Defense, Aerospace & Government Contracting

How to Record Unallowable Selling Expenses

Segments and removes selling costs that do not meet FAR 31.205-38 criteria for allowability from the indirect cost pools.

Account NameTypeDebit ($)Credit ($)
Unallowable Costs - SellingDebit12,000.00-
Selling Expense Pool (Indirect)Credit-12,000.00

💡 Accountant's Note

Direct selling efforts, such as certain types of advertising or personnel costs that cannot be linked to specific contractual requirements, must be isolated as unallowable to prevent their inclusion in overhead rates.

Practitioner & Systems Framework

💻 ERP Architecture

Set up account ranges (e.g., 9000-series) specifically for unallowable costs that are automatically excluded from the fringe/OH/G&A base.

⚠️ Audit Flags

Inclusion of commercial marketing materials or non-technical proposal efforts in the G&A pool.

📄 Required Documentation

Expense reports, timecard logs showing selling activities, and FAR-based allowability determination memos.

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Expert Analysis by Qusai Ahmad

General Accountant Supervisor & IFRS Specialist

Specialized in SAP GUI automation and Middle Eastern tax compliance. Building digital tools for the next generation of finance leaders.

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