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+1-802-778-9005You probably have an understanding of your inventory, but do you also understand its genuine worth? Effective inventory management involves more than just keeping track of your company’s goods.
An accounting technique known as inventory valuation calculates the value of ending inventories and the cost of items sold (COGS). First In- First Out, or FIFO (FIFO), is a frequently used method of inventory valuation widely used to manage inventory.
However, let’s first understand FIFO before diving into the crux of FIFO inventory method.
FIFO is an approach to cost flow assumptions that assume that the first-bought or first-produced products will be sold first.
FIFO operates under the presumption that the first products added to inventory are also the first ones sold and are frequently employed by firms that maintain a physical inventory of some type. Items depart inventories in the same order they entered under FIFO.
When businesses sell older inventory at current, inflated market pricing, they can lessen the impact of inflation and assist the company in selling inventory before it becomes obsolete. Moreover, businesses that use it can also opt for tax minimization strategies.
FIFO is crucial to businesses for the following reasons:
The FIFO method is used to make cost flow assumptions. If you use the FIFO approach to make a sale, you’re assuming that the oldest stock will be the first to sell.
Since you acquired your oldest inventory, you’ll naturally assume that you always sell it first.
“First In First Out”
It is crucial to remember that the FIFO method will provide a higher inventory count during inflationary periods.
The FIFO method is simple to understand, widely used, and trustworthy. The natural flow of inventories is followed by FIFO (The oldest items are sold first, and accounting is based on those expenses). As a result, bookkeeping is simpler and less prone to errors.
International Financial Reporting Standards and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles permit using the FIFO approach. The FIFO method yields the same results with either a periodic or perpetual inventory system.
Apple employs several inventory management techniques, including the sequential mechanism for accurate inventory monitoring and the FIFO approach. Apple follows the FIFO strategy and markets its oldest models first. This ensures that the company will sell the older stock before introducing its newer ones. It uses FIFO to handle its headphones, iPods, and iPhones.
Apple may significantly limit the accumulation of its outdated items in inventory by implementing FIFO.
The FIFO approach is based on the idea that to prevent obsolescence; a business should sell its oldest inventory products first and keep its newest ones on hand. An entity must be able to explain why it chose to adopt a specific inventory valuation technique, even though the actual method utilized does not have to correspond to the real flow of inventory through a corporation.
The primary purpose of the FIFO equation is as follows:
To figure out the cost of your inventory that is old and use that cost to compute your cost of goods sold utilizing the FIFO method. Multiply that expense by the quantity of inventory sold. Any variations in the cost of the items through the particular time you are calculating COGS must also be taken into consideration.
John is a toy retailer who started the shop in September last year. Despite just having one store at the moment, he is continually looking to grow his company. To achieve this, he must determine the cost of products sold for the prior year, which he will do by applying the FIFO approach.
Here is what his inventory costs are:
John must prioritize the older expenses (of purchasing his goods) while using the FIFO approach.
John’s COGS calculations are as follows:
200 x $200.00 = $40,000.
275 x $210.00 = $57,750.
125 x $225.00 = $28,125.
COGS Total: $125,875.
The cost of the goods sold by John is $125,875.
Inventory will be used to account for the remaining unsold 275 Toys.
John may calculate his profit using the cost of the goods sold.
The two most popular methods for determining the cost of products sold out, and inventories are LIFO and FIFO. First in, first out is abbreviated as FIFO, which denotes that the first items entered into inventory are often the first items removed from inventory for sale.
The name “last in, first out,” or LIFO, stands for this concept: the items that were most recently added to inventory are thought to be the items that are first removed from inventory for sale.
The following are some factors to consider:
| FIFO | LIFO | |
| Abbreviation | It stands for first-in, first-out | It stands for last-in, first-out |
| Approach | The FIFO approach is the reverse since it utilizes lower cost figures when computing COGS and believes the oldest goods in your inventory will be sold first. | The LIFO approach is based on the belief that the newest items in your inventory will be consumed first. |
| Results | FIFO results in a larger closing inventory and lower COGS. | Most of the time, LIFO will cause a decrease in closing inventory and an increase in COGS. |
| Popularity among Industries | FIFO is more popular since it is a globally recognized accounting concept and because firms often seek to sell their oldest inventory before bringing in new stock. | Businesses with big inventories tend to choose LIFO because it allows them to benefit from larger cash flows and reduced taxes while prices rise. |
| Inflation | When expenses rise, the first products sold are the least costly; as a result, your cost of goods sold declines, you report higher profits, and you, therefore, pay more income taxes in the short run. | If expenses are rising, the final products sold will be the costliest; as a result, your cost of goods sold will increase, you’ll report fewer profits, and you’ll pay less in income taxes in the short run. |
For individuals who wish to be as compliant with accounting and legal obligations as possible while yet enjoying better profits and net worth amid inflation, FIFO is the best option.
However, businesses that want to lower their tax obligations and do not prioritize either investing in new projects or acquiring credit at the best rates possible during inflationary times are attracted to LIFO.
While the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in the United States enable businesses to choose between LIFO and FIFO accounting, the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) only permit FIFO accounting.
The decision between FIFO and LIFO inventory accounting will ultimately depend on your company’s requirements and the region in which it is based.
Most businesses prefer FIFO to LIFO because there is hardly a good reason to use recent inventory first while letting older stock deteriorate. This is especially true if you sell perishable goods or products depreciating fast.
Moreover, results produced through FIFO are more likely to be precise. This is due to the simpler nature of calculating profit from stock, which makes it simple to update your financial accounts and save time and money. Additionally, it prevents outdated stock from being re-counted or sitting around for so long that it loses its usability resulting in lost revenue and wastage of commodities.
Any firm that wants to grow must have excellent bookkeeping practices. Accounting offers us a variety of approaches, but FIFO stands out for its ease of use and viability. Due to its effectiveness in boosting earnings many companies worldwide use FIFO.
Ans. First In, First Out (FIFO) approach is used for cost flow assumption purposes. If your inventory costs are declining over time, FIFO will enable you to claim a higher average cost-per-piece on new inventory, thereby saving you money on taxes.
Ans. Five advantages of FIFO storage:
Ans. Reducing the effect of inflation on your inventory expenses is one of the main benefits of employing the first in, first out approach. Inventory profit is maximized by selling older stock created when inflation and costs are lower.
Ans. Due to the fact that the older things have been used up and the most recent purchases match current market pricing, FIFO can be a better estimate of the value for ending inventory.
Ans. FIFO is more likely to get accurate results. This is because calculating stock profit is straightforward, making it simple to update your financial records and save time and money. Additionally, it prevents outdated stock from being re-counted or sitting around for so long that it loses its usability.
Ans. In contrast to LIFO, the FIFO approach can assist in reducing taxes when prices are down. However, prices often increase over the long term; thus, FIFO would result in a larger net income and taxation in the long run.
Ans. The COGS would be determined using the FIFO approach by multiplying the price of the oldest inventory units by the number of units sold.
Ans. Most organizations employ the FIFO technique in inventory accounting since it often provides the most accurate representation of costs and profitability.
Ans. FIFO: FIFO can potentially increase the value of remaining inventory and result in higher net income during inflation.
Ans. Since FIFO tracks inventory in line with the natural flow of inventory, older products will be sold first. By doing this, the possibility of having unsalable, out-of-date products on the books is eliminated.
Ans. Changing from LIFO to FIFO is frequently followed by a rise in inventory and revenue for the year or years the change is made, which benefits both tax reporting and financial reporting.
Meenal Lohani is a versatile writer and researcher. Her love for knowledge is well represented in her rich work experience, from international publication to digital marketing. She has worked across various knowledge domains ranging from healthcare, technology, SEO, Fintech and e-commerce, to name a few. An avid reader, explorer, and a movie buff, she is never short of imagination and still professional to the core.
