Discuss and Compare Absorption Costing Income Statements with Variable Costing

question 96

Essay

Discuss and compare absorption costing income statements with variable costing income statements. In your discussion, address the following questions:
a. What is the main difference between the two methods?
b. Under what circumstances will the operating income under each method be the same?
c. What situation will cause the absorption costing income to be higher than the variable costing income?
d. What situation will cause the absorption costing income to be lower than the variable costing income?
e. Why would a company use absorption costing to prepare its income statements?
f. Why would a company use variable costing to prepare its income statements?

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Definitions:

Material Participant

A taxpayer involved in business operations on a regular, continuous, and substantial basis, according to IRS regulations.

Adjustments

Deductions from gross income that are made before calculating taxable income, leading to the calculation of the Adjusted Gross Income.

AMTI

Alternative Minimum Taxable Income, a measure used to ensure that individuals and corporations pay at least a minimum amount of tax.

Passive Activity

Economic endeavors in which a person is not actively involved on a regular, continuous, or substantial basis, often related to investment income.