Division
needs 100 units. What is the appropriate transfer price?
b. Assume the North Division can sell 1,800 units at $265. Any excess capacity will be unused

unless the units are purchased by the South Division (which can use up to 100 units). What

are the minimum and maximum transfer prices?

a. North is at full capacity: market price = $185


b. North is at less than full capacity. Minimum price = variable cost of North = $85; Maximum
price = incoming market price to South, but this is unknown. The most South will pay is the

selling price of the final product $310 less incremental variable costs of $65 = $245.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


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Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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104. Trevor Company operates several investment centers. The manager of the Genesis Division
expects the following results for the coming year.

Sales (50,000 units at $20) $1,000,000

Variable costs 600,000

Contribution margin $400,000

Fixed costs 250,000

Profit $150,000

Included in the Genesis Division's variable cost is $7 for a component it buys from an outside
supplier. One of these components is required in each unit of the Genesis Division's product.
The manager of the Genesis Division has just found that she can buy the component from the
Solar Division, another division of Trevor Company. The Solar Division sells 300,000 units of

the component to outsiders at $8 and its variable cost is $4 per unit. The Solar Division offers

to sell the component to Genesis at a price of $6. Solar is operating well below capacity.

Required:

a. If Genesis accepts the offer, what will happen to the income of the Solar Division?
b. If Genesis accepts the offer, what will happen to the income of the Genesis Division?

c. If Genesis accepts the offer, what will happen to the income of the Trevor Company?

a. 50,000 units × ($6 transfer price - $4 variable cost) = 50,000 × $2 = $100,000 increase in
profit.

b. 50,000 units × ($7 old price - $6 new price) = 50,000 × $1 savings = $50,000 increase in
profit.
c. 50,000 units × ($7 outside price - $4 variable cost) = 50,000 × $3 savings = $150,000

increase.

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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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105. The Trevor Company operates several investment centers. The manager of the Genesis
Division expects the following results for the coming year.

Sales (50,000 units at $20) $1,000,000

Variable costs 600,000

Contribution margin $400,000

Fixed costs 250,000

Profit $150,000

Included in the Genesis Division's variable cost is $7 for a component it buys from an outside
supplier. One of these components is required in each unit of the Genesis Division's product.
The manager of the Genesis Division has just found that she can buy the component from the
Solar Division, another division of Trevor Company. The Solar Division sells 300,000 units of

the component to outsiders at $8 and its variable cost is $4 per unit. Solar offers to sell the

component to Genesis at a price of $6.

Solar has a capacity of 330,000 units. Assume that Genesis wants to buy all of its needs from
one source, so that Solar must supply all or none of the Genesis Division's need for 50,000

units.

Required:

a. Determine the change in income of the Solar Division of supplying the component to
Genesis at $6 as opposed to not supplying Genesis.

b. Determine the change in income of Trevor Company if Solar supplies Genesis at $6.

a. Lost sales [300,000 - (330,000 - 50,000)] × ($8 - $4) = $80,000 opportunity cost; 50,000
units × [$6 - $4] - $80,000 opportunity cost = $20,000 increase in profit.

b. 50,000 units × ($7 outside price - $4 variable cost) = 50,000 × $3 savings = $150,000 -
$80,000 opportunity cost = $70,000 increase.

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Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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106. The Barrel Division of Chemco Inc. has a capacity of 200,000 units and expects the following
results.

Sales (160,000 units at $4) $640,000

Variable costs, at $2 320,000

Fixed costs 260,000

Income $60,000

Tank Division of Chemco Inc. currently purchases 50,000 units of a part for one of its products
from an outside supplier for $4 per unit. The Tank Division's manager believes he could use a

minor variation of the Barrel Division's product instead, and offers to buy the units from the

Barrel Division at $3.50. Making the variation desired by the Tank Division would cost the

Barrel Division an additional $0.50 per unit and would increase the Barrel Division's annual

cash fixed costs by $20,000. Barrel's manager agrees to the deal offered by Tank's manager.

Required:

a. What is the effect of the deal on the Tank Division's income?


b. What is the effect of the deal on the Barrel Division's income?
c. What is the effect of the deal on the income of Chemco Inc. as a whole?

a. 50,000 units × ($4 current price - $3.50 new price) = 50,000 × $0.50 = $25,000 increase in
profit.

b. Lost sales [(160,000 + 50,000) -200,000] × ($4 - $2) = $20,000 opportunity cost; 50,000
units × [$3.50 - ($2.00 + $0.50)] - $20,000 increase in fixed - $20,000 opportunity cost =
$10,000 increase in profit.
c. $25,000 + $10,000 = $35,000 increase.

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Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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107. Division A of Spangler Company expects the following results:

To To

Division B Outsiders

Sales (5,000 × $60) $300,000

(25,000 × $72) $1,800,000

Variable costs at $36 180,000 900,000

Contribution margin $120,000 $900,000

Fixed costs, all common,

allocated on the basis of 60,000 300,000

relative units

Profit $60,000 $600,000

Division B has the opportunity to buy its needs of 5,000 units from an outside supplier at $45

each.

Required:

(consider each question independent of each other):

a. Division A refuses to meet the $45 price, sales to outsiders cannot be increased, and

Division B buys from the outside supplier. Compute the effect on the income of Spangler.
b. Division A cannot increase its sales to outsiders, does meet the $45 price, and Division B
continues to buy from A. Compute the effect on the income of Spangler.

a. 5,000 units × ($45 outside price - $36 variable cost) = $45,000 decrease.
b. No change. Division A will show less profit, but B will show an equal amount of increased

profit.

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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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108. Veritron Division of Argos Inc. has a capacity of 100,000 units and expects the following
results for the year.

Sales (90,000 units at $30) $2,700,000

Variable costs, at $20 1,800,000

Fixed costs 700,000

Income $200,000

Magnatron Division of Argos Inc. currently purchases 20,000 units of a part for one of its

products from an outside supplier at $32 per unit. Magnatron's manager believes she could
use a minor variation of Veritron's product instead, and offers to buy the units from Veritron at

$26. Making the variation desired by Magnatron would cost Veritron an additional $5 per unit
and would increase Veritron's annual cash fixed costs by $80,000. Veritron's manager agrees
to the deal offered by Magnatron's manager.

Required:

a. Find the effect of the deal on Magnatron's income.

b. Find the effect of the deal on Veritron's income.

c. Find the effect of the deal on the income of Argos Inc. as a whole.

a. 20,000 units × (old price $32 - new price $26) = $120,000 increase.
b. Lost sales by Veritron: 10,000 units × ($30 - $20) = $100,000 opportunity cost; 20,000 units
× [$26 - ($20 + $5)] - added fixed of $80,000 - opportunity cost $100,000 = $160,000

decrease.
c. Argos = Magnatron + Veritron = $120,000 - $160,000 = $40,000 decrease.

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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium

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Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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109. Division A of Spangler Company expects the following results:

To To

Division B Outsiders

Sales (5,000 × $60) $300,000

(25,000 × $60) $1,500,000

Variable costs at $36 180,000 900,000

Contribution margin $120,000 $600,000

Fixed costs, all common,

allocated on the basis of 60,000 300,000

relative units

Profit $60,000 $300,000

Division B has the opportunity to buy its needs of 5,000 units from an outside supplier at $45

each. Assume that Division A cannot increase sales to outsiders.

Required:

a. What would be the optimal transfer price?


b. Assume that Spangler allows the divisional managers to negotiate transfer prices. What

would the maximum transfer price be?


c. Assume that Spangler allows the divisional managers to negotiate transfer prices. What

would the minimum transfer price be?

a. Division A operating at less than capacity, optimal transfer price = variable cost $36.

b. Maximum price is the outside vendor price of $45.


c. The minimum price would be the outlay cost to Division A: variable costs = $36.

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Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

110. Winton Industries evaluates its divisions based on residual income. The Springfield Division
has the capacity to produce 20,000 units of a component. The Springfield Division's variable
costs are $150 per unit; fixed costs are $110 per unit.
The Monnett Division can use the product as a component in one of its products. The Monnett

Division would incur $75 of variable costs to convert the component into its own product which
sells for $300.

Required:

(consider each question independent of each other):

a. Assume the Springfield Division can sell all that it produces for $285 each. The Monnett
Division needs 1,000 units. What is the appropriate transfer price?

b. Assume the Springfield Division can sell 18,000 units at $285. Any excess capacity will be

unused unless the units are purchased by the Monnett Division (which can use up to 1,000

units). What are the minimum and maximum transfer prices?

a. Springfield is at full capacity: market price = $285.


b. Springfield is at less than full capacity. Minimum price = variable cost of Springfield = $150;

Maximum price = incoming market price to Monnett, but this is unknown. The most Monnett
will pay is the selling price of the final product $300 less incremental variable costs of $75 =
$225.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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111. Table Lake Cruises Inc., operates two divisions: (1) a recreational division that owns and
manages charter boats on the lake and (2) a repair division that operates a division at Rogers.

The repair division works on small gasoline crafts, as well medium size diesel engine boats.
The repair division has an estimated variable cost of $45 per labor-hour. The repair division
has a backlog of work for diesel engines. They charge $125 per hour for labor & overhead,
which is standard for this type of work. The recreational division complained that it could hire
its own repair workers for $85 per hour, including leasing an adequate work area.

Required:

a. What is the minimum transfer price per hour that the repair division should obtain for its

services, assuming it is operating at capacity?

b. What is the maximum transfer price per hour that the recreational division should pay?
c. If the repair division had idle capacity, what is the minimum transfer price that the repair
division should obtain?

a. Repair is operating at capacity, transfer price = market price = $125/hr.


b. The maximum that recreational will pay is the "incoming" price of $85/hr. It is in the best

interest of the company profits for the recreational division to buy outside and repair to

continue with its high rates selling to outsiders.

c. If repair has excess capacity, the minimum transfer price is the variable cost of $45.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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112. The Counter Division can sell externally for $60 per unit. Its variable manufacturing costs are
$35 per unit, and its fixed costs are $12 per unit.

Required:

a. What is the optimal transfer price for transferring internally, assuming the division is
operating at capacity?
b. What is the optimal transfer price for transferring internally, assuming the division is

operating at well below capacity?

a. Operating at capacity: transfer price = market price = $60.


b. Below capacity: optimal price = outlay cost = $35. Fixed costs are not outlay costs.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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113. Salamander Company expects the following results:

Division A Division B

Sales A: (10,000 × $160) $1,600,000

B: (25,000 × $72) $1,800,000

Variable costs 1,360,000 900,000

Contribution margin $240,000 $900,000

Fixed costs 160,000 360,000

Profit $80,000 $540,000

Included in Division A's costs are 10,000 units of a subcomponent purchased from an outside
supplier for $45. The managers have recently initiated negotiations for Division B to supply the
components to Division A. Division B has a total capacity of 40,000 units.

Required:

a. Would the Salamander Company prefer the subcomponent used by A to be purchased

internally from B or from the outside vendor?

b. What would be the maximum and minimum transfer prices?

a. Division B variable cost = $900,000/25,000 = $36. Internal purchase: inside cost 10,000
units × variable cost $36 = $360,000; outside: 10,000 × $45 = $450,000.
b. Minimum = variable cost $36; maximum incoming market $45.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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114. The Salamander Company expects the following results:

Division A Division B

Sales A: (10,000 × $160) $1,600,000

B: (25,000 × $72) $1,800,000

Variable costs 1,360,000 900,000

Contribution margin $240,000 $900,000

Fixed costs 160,000 360,000

Profit $80,000 $540,000

Included in Division A's costs are 10,000 units of a subcomponent purchased from an outside

supplier for $45. The managers have recently initiated negotiations for Division B to supply the

components to Division A. Division B has a total capacity of 40,000 units.

Required:

a. Prepare a new segment reporting statement for the Salamander Company, assuming an

internal transfer at the maximum transfer price.


b. Prepare a new segment reporting statement for the Salamander Company, assuming an

internal transfer at the minimum transfer price.

a. Division A Division B

Sales A: (10,000 × $160) $1,600,000

B: (25,000 × $72) $1,800,000

B transfer (10,000 ×
450,000
$45)

Variable costs 1,360,000 1,260,000

Contribution margin $240,000 $990,000

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Fixed costs 160,000 360,000

Profit $80,000 $630,000

b. Division A Division B

Sales A: (10,000 × $160) $1,600,000

B: (25,000 × $72) $1,800,000

B transfer (10,000 ×
360,000
$36)

Variable costs 1,270,000 1,260,000

Contribution margin $330,000 $900,000

Fixed costs 160,000 360,000

Profit $170,000 $540,000

a. Maximum price = $45; new variable costs for B: ($900,000/25,000) × 35,000 = $1,260,000;

no change in variable cost to A.

b. Minimum price = variable cost = $36; new variable costs for A: $1,360,000 - old cost

(10,000 × $45) + new cost (10,000 × $36) = $1,360,000 - $90,000 = $1,270,000.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-05 Describe the role of transfer prices in segment reporting.
Topic: Segment Reporting

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115. Thai Company has two divisions organized as profit centers: Redmon and Tomlin. Thai
expects the following results:

Redmon Tomlin

Sales

Redmon: (10,000 × $16) $1,600,000

Tomlin: (250,000 ×
$1,800,000
$7.20)

Variable costs 1,360,000 1,000,000

Contribution margin $240,000 $800,000

Fixed costs 160,000 460,000

Profit $80,000 $340,000

Included in Redmon's costs are 100,000 units of a subcomponent purchased from an outside

supplier for $4.50. The managers have recently initiated negotiations for Tomlin to supply the

components to Redmon. Tomlin has a total capacity of 400,000 units.

Required:

a. Would Thai Company prefer the subcomponent used by Redmon to be purchased internally
from Tomlin or from the outside vendor? What would be the profit impact?
b. What would be the maximum and minimum transfer prices?

a. Internal cost = variable cost = $1,000,000/250,000 units = $4; external price = $4.50; prefer
internal: 100,000 units × ($4.50 - $4) = $50,000 more profit.

b. Maximum = outside price $4.50; minimum = variable cost = $4.

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Difficulty: 2 Medium

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Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

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116. Macon Motor Works has just acquired a new Battery Division. The Battery Division produces a
standard 12-volt battery that it sells to retail outlets at a competitive price of $20. The retail
outlets purchase about 800,000 batteries a year. Since the Battery Division has a capacity of

1,000,000 batteries a year, top management is thinking that it might be wise for the company's
Automotive Division to start purchasing batteries from the newly acquired Battery Division.

The Automotive Division now purchases 300,000 batteries a year from an outside supplier, at
a price of $18 per battery. The discount from the competitive $20 price is a result of the large

quantity purchased.
The Battery Division's cost per battery is shown below:

Direct materials $8

Direct labor 4

Variable overhead 2

Fixed overhead 2

Total cost $16

Fixed costs are based on 1,000,000 batteries.

Both divisions are to be treated as investment centers, and their performance is to be

evaluated by the ROI formula.

Required:

a. What transfer price would you recommend and why?

b. What transfer price would you recommend if the Battery Division is now selling 1,000,000
batteries a year to retail outlets?
c. Suppose the manager of the Battery Division can increase its capacity to 1,500,000 units
for $1,200,000. She then has the option of (a) cutting the retail price to $17.50 with the

certainty that sales will increase to 1,500,000 batteries, or (b) maintaining the outside price of
$20.00 for the 800,000 batteries and transferring the 300,000 batteries to the Automotive
Division at some price that would produce the same income for the Battery Division as option

(a). What is the minimum transfer price you would recommend in this situation?

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a. Any price between the selling division's variable cost ($14 per unit) and the buying division's

external market price ($18).

b. There is no price that's acceptable in this case since the selling division's external market

price ($20) is greater than the buying division's external market price ($18).
c. [($17.50 - $14) × 1,500,000] = [($20 - $14) × 800,000] + [($X - $14) × 300,000]; X = $15.50
(Note: The increased fixed costs of $1,200,000 are irrelevant to this decision.)

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

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117. Chattanooga Inc., has two divisions for its metal fabrication business. The Stamp Division
stamps the objects and then transfers them to the Finish Division, which finishes and sells
them. Last year, the Stamp Division had administrative expenses of $40,000. The Finish

Division incurred additional production costs of $120,000 (exclusive of amounts paid to the
Stamp Division for the stamped steel) to process 120,000 units. The Finish Division sold the

finished goods for $500,000 and incurred $80,000 in variable selling and administrative
expenses.

Required:

a. Prepare income statements for each division. Use a transfer price of the Stamp Division's
total cost plus 5%. Assume Cost of Goods Sold for the Finish Division is $351,000.
b. Repeat (a), using a transfer price of $2.00 per unit; this is also the market price.

c. Repeat (a), using a negotiated transfer price of $1.90 per unit.

d. Which transfer price results in higher income to Chattanooga Inc.?

a. Cost Plus Stamp Division Finish Division

Sales $231,000 $500,000

Cost of Goods Sold 180,000 351,000

Other Costs 40,000 80,000

Operating Profit $11,000 $69,000

b. Transfer = $2 Stamp Division Finish Division

Sales $240,000 $500,000

Cost of Goods Sold 180,000 360,000

Other Costs 40,000 80,000

Operating Profit $20,000 $60,000

c. Transfer = $1.90 Stamp Division Finish Division

Sales $228,000 $500,000

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Cost of Goods Sold 180,000 348,000

Other Costs 40,000 80,000

Operating Profit $8,000 $72,000

d. In terms of total company income, transfer prices have no impact; i.e., the total profit is
$80,000 regardless of how it is allocated between the two divisions. However, different pricing
systems can provide managers with different incentives, which may have an impact on profits.

a. The Stamp Division = The Finish Division COGS $351,000 - $120,000 added costs =

$231,000; $231,000 = 105% of the Stamp Division costs; The Stamp Division cost =
$231,000/105% = $220,000; $220,000 - $40,000 other costs = $180,000 Stamp Division
COGS.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

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118. Division S sells its product to unrelated parties at a price of $20 per unit. It incurs variable
costs of $7 per unit and has fixed costs of $50,000 per month. Monthly production is generally
10,000 units.

Division B uses Division S's product in its operations. It can purchase the units from Division S
at $20 per unit, but must pay a $1.50 per unit in shipping costs. Alternatively, Division B can

buy from Division S's competition at a delivered price of $21 per unit.

Required:

a. From the company's perspective, should Division B purchase the units internally or

externally? Assume Division S has ample capacity to handle all of Division B's needs.
b. Would your answer change if Division S can sell everything it produces to outside
customers?

a. External $21, internal $7 variable cost + $1.50 shipping = $8.50; savings = $21 - $8.50 =
$12.50 × 10,000 units = $125,000 (internal transfer since Division A has ample capacity).

b. Purchase internal: $20 + $1.50 = $21.50 versus $21 external (better to have external
supply).

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

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119. Calvin Machinery Company manufactures heavy-duty equipment used in foundries, mining
operations, and similar operations. The company is very decentralized, with various division
managers having control over capital investments and most production decisions. The

Cylinder Division fabricates a component which is used by the Press Division in its production
of metal presses. The Cylinder Division has been selling to the Press Division at a price of

$3,000 per unit. Because of a cost increase, the Cylinder Division wants to increase its price to
$3,200, even though the Press Division can still purchase an equivalent component externally

for $3,000. The following information has been gathered regarding this issue:

Press Division’s annual purchases 100 units

Cylinder Division’s variable costs $2,400 per unit

Cylinder Division’s fixed costs $600 per unit

Required:

a. If the Press Division buys its units externally, the Cylinder Division will have idle capacity for

which there are no alternative uses. Will the company as whole benefit if the Press Division

purchases its units externally for $3,000 per unit?


b. If the Press Division buys its units externally, the Cylinder Division will have idle capacity
which can be used to generate a positive cash flow of $40,000. Will the company as whole

benefit if the Press Division purchases its units externally for $3,000 per unit?
c. Refer to (b). Will your answer change if the price at which the Press Division can buy

externally decreases to $2,700 per unit? Support your answer.

a. External purchase: 100 × $3,000 = $300,000; internal purchase: 100 × $2,400 variable cost
= $240,000; differential in profit = $60,000 decrease. No, the company as a whole will earn
$60,000 in less profit if there is an external transfer.

b. External purchases $300,000 - $40,000 usage of capacity = $260,000; internal = $240,000;


differential = $20,000 decrease. No, the company will still earn $20,000 less profit with an

external transfer.

c. External purchase: 100 × $2,700 = $270,000 - $40,000 = $230,000 versus $240,000

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internal; differential $10,000 increase in profit. The company would prefer an external
purchase as profits will increase by $10,000.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

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120. The GrowPro Manufacturing Company has a division (Division P) that produces an essential
ingredient used by the Lawn Division in making lawn fertilizer. Historically, 75% of Division P's
output has been purchased by Division L and 25% has been sold to other fertilizer companies.

The transfer price between Division P and Division L has been based on the outside sales
price less selling and administrative expenses directly applicable to the outside sales. Last

year, the transfer price was $35 per ton; Division P would like the same transfer price this
year. However, the general manager of Division L has found an outside supplier who will sell

the ingredient for $30 per ton. She would like to continue buying from Division P, but Division
P's manager does not want to match the $30 price because he thinks that the margin is too
small. Top management does not get involved in transfer pricing disputes, but rather, allows

division managers to make their own decisions concerning internal or external purchases and

sales.
The following information has been gathered regarding Division P's operations last year:

Sales to L External

Sales $4,200,000 $2,000,000

Variable costs 3,000,000 1,000,000

Fixed costs 360,000 120,000

The information presented above is based on selling 120,000 tons internally and 40,000 tons
externally.

Required:

a. If Division L buys externally, Division P can increase its current external sales by only

20,000 tons. What arguments can the general manager of Division L make to help Division P
to match the $30 price?

b. Division L wants to use only one supplier, so Division P will either sell 120,000 tons to
Division L or nothing. If Division L's capacity is 160,000 tons, how many units does Division P
need to sell to outsiders at $50 per ton before it is better off selling to outsiders? Ignore any
additional marketing costs which would be incurred to increase sales.

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a. Drop price internally, overall profit = $1,120,000; lose inside sales, increase outside, overall
profit = $1,020,000.

b. 64,000 tons.

a. internal
Sales to L External Total
price = $30

Sales $3,600,000 $2,000,000

Variable costs 3,000,000 1,000,000

Contribution
$600,000 $1,000,000 $1,600,000
margin

Fixed costs 360,000 120,000 480,000

Operating
$240,000 $880,000 $1,120,000
profit

No internal sales, external increases by 20,000.

External Total

Sales $3,000,000

Variable costs 1,500,000

Contribution
$1,500,000 $1,500,000
margin

Fixed costs 480,000 480,000

Operating profit $1,020,000 $1,020,000

b. There needs to be $1,600,000 in contribution margin. The contribution margin per ton is $50
- $25 = $25. Volume needed is $1,600,000/$25 = 64,000 tons.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


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Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 3 Hard

15-216
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Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

15-217
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121. The Measurement Division of Flow Co. produces pumps which it sells for $20 each to outside
customers. The Measurement Division's cost per pump, based on normal volume of 500,000
units per period, is shown below:

Variable costs $12

Fixed overhead 3

Total $15

Flow has recently purchased a small company which makes sprinkler systems. This new
company is presently purchasing 100,000 pumps each year from another manufacturer. Since

the Measurement Division has a capacity of 600,000 pumps per year and is now selling only
500,000 pumps to outside customers, management would like the new Sprinkler Division to

begin purchasing its pumps internally. The Sprinkler Division is now paying $20 per pump,

less a 10% quantity discount. The Measurement Division could avoid $1 per unit in variable

costs on any sales to the Sprinkler Division.

Required:

a. Treating each division as an independent profit center, within what price range should the

internal sales price fall?

b. Now assume that the Measurement Division is selling 600,000 pumps per year on the

outside. Determine the appropriate transfer price. Show all computations.

(Note: Due to limitations in fonts and word processing software, > and < signs must be used
in this solution rather than "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" signs.)

a. Current price being paid by the Sprinkler Division:

$20 - (10% × $20) = $18

Using the transfer pricing formula, the minimum transfer price is:

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Transfer Price > Variable Costs + Lost Contribution Margin > $11 + $0 = $11.

Therefore, the transfer price would be between $11 and $18 per unit.

b. In this case, there is no idle capacity. Therefore, the appropriate transfer price would be:

Transfer Price > Variable Costs + Lost Contribution Margin > $11 + ($20 - $12) = $11 + $8 =
$19.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

15-219
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122. Finnish Corporation has a Supply Division that does work for other Divisions in the company
as well as for outside customers. The company's Custodial Products Division has asked the
Supply Division to provide it with 10,000 special items each year. The special items would

require $15.00 per unit in variable production costs.


The Custodial Products Division has a bid from an outside supplier for the special items at

$29.00 per unit. In order to have time and space to produce the special items, the Supply
Division would have to cut back production of another product - the H56 that it presently is

producing. The H56 sells for $32.00 per unit, and requires $19.00 per unit in variable
production costs. Packaging and shipping costs of the H56 are $3.00 per unit. Packaging and
shipping costs for the new special part would be only $1.00 per unit. The Supply Division is

now producing and selling 40,000 units of the H56 each year. Production and sales of the H56

would drop by 20% if the new special item is produced for the Custodial Products Division.

Required:

a. What is the range of transfer prices within which both the Divisions' profits would increase

as a result of agreeing to the transfer of 10,000 special parts per year from the Supply Division
to the Custodial Products Division?

b. Is it in the best interests of Finnish Corporation for this transfer to take place? Explain.
(Note: Due to limitations in fonts and word processing software, > and < signs must be used in

this solution rather than "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" signs.)

a. From the perspective of the Supply Division, profits would increase as a result of the
transfer if, and only if:
Transfer price > Variable cost + Opportunity cost

The opportunity cost is the contribution margin on the lost sales, divided by the number of
units transferred:
Opportunity cost = [($32.00 - $19.00 - $3.00) × 8,000*]/10,000 = $8.00

*20% × 40,000 = 8,000


Therefore, Transfer price > ($15.00 + $1.00) + $8.00 = $24.00. From the viewpoint of the

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Custodial Products Division, the transfer price must be less than the cost of buying the units
from the outside supplier. Therefore, Transfer price < $29.00.
Combining the two requirements, we get the following range of transfer prices: $24.00 <

Transfer price < $29.00.

b. Yes, the transfer should take place. From the viewpoint of the entire company, the cost of
transferring the units within the company is $24.00, but the cost of purchasing the special
parts from the outside supplier is $29.00. Therefore, the company's profits increase on

average by $5.00 for each of the special items that is transferred within the company, even
though this would cut into production and sales of another product.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

15-221
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123. Division N has asked Division M of the same company to supply it with 10,000 units of part
P782 this year to use in one of its products. Division N has received a bid from an outside
supplier for the parts at a price of $25.00 per unit. Division M has the capacity to produce

50,000 units of part P782 per year. Division M expects to sell 46,000 units of part P782 to
outside customers this year at a price of $26.00 per unit. To fill the order from Division N,

Division M would have to cut back its sales to outside customers. Division M produces part
P782 at a variable cost of $17.00 per unit. The cost of packing and shipping the parts for

outside customers is $1.00 per unit. These packing and shipping costs would not have to be
incurred on sales of the parts to Division N.

Required:

a. What is the range of transfer prices within which both the Divisions' profits would increase

as a result of agreeing to the transfer of 10,000 parts this year from Division N to Division M?

b. Is it in the best interests of the overall company for this transfer to take place? Explain.

(Note: Due to limitations in fonts and word processing software, > and < signs must be used in
this solution rather than "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" signs.)

a. From the perspective of Division N, profits would increase as a result of the transfer if, and
only if:
Transfer price > Variable cost + Opportunity cost

The opportunity cost is the contribution margin on the lost sales, divided by the number of
units transferred:
Opportunity cost = [($26.00 - $17.00 - $1.00) × 6,000*]/10,000 = $4.80

Demand from outside customers 46,000

Units required by Division N 10,000

Total requirements 56,000

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Capacity 50,000

Required reduction in sales to outside


6,000
customers

Therefore, Transfer price > $17.00 + $4.80 =

$21.80.

From the viewpoint of Division M, the transfer price must be less than the cost of buying the
units from the outside supplier. Therefore,

Transfer price < $25.00. Combining the two requirements, we get the following range of
transfer prices:

$21.80 < Transfer price < $25.00.

b. Yes, the transfer should take place. From the viewpoint of the entire company, the cost of

transferring the units within the company is $21.80, but the cost of purchasing them from the

outside supplier is $25.00. Therefore, the company's profits increase on average by $3.20 for

each of the special parts that is transferred within the company.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

15-223
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124. Farris Yard Equipment Corporation manufactures lawn mowers and snow blowers. It also
manufactures engines that are used by the Lawn Mower Assembly Division (LMAD). The
Engine Division (ED) also sells about 40% of its output to the outside market (these are

multipurpose engines). Its annual capacity is 150,000 units and annual output 135,000 units.
All engines sold internally to the LMAD are priced at cost plus 20% markup.

In January 2016, the Snow Blower Assembly Division (SBAD) approached the ED to 'buy'
20,000 engines. Diane Rogers, the controller of ED, computed the costs of manufacturing

these engines as follows:

Total Per unit

Materials $300,000 $15.00

Labor 400,000 20.00

Special equipment 36,000 1.80

Quality inspection 24,000 1.20

Other manufacturing costs 350,000 17.50

Total costs $1,110,000 $55.50

Rogers quoted a price of $66.60 for each engine transferred to the SBAD. Jackson White, the

manager of SBAD, was furious to note that the ED was "trying to make money off a sister

division." He argued that the price must include only the cost of materials, as all other costs
will be incurred irrespective of whether or not SBAD places the order for 20,000 engines.
Morton Downey, the production manager of ED, pointed out that the special equipment will be
purchased only for fulfilling this internal order. Moreover, he argued that inspection must also

be done just like on all other engines; therefore, the inspection costs must also be included.
Labor is paid a flat monthly salary. Other manufacturing costs include both variable and fixed

components (in roughly equal proportion).

Required:

(a) Given that excess capacity exists, what is the minimum price that the ED must charge to
the SBAD?

(b) What are the pros and cons of internal sourcing?

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(a) The costs that are explicitly associated with the manufacture of engines required by the

SBAD are as follows:

Materials: $300,000

Special equipment: 36,000

Inspection: 24,000

Other manufacturing
175,000
costs:

$26.75 per
Total $535,000
unit

Therefore, the minimum price at which the ED can 'sell' to the SBAD would be $32.10 ($26.75
× 1.20).

It is important to note that excess capacity exists; therefore, the ED does not have any

opportunity costs associated with the SBAD's order.

(b) The pros of internal sourcing are as follows:

• Productive use of excess capacity.

• Potential cost savings.


• Protection of proprietary knowledge.

The cons of internal sourcing are as follows:

• Setting internal pricing policies and refereeing disputes.

• Supporting inefficient operations with artificially high internal prices.


It is important to note that any policy stated as "cost plus 20 percent" is asking for trouble,
because "cost" is undefined. If market prices are available, the company probably should use
these for internal sales, with a policy of sourcing internally at the market price. Using cost-

based internal prices may be necessary, but creates complications of creating the price that

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motivates managers to benefit themselves and the company as a whole.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

15-226
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125. Allentown Division of Sparks Inc. transfers its product to the Youngstown Division. The
Youngstown Division can either buy the item internally or externally (cost = $73 each). The
Allentown Division has just completed its annual cost update as follows:

Direct material $25.00

Direct labor 18.00

Variable manufacturing
6.00
overhead

Fixed manufacturing
3.50
overhead

Variable selling
4.00
expenses

Fixed selling and


8.50
administrative expenses

Total costs $65.00

Desired return 14.00

Sales price $79.00

The Allentown Division is operating at 60 percent of its 400,000 unit capacity.

Required:

1) What is the minimum transfer price the Allentown Division should charge for internal
transfers?
2) What is the maximum price the Youngstown Division would be willing to pay?

3) Why should the Allentown Division reduce its price to the Youngstown Division?

1) The minimum transfer price should be total variable cost = $25 + $18 + $6 + $4 = $53.
2) The maximum transfer price = market price = $73.
3) The Allentown Division should reduce its price because it has excess capacity. Under the

general rule, even though it doesn't work well with excess capacity, only costs incurred

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because of production necessitated by the internal transfer should be considered—therefore,
only variable costs should make up the transfer price. The price also does not reflect that
actual fixed cost per unit will decrease as more units are produced and, with an internal sale,

variable selling expense might be eliminated or, at least, reduced.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: FN Decision Making
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

15-228
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126. The following costs exist for Wiring Division of Corriander Corp.

Direct material $67,500

Direct labor 45,000

Manufacturing overhead (25%


45,000
variable)

Operating expenses (30% variable) 75,000

Output 30,000 Units

The output of the Wiring Division, which sells for $10/unit externally, is used by the Electrical
Harness Division.

Required:

Compute the transfer price for a unit of the Wiring Division's output using:

1) market price

2) variable production cost plus 30 percent

3) absorption cost plus 25 percent

4) variable cost
5) total cost plus 10 percent

1) $10 per unit.


2) 1.3($67,500 + $45,000 + .25($45,000))/30,000 = 1.3($123,750)/30,000 = $160,875/30,000
= $5.3625.

3) 1.25($67,500 + $45,000 + $45,000)/30,000 = 1.25($157,500)/30,000 = $196,875/30,000 =


$6.5625.
4) ($67,500 + $45,000 + .25($45,000) + .3($75,000))/30,000 = ($67,500 + $45,000 + $11,250
+ $22,500)/30,000 = $146,250/30,000 = 4.875.

5) 1.1($67,500 + $45,000 + $45,000 + $75,000)/30,000 = 1.1($232,500)/30,000 =

$255,750/30,000 = $8.525.

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AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AICPA: FN Decision Making
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

15-230
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127. SEMO Inc. has a division located in Spain and another in the U.S. The Spanish division
produces a part needed for the product made by the U.S. division. There is substantial excess
capacity in the Spanish division. The tax rate of the Spanish division is 35% and U.S. division

tax rate is 30%.


The part sells externally for $75 and the Spanish division's manufacturing costs are:

Direct material $32

Direct labor 12

Variable overhead 6

Fixed overhead 19

Required:

1) What would be the lowest acceptable transfer price for the Spanish division?

2) What would be the highest acceptable transfer price for the U.S. division?
3) What would be the transfer price that would be the best for SEMO Inc. and why?

1) Minimum transfer price = $32 + $12 + $6 = $50 variable production cost.

2) Maximum transfer price = $75 market.


3) A transfer price of $50 would be the best for SEMO, Inc. It would minimize U.S. income tax

overall since less would be taxed at the 35% level and, while there would be more profit for the
U.S. division, the U.S. tax rate is lower.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

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128. The following information is available for the two divisions of MAC Co.:

Division A

Selling price to outside market $55

Standard unit-level costs 35

Division B

Selling price of finished product $95

Standard unit-level costs for Division B 25

Division A has no excess production capacity.

Required:

1) In order to ensure the best use of the productive capacity of A, what transfer price should

be set by Division A and what effect does this transfer price have on the overall margin for the
company? Is the answer goal congruent under the general rule?
2) Should Division B accept a special order for its product if the selling price is reduced to

$70. Use your answer from #1 and explain.


3) Would your answer to #2 change if Division A had excess capacity? Explain.

1)

Company (after transfer to


Division A
Division B)

Selling price $55 Retail selling price $95

Standard unit- Standard unit-level


35
level cost costs

Contribution
$20 Division A $35
Margin

Division B 25 60

Contribution $35

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Margin

The appropriate transfer price should be $55 which fits in with the transfer price from the

general rule so it is goal congruent. This would be in the best interest of the company and
would still encourage Division B to purchase internally. B's contribution margin would be $15
($95 - $55 - $25).

2)

Division Company-after

B transfer

Selling price-special
$70 $70
order

Standard unit-level

costs

Division A $55 $35

Division B 25 80 25 60

Contribution Margin ($10) $10

No. Division B would lose $10 per unit if the special order were accepted. The company will

make more if Division A would sell directly to the external market with a $20 contribution. A
decision to sell the part externally is still goal congruent under the general rule.
(3) Under the general rule the transfer price when there is excess capacity would be $35. The

overall contribution would be $10 per unit and Division B's contribution would also be $10. It
would be in the best interests of the company to accept the special order and under the
general rule goal congruent behavior still continues.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
AICPA: FN Measurement

15-233
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McGraw-Hill Education.
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

15-234
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129. Division X has asked Division K of the Easton Company to supply it with 5,000 units of part
L433 this year to use in one of its products. Division X has received a bid from an outside
supplier for the parts at a price of $26.00 per unit. Division K has the capacity to produce

30,000 units of part L433 per year. Division K expects to sell 26,000 units of part L433 to
outside customers this year at a price of $30.00 per unit. To fill the order from Division X,

Division K would have to cut back its sales to outside customers. Division K produces part
L433 at a variable cost of $21.00 per unit. The cost of packing and shipping the parts for

outside customers is $2.00 per unit. These packing and shipping costs would not have to be
incurred on sales of the parts to Division X.

Required:

a. What is the range of transfer prices within which both the Divisions' profits would increase

as a result of agreeing to the transfer of 5,000 parts this year from Division X to Division K?

b. Is it in the best interests of the overall Easton Company for this transfer to take place?

Explain.

(Note: Due to limitations in fonts and word processing software, > and < signs must be used in
this solution rather than "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" signs).

a. From the perspective of Division X, profits would increase as a result of the transfer if, and

only if:

Transfer price > Variable cost + Opportunity cost.


The opportunity cost is the contribution margin on the lost sales, divided by the number of
units transferred:
Opportunity cost = [($30.00 per unit - $21.00 per unit - $2.00 per unit) × 1,000 units*]/5,000
units = $1.40 per unit.

* Demand from outside customers 26,000

Units required by Division X 5,000

Total requirements 31,000

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Capacity 30,000

Required reduction in sales to outside


1,000
customers

Therefore, Transfer price > $21.00 per unit + $1.40 per unit = $22.40 per unit.

From the viewpoint of Division K, the transfer price must be less than the cost of buying the

units from the outside supplier. Therefore,


Transfer price < $26.00.
Combining the two requirements, we get the following range of transfer prices:

$22.40 < Transfer price < $26.00.

b. Yes, the transfer should take place. From the viewpoint of the Easton Company, the cost of

transferring the units within the company is $22.40, but the cost of purchasing them from the

outside supplier is $26.00. Therefore, the company's profits increase on average by $3.60 for
each of the special parts that is transferred within the Easton Company.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

15-236
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McGraw-Hill Education.
130. Pomme Corporation has a Motor Division that does work for other Divisions in the company as
well as for outside customers. The company's Equipment Division has asked the Motor
Division to provide it with 2,000 special motors each year. The special motors would require

$17.00 per unit in variable production costs. The Equipment Division has a bid from an outside
supplier for the special motors at $28.00 per unit. In order to have time and space to produce

the special motor, the Motor Division would have to cut back production of another motor - the
J789 that it presently is producing. The J789 sells for $34.00 per unit, and requires $22.00 per

unit in variable production costs. Packaging and shipping costs of the J789 are $4.00 per unit.
Packaging and shipping costs for the new special motor would be only $0.50 per unit. The
Motor Division is now producing and selling 10,000 units of the J789 each year. Production

and sales of the J789 would drop by 10% if the new special motor is produced for the

Equipment Division.

Required:

a. What is the range of transfer prices within which both the Divisions' profits would increase

as a result of agreeing to the transfer of 2,000 special motors per year from the Motor Division
to the Equipment Division?

b. Is it in the best interests of Pomme Corporation for this transfer to take place? Explain.

(Note: Due to limitations in fonts and word processing software, > and < signs must be used in
this solution rather than "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" signs.)
a. From the perspective of the Motors Division, profits would increase as a result of the
transfer if, and only if:
Transfer price > Variable cost + Opportunity cost.

The opportunity cost is the contribution margin on the lost sales, divided by the number of
units transferred:
Opportunity cost = [($34.00 per unit - $22.00 per unit - $4.00 per unit) × 1,000 units*]/2,000

units = $4.00 per unit.


*10% × 10,000 units = 1,000 units.

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Therefore, Transfer price > ($17.00 per unit + $0.50 per unit) + $4.00 per unit = $21.50 per
unit.

From the viewpoint of the Equipment Division, the transfer price must be less than the cost of

buying the units from the outside supplier. Therefore, Transfer price < $28.00.

Combining the two requirements, we get the following range of transfer prices: $21.50 <
Transfer price < $28.00.
b. Yes, the transfer should take place. From the viewpoint of the entire company, the cost of

transferring the units within the company is $21.50, but the cost of purchasing the special
parts from the outside supplier is $28.00. Therefore, the company's profits increase on
average by $6.50 for each of the special motors that is transferred within the company, even

though this would cut into production and sales of another product.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Determining the Optimal Transfer Price

15-238
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McGraw-Hill Education.
131. Randolph Company has two divisions organized as profit centers: Redmon and Tomlin.
Randolph expects the following results:

Redmon Tomlin

Sales

Redmon: (10,000 × $16) $1,600,000

Tomlin: (250,000 ×
$1,800,000
$7.20)

Variable costs 1,360,000 1,000,000

Contribution margin $240,000 $800,000

Fixed costs 160,000 460,000

Profit $80,000 $340,000

Included in Redmon's costs are 100,000 units of a subcomponent purchased from an outside

supplier for $4.50. The managers have recently initiated negotiations for Tomlin to supply the

components to Redmon. Tomlin has a total capacity of 400,000 units.

Required:

a. Prepare a new segment reporting statement for Randolph, assuming an internal transfer at
the maximum transfer price.
b. Prepare a new segment reporting statement for Randolph, assuming an internal transfer at
the minimum transfer price.

a. Redmon Tomlin

Sales

Redmon: (10,000 × $16) $1,600,000

Tomlin: (250,000 ×
$1,800,000
$7.20)

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Transfer (100,000 ×
450,000
$4.50)

Variable costs 1,360,000 1,400,000

Contribution margin $240,000 $850,000

Fixed costs 160,000 460,000

Profit $80,000 $340,000

b. Redmon Tomlin

Sales

Redmon: (10,000 × $16) $1,600,000

Tomlin: (250,000 ×
$1,800,000
$7.20)

Transfer (100,000 × $4) 400,000

Variable costs 1,310,000 1,400,000

Contribution margin $290,000 $800,000

Fixed costs 160,000 460,000

Profit $130,000 $340,000

a. Maximum price = $4.50; new variable costs for B: ($1,000,000/250,000) × 350,000 =

$1,400,000; no change in variable cost to A.


b. Minimum price = variable cost = $4.00; new variable costs for A: $1,360,000 - old cost

(100,000 × $4.50) + new cost (100,000 × $4) = $1,360,000 - $50,000 = $1,310,000.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-05 Describe the role of transfer prices in segment reporting.
Topic: Segment Reporting

15-240
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132. Why is transfer pricing only a concern for profit or investment centers and not for cost or
revenue centers?

A cost center is not concerned with making a profit, only with controlling costs. Similarly, a
revenue center is also not concerned with profits, only with revenues. Transfer prices consider
the profit impact of making a decision as to the source of a product.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-01 Explain the basic issues associated with transfer pricing.
Topic: What is Transfer Pricing and Why is it Important?

133. Explain the general principle for determining the optimal transfer price.

The general principle for an optimal transfer price is to set the price equal to the outlay cost for
the supplier up to the point of transfer and opportunity cost of the resources of the supplier.
This principle should result in a transfer price that leads managers to make decisions in the

firm's best interests.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Optimal Transfer Price: A General Principle

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134. What is meant by a dual transfer pricing system? What are some advantages and
disadvantages of it?

A dual transfer pricing system is one where the selling division is awarded a price that includes
profits while the buying division is charged only for costs. The advantage is this type of system
encourages transfers. Disadvantages include the transfer price will not serve as a signal as to

the value of the good to the firm. Performance evaluation is also more difficult under this
system.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Centrally Established Transfer Price Policies

135. What are the limitations of market-based transfer prices?

A perfect intermediate market may not exist, there may be differences between the internal
products and those available on the market with respect to distribution costs, quality, or
product characteristics.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Centrally Established Transfer Price Policies

15-242
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136. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a negotiated transfer price?

The major advantage of a negotiated transfer price is that it preserves the autonomy of the
divisional managers. The disadvantages include 1) a great deal of management time may be

consumed by the negotiating process and 2) the final price and its implications for
performance measurement could depend more on the manager's ability to negotiate than on

what is best for the company.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-03 Identify the behavioral issues and incentive effects of negotiated transfer prices, cost-based transfer
prices, and market-based transfer prices.
Topic: Negotiating the Transfer Price

137. Why is transfer pricing important in tax accounting?

Transfer pricing is important in tax accounting, because transfers of goods or services often
occurs across different tax jurisdictions (countries, for example). The transfer price affects the

revenue (income) and cost (income) that are reported in the different jurisdictions. If the
different jurisdictions have different income tax rates, the total tax liability across all
jurisdictions will depend on the transfer price.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-04 Explain the economic consequences of multinational transfer prices.
Topic: Multinational Transfer Pricing

15-243
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McGraw-Hill Education.
138. What are the principal items that must be disclosed about each segment and how does this
differ if a company has significant foreign operations?

The following are the principal items that must be disclosed about each segment:

• Segment revenue, from both internal and external customers.


• Interest revenue and expense.
• Segment operating profit or loss.
• Identifiable segment assets.

• Depreciation and amortization.


• Capital expenditures.

• Certain specialized items.

In addition, if a company has significant foreign operations, it must disclose rev­enues,

operating profits or losses, and identifiable assets by geographical region.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-05 Describe the role of transfer prices in segment reporting.
Topic: Segment Reporting

15-244
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139. Hartland Company has used market price as its transfer price for the Sterling Division for
many years with no problems. This year, because of changes in the economy, the demand for
its final product has dropped along with the price.

Required:

Explain the problems of basing the transfer prices on distress market prices and possible
solutions to the problems.

Under such extreme situations, basing transfer prices on market prices can lead to decisions

that are not in the best interests of the overall company. Basing transfer prices on artificially
low "distress" prices can lead the producing division to sell or close the productive resources

devoted to producing the product for transfer to switch to a more profitable product. This might
provide a short-run improvement in divisional profit but might not be in the best interests of the

company overall. The company might be better off if no productive resources are sold off and

it rides out the period of market distress. To encourage managers to act in this more

appropriate way of transfer pricing, some companies set the transfer prices equal to a long-run
average external market price rather than the current market price.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

15-245
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McGraw-Hill Education.
140. Midland Inc. has two divisions: production and marketing, which it treats as profit centers.
Because the production division has no marketing capabilities, it does not have a traditional
market price to consider and the company does not want to use negotiation.

Required:

Discuss the following cost-based transfer prices along with problems that might exist for each.

1) Standard unit-level cost.

2) Absorption (full) cost.


3) Actual cost.

1) Standard unit-level cost: the selling division's contribution margin would be zero which
would give no incentive to make the transfer. This problem can be avoided by using standard

unit-level cots plus a markup to give the selling division a positive contribution margin.

2) Absorption (full) cost: unit-level cost plus an assigned portion of higher-level costs. This can

lead to dysfunctional decision making behavior. Full cost-based transfer prices leads the
buying division to view costs that are non-unit-level costs for the company as a whole as unit-

level costs to the buying division which can cause problems with decision making.
3) Actual cost: actual cost-based transfer prices allow an inefficient producing division to pass

the excess production costs on to the buying division via the transfer price. Also, the selling
division has no incentives to control costs since the cost of inefficiency are passed on.

Standard-based transfer prices avoid these problems.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

15-246
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McGraw-Hill Education.
141. Mr. Massee, the Vice President of Production is looking at two of the Divisions that report to
him. These divisions are viewed as profit centers by the company. He has called in the head
of Brake Division A, which provides a part used by Wheel Division, because he has noticed

that Wheel Division is going to an external supplier for the part. Mr. Omsby, the head of the
Brake Division, tells him that he has set the transfer price at $38 per part even though the

external price is $33 per part. The standard unit-level cost is $22. "I have set the $38 price
because I am operating with no excess capacity and do not want to have the internal transfer

to the Wheel Division. I have some good external customers and do not want to lose them by
selling internally. If I had excess capacity, I would be willing sell to the Wheel Division at a
lower price."

Mr. Massee says that he has to think about this situation because something doesn't seem

right to him. After Mr. Omsby leaves the office, he calls his friend in the controller's department
for some help.

Required:

You are that friend. Explain to Mr. Massee the differences in transfer pricing when there is no
excess capacity and when there is excess capacity and what Mr. Omsby is doing wrong.

When there is no excess capacity, sales to third parties are given up in order to make the

internal transfers so a transfer price equal to outlay costs plus opportunity cost is appropriate.

This usually is market price or very close to market price. The market-based transfer price
allows both divisions to be no worse off with the transfer inasmuch as the same dollar figures
are involved as if they each went to outside parties. Mr. Omsby, in charging as a transfer price
$38 instead of $33 is not operating in a goal congruent manner. It is in the company's best
interests to have the internal transfer. The most he should be charging the Wheel Department

is $33. Where there is excess capacity, the transfer price usually is set around variable cost. If
one can use the results of the general rule in this situation, the opportunity cost would be

equal to zero because no sales to third-parties would be given up and only the variable costs
increase as more units are produced.

15-247
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McGraw-Hill Education.
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: FN Decision Making
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

15-248
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McGraw-Hill Education.
142. Ms. Clarke, one of the marketing managers, has come to the meeting with a number of reports
about one of her products. The Vice President of Marketing sees her agitation and asks her
what the problem is. "Well, the product made by the East Coast Division is losing sales even

after the price had been lowered drastically. The manager of the division is threatening to
close because of the reduced demand."

The Vice President of Marketing asks why the lowered prices are a problem and Ms. Clarke
says that, according to the manager, the price used to transfer the goods to Southern Division

are based on market price and, with the lowered market price, the unit-level costs are no
longer being covered and he is losing money on every transfer as well as every third-party
sale.

Required:

Explain further to the Vice President of Marketing the issues involved in transfer pricing when

there are distressed market prices.

Under such extreme situations, basing transfer prices on market prices can lead to decisions
that are not in the best interests of the overall company. Basing transfer prices on artificially
low "distress" prices can lead the producing division to sell or close the productive resources

devoted to producing the product for transfer or to switch to a more profitable product. This

might provide a short-run improvement in divisional profit but might not be in the best interests

of the company overall. The company might be better off if no productive resources are sold
off and it rides out the period of market distress. To encourage managers to act in this more
appropriate way of transfer pricing, some companies set the transfer price equal to a long-run
average external market price rather than the current market price.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 15-02 Explain the general transfer pricing rules and understand the underlying basis for them.

15-249
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McGraw-Hill Education.
Topic: Applying the General Principle

143. Briefly discuss some of the general issues of multinational transfer pricing.

In international transactions, transfer prices may affect tax liabilities, royalties, and other
payments because of different laws in different countries (or states). Because tax rates vary
among countries, companies have incentives to set transfer prices that will increase revenues

(and profits) in low-tax countries and increase costs (thereby reducing profits) in high-tax
countries. There is a feeling by some that the tax avoidance caused by foreign companies
selling goods to their U.S. subsidiaries at inflated transfer prices artificially reduces the profits
of the U.S. subsidiaries and reduces the taxes collected in the U.S. International taxing

authorities look closely at transfer prices for companies engaged in related-party transactions

that cross national boundaries and frequently companies have to support the transfer price

they have chosen.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-04 Explain the economic consequences of multinational transfer prices.
Topic: Multinational Transfer Pricing

15-250
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McGraw-Hill Education.
144. During the current year Tuesday Company's foreign Division A incurred production costs of $4
million for units that are transferred to its other foreign Division, B. Costs in Division B, outside
of the costs of production of the final product are $8 million. These are third-party costs. Sales

revenue for the final product for Division B is $30 million. Other companies in the same
country import a similar type of part as Division B at a cost of $7 million. Tuesday has set its

transfer price at $14 million, justifying this price because of the special controls it has on the
operations in Division A as well as its special manufacturing method. The tax rate in the

country where Division A is located is 40% while the tax rate for Division B's country is 70%.

Required:

1) What would Tuesday's total tax liability for both divisions be if it used the $7 million transfer
price?

2) What would the liability be if it used the $14 million transfer price?

1)

Division A Division B

Revenue $7,000,000 $30,000,000

Third-party costs (4,000,000) (8,000,000)

Transferred goods costs (7,000,000)

Taxable income $3,000,000 $15,000,000

Tax Rate × 40% × 70%

Tax Liability $1,200,000 $10,500,000

Total Tax liability $11,700,000

2)

Division A Division B

Revenue $14,000,000 $30,000,000

15-251
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McGraw-Hill Education.
Third-party costs (4,000,000) (8,000,000)

Transferred goods costs (14,000,000)

Taxable income $10,000,000 $8,000,000

Tax Rate × 40% × 70%

Tax Liability $4,000,000 $5,600,000

Total Tax liability $9,600,000

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-04 Explain the economic consequences of multinational transfer prices.
Topic: Multinational Transfer Pricing

145. How do import duties affect transfer pricing?

Import duties, or tariffs, are fees charged to an importer, generally on the basis of reported
value of the goods being imported. If a company has divisions in two countries and Country A
imposes an import duty on goods transferred in from Country B, the company has an incentive

to set a relatively low transfer price on the transferred goods. This will minimize the duty to be

paid and maximize the overall profit for the company as a whole. Countries sometimes pass
laws to limit a multinational ability in setting transfer prices for the purpose of maximizing

import duties.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


AICPA: FN Decision Making
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium

15-252
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McGraw-Hill Education.
Learning Objective: 15-04 Explain the economic consequences of multinational transfer prices.
Topic: Multinational Transfer Pricing

15-253
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146. Space Inc. has just purchased a foreign subsidiary that makes a component used by one of
the domestic divisions. Ms. Jenner, the controller, has been asked about issues that should be
considered in establishing a transfer price for the new subsidiary. Since this is Space's first

foray into the multinational arena, there is little to no expertise in international issues in the
company. Ms. Jenner has told her boss that she will get back to him with a report as to the

issues to be considered. She then calls a friend of hers at a branch of one of the big-4 CPA
firms that deals with international issues for some help.

Required:

What is the basic information that Ms. Jenner will be given by her friend?

In international transactions, transfer prices may affect tax liabilities, royalties, and other
payments because of different laws in different countries (or states). Because tax rates vary

among countries, companies have incentives to set transfer prices that will increase revenues

(and profits) in low-tax countries and increase costs (thereby reducing profits) in high-tax

countries. There is a feeling by some that the tax avoidance caused by foreign companies
selling goods to their U.S. subsidiaries at inflated transfer prices artificially reduces the profits
of the U.S. subsidiaries and reduces the taxes collected in the U.S. International taxing

authorities look closely at transfer prices for companies engaged in related-party transactions

that cross national boundaries and frequently companies have to support the transfer price

they have chosen.


Import duties, or tariffs, are fees charged to an importer, generally on the basis of reported
value of the goods being imported. If a company has divisions in two countries and Country A
imposes an import duty on goods transferred in from Country B, the company has an incentive
to set a relatively low transfer price on the transferred goods. This will minimize the duty to be

paid and maximize the overall profit for the company as a whole. Countries sometimes pass
laws to limit a multinational firm's ability in setting transfer prices for the purpose of maximizing

import duties.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

15-254
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
AICPA: FN Decision Making
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 15-04 Explain the economic consequences of multinational transfer prices.
Topic: Multinational Transfer Pricing

147. Briefly discuss transfer prices in relation to external segment reporting under GAAP.

The FASB requires companies engaged in different lines of business to report certain
information about segments that meet the FASB's technical requirements. This reporting
requirement is intended to provide a measure of the performance of those segments of a

business that are significant to the company as a whole. Among the principal items that must

be reported are segment revenue and segment operating profits or loss.

Negotiated transfer prices are not generally acceptable for external segment reporting. In
general, the accounting profession has indicated a preference for market-based transfer prices
because the purpose of the segment disclosure is to enable an investor to evaluate a

company's divisional sales as though they were free-standing enterprises. While this is sound
conceptually, in reality it may not work because the segments are interdependent and market

prices may not really reflect the same risk in an intracompany sale that they do in third-party

sales.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


AICPA: FN Measurement
AICPA: FN Reporting
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 15-05 Describe the role of transfer prices in segment reporting.
Topic: Segment Reporting

15-255
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McGraw-Hill Education.

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