{"id":20059,"date":"2019-08-25T11:16:34","date_gmt":"2019-08-25T05:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keydifferences.com\/?p=20059"},"modified":"2019-10-03T11:04:57","modified_gmt":"2019-10-03T05:34:57","slug":"difference-between-direct-and-indirect-expenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keydifferences.com\/difference-between-direct-and-indirect-expenses.html","title":{"rendered":"Difference Between Direct and Indirect Expenses"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"direct<\/a>Expenses refer to the cost incurred on something and when it comes to business, the incurrence of expenses is a daily affair. These expenses may be related to production or regular business operations. When the expenses are linked to the production of a product, it is considered as a direct expense<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Direct expenses can be identified or associated with the specific cost object such as product or service. Here, the word cost object refers to any product, service, process, or job for which cost is ascertained. Further, there is one more category of expenses, i.e. indirect expenses<\/strong>, which is incurred in connection to regular business operations and so their traceability with respect to a specific cost object is difficult.<\/p>\n

Content: Direct Expenses Vs Indirect Expenses<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Comparison Chart<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Definition<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Key Differences<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Examples<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Conclusion<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Comparison Chart<\/h3>\n

    \n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
    Basis for Comparison<\/th>Direct Expenses<\/th>Indirect Expenses<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Meaning<\/td>Any expenses other than direct material and direct wages, which are outrightly attributable to the product or service is called direct expenses.<\/td>Any expenses other than indirect material and indirect wages, which cannot be outrightly allocable to a specific cost centre, is called indirect expenses.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Incurrence<\/td>Production or purchase of goods<\/td>Office and Administration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Allocation or Apportionment<\/td>Directly allocated to the particular cost unit.<\/td>Directly apportioned on a suitable basis. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Cost of goods sold<\/td>It is included in the cost of goods sold.<\/td>It is not included in the cost of goods sold.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Appears in<\/td>Debit side of the trading account.<\/td>Debit side of profit and loss account.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Treatment<\/td>Forms part of prime cost.<\/td>Treated as overheads.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
    \n<\/a><\/p>\n

    Definition of Direct Expenses<\/h3>\n

    Direct Expenses refers to the expenditure different from direct material cost and direct labour cost, which are spent on the production of product or provision of service. These expenses can be easily identified and chargeable to a cost unit, cost centre, job or cost object in an economically feasible way.<\/p>\n

    Direct expenses are chargeable expenses and so they are debited to Direct Expenses Account.<\/p>\n

    There is only a small portion of direct expenses in the total cost of goods. Further, these costs can be controlled by establishing standards, then comparing the same with the actual figures and analyzing the causes of variances and corrective measures are implemented.<\/p>\n

    Definition of Indirect Expenses<\/h3>\n

    Indirect Expenses covers all those expenses which are not included in direct material, direct wages and direct expenses. Basically, these are the costs which benefit the entire firm as a whole and not just one department or segment of the business. These expenses cannot be outrightly and completely allocated to the specific cost centre or cost unit. However, these can be apportioned to and absorbed by the cost centres, or cost unit.<\/p>\n

    Indirect Expenses which are related to the factory are allocated to the units of output produced in the factory in the period in which expenses were incurred.<\/p>\n

    Further, when the product to which it is attributed is sold, then it is a charge to expense. However, if the expenses are related to office and administration, they are allocated only when it is corporate overhead.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    Key Differences Between Direct and Indirect Expenses<\/h2>\n

    The differences between direct and indirect expenses are presented in the points given below:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Direct expenses are the expenses apart from direct material or direct wages which can be traced with a particular territory, customer, product, job or process. On the other hand, indirect expenses are the expenses which cannot be directly identified or allocated to a particular cost object, job or cost unit, but they can be apportioned to and absorbed by the cost object.<\/li>\n
    2. Direct Expenses are the expenses which are incurred in the manufacture of a product or provision of services. As against, Indirect Expenses are incurred in connection to the day to day business operations.<\/li>\n
    3. Direct Expenses are outrightly allocable to the particular cost object or cost unit. Conversely, Indirect Expenses are apportioned on a suitable basis as they are shared among different product, service or department.<\/li>\n
    4. Direct Expenses are considered when the cost of goods sold is ascertained, whereas indirect expenses do not form part of the cost of goods sold.<\/li>\n
    5. Direct Expenses usually appear on the debit side of the trading account. On the contrary, indirect expenses are shown on the debit side of the profit and loss account.<\/li>\n
    6. Direct Expenses forms part of the prime cost. In contrast, indirect expenses are usually treated as overheads.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

      <\/a><\/p>\n

      Examples<\/h3>\n

      Direct Expenses<\/strong><\/p>\n