Fixed asset
Encyclopedia
Fixed assets, also known as a non-current asset or as property, plant, and equipment (PP&E), is a term used in accounting for asset
s and property
which cannot easily be converted into cash
. This can be compared with current asset
s such as cash or bank accounts, which are described as liquid assets. In most cases, only tangible assets are referred to as fixed.
Moreover, a fixed/non-current asset can also be defined as an asset not directly sold to a firm's consumers/end-users. As an example, a baking firm's current assets would be its inventory (in this case, flour, yeast, etc.), the value of sales owed to the firm via credit (i.e. debtors or accounts receivable), cash held in the bank, etc. Its non-current assets would be the oven used to bake bread, motor vehicles used to transport deliveries, cash registers used to handle cash payments, etc. Each aforementioned non-current asset is not sold directly to consumers.
These are items of value which the organization has bought and will use for an extended period of time; fixed assets normally include items such as land
and building
s, motor vehicle
s, furniture
, office equipment, computer
s, fixtures and fittings, and plant and machinery. These often receive favorable tax treatment (depreciation allowance
) over short-term assets. According to International Accounting Standard (IAS) 16, Fixed Assets are assets whose future economic benefit is probable to flow into the entity, whose cost can be measured reliably.
It is pertinent to note that the cost of a fixed asset is its purchase price, including import duties and other deductible trade discounts and rebates. In addition, cost attributable to bringing and installing the asset in its needed location and the initial estimate of dismantling and removing the item if they are eventually no longer needed on the location.
The primary objective of a business entity is to make profit and increase the wealth of its owners. In the attainment of this objective it is required that the management will exercise due care and diligence in applying the basic accounting concept of “Matching Concept”. Matching concept is simply matching the expenses of a period against the revenues of the same period.
The use of assets in the generation of revenue is usually more than a year- that is long term. It is therefore obligatory that in order to accurately determine the net income or profit for a period depreciation is charged on the total value of asset that contributed to the revenue for the period in consideration and charge against the same revenue of the same period. This is essential in the prudent reporting of the net revenue for the entity in the period.
Net book value of an asset is basically the difference between the historical cost of that asset and it associated depreciation. From the foregoing, it is apparent that in order to report a true and fair position of the financial jurisprudence of an entity it is relatable to record and report the value of fixed assets at its net book value. Apart from the fact that it is enshrined in Standard Accounting Statement (SAS) 3 and IAS 16 that value of asset should be carried at the net book value, it is the best way of consciously presenting the value of assets to the owners of the business and potential investor.
It is worth noting that not all fixed assets depreciate in value year-over-year. Land and buildings, for example, may often increase in value depending on local real-estate conditions.
A long-term tangible piece of property that a firm owns and uses in the production of its income and is not expected to be consumed or converted into cash any sooner than at least one year's time.
Fixed assets are sometimes collectively referred to as "plant".
Asset
In financial accounting, assets are economic resources. Anything tangible or intangible that is capable of being owned or controlled to produce value and that is held to have positive economic value is considered an asset...
s and property
Property
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
which cannot easily be converted into cash
Cash
In common language cash refers to money in the physical form of currency, such as banknotes and coins.In bookkeeping and finance, cash refers to current assets comprising currency or currency equivalents that can be accessed immediately or near-immediately...
. This can be compared with current asset
Current asset
In accounting, a current asset is an asset on the balance sheet which can either be converted to cash or used to pay current liabilities within 12 months...
s such as cash or bank accounts, which are described as liquid assets. In most cases, only tangible assets are referred to as fixed.
Moreover, a fixed/non-current asset can also be defined as an asset not directly sold to a firm's consumers/end-users. As an example, a baking firm's current assets would be its inventory (in this case, flour, yeast, etc.), the value of sales owed to the firm via credit (i.e. debtors or accounts receivable), cash held in the bank, etc. Its non-current assets would be the oven used to bake bread, motor vehicles used to transport deliveries, cash registers used to handle cash payments, etc. Each aforementioned non-current asset is not sold directly to consumers.
These are items of value which the organization has bought and will use for an extended period of time; fixed assets normally include items such as land
Estate in land
An estate in land is an interest in real property that is or may become possessory.This should be distinguished from an "estate" as used in reference to an area of land, and "estate" as used to refer to property in general....
and building
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
s, motor vehicle
Motor vehicle
A motor vehicle or road vehicle is a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not operate on rails, such as trains or trolleys. The vehicle propulsion is provided by an engine or motor, usually by an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor, or some combination of the two, such as hybrid...
s, furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
, office equipment, computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s, fixtures and fittings, and plant and machinery. These often receive favorable tax treatment (depreciation allowance
Depreciation
Depreciation refers to two very different but related concepts:# the decrease in value of assets , and# the allocation of the cost of assets to periods in which the assets are used ....
) over short-term assets. According to International Accounting Standard (IAS) 16, Fixed Assets are assets whose future economic benefit is probable to flow into the entity, whose cost can be measured reliably.
It is pertinent to note that the cost of a fixed asset is its purchase price, including import duties and other deductible trade discounts and rebates. In addition, cost attributable to bringing and installing the asset in its needed location and the initial estimate of dismantling and removing the item if they are eventually no longer needed on the location.
The primary objective of a business entity is to make profit and increase the wealth of its owners. In the attainment of this objective it is required that the management will exercise due care and diligence in applying the basic accounting concept of “Matching Concept”. Matching concept is simply matching the expenses of a period against the revenues of the same period.
The use of assets in the generation of revenue is usually more than a year- that is long term. It is therefore obligatory that in order to accurately determine the net income or profit for a period depreciation is charged on the total value of asset that contributed to the revenue for the period in consideration and charge against the same revenue of the same period. This is essential in the prudent reporting of the net revenue for the entity in the period.
Net book value of an asset is basically the difference between the historical cost of that asset and it associated depreciation. From the foregoing, it is apparent that in order to report a true and fair position of the financial jurisprudence of an entity it is relatable to record and report the value of fixed assets at its net book value. Apart from the fact that it is enshrined in Standard Accounting Statement (SAS) 3 and IAS 16 that value of asset should be carried at the net book value, it is the best way of consciously presenting the value of assets to the owners of the business and potential investor.
Depreciating a fixed asset
Depreciation is, simply put, the expense generated by the use of an asset. It is the wear and tear of an asset or diminution in the historical value owing to usage. Further to this; it is the cost of the asset less any salvage value over its estimated useful life. It is an expense because it is matched against the revenue generated through the use of the same asset. Depreciation is usually spread over the economic useful life of an asset because it is regarded as the cost of an asset absorbed over its useful life. Invariably the depreciation expense is charged against the revenue generated through the use of the asset. The method of depreciation to be adopted is best left for the management to decide in consideration to the peculiarity of the business, prevailing economic condition of the assets and existing accounting guideline and principles as implied in the organizational policies.It is worth noting that not all fixed assets depreciate in value year-over-year. Land and buildings, for example, may often increase in value depending on local real-estate conditions.
A long-term tangible piece of property that a firm owns and uses in the production of its income and is not expected to be consumed or converted into cash any sooner than at least one year's time.
Fixed assets are sometimes collectively referred to as "plant".
See also
- Revaluation of fixed assetsRevaluation of fixed assetsIn finance, a revaluation of fixed assets is a technique that may be required to accurately describe the true value of the capital goods a business owns...
- Fixed Assets RegisterFixed Assets RegisterA fixed asset register is an accounting method used for major resources of a business.Fixed assets are those such as land, machines, office equipments, buildings, patents, trademarks, copyrights, etc...
- Fixed assets managementFixed assets managementFixed assets management is an accounting process that seeks to track fixed assets for the purposes of financial accounting, preventive maintenance, and theft deterrence....
- DepreciationDepreciationDepreciation refers to two very different but related concepts:# the decrease in value of assets , and# the allocation of the cost of assets to periods in which the assets are used ....
- List of business and finance abbreviations
- Fixed asset turnoverFixed asset turnoverFixed-asset turnover is the ratio of sales to the value of fixed assets . It indicates how well the business is using its fixed assets to generate sales....
- Capital assetCapital assetThe term capital asset has three unrelated technical definitions, and is also used in a variety of non-technical ways.*In financial economics, it refers to any asset used to make money, as opposed to assets used for personal enjoyment or consumption...
- Bentley Infrastructure 500Bentley Infrastructure 500Bentley Infrastructure 500 is a worldwide ranking of infrastructure owners around the world compiled by the CAD software company Bentley Systems. Its was first published in 2010...