International Accounting Standards
28
IAS 36: Impairment of assets
The objective of the standard is to ensure that assets are carried at no more than their recoverable
amount, and to define how the recoverable amount is determined.
The standard identifies several classes of assets that it does not apply to. These are either outside the
scope of the syllabus or are covered by other accounting standards, for example inventories (IAS 2).
For the purposes of the syllabus, IAS 36 typically applies to:
•
land
•
buildings
•
machinery and equipment
•
intangible assets and goodwill
•
assets carried at revalued amounts under IAS 16 and IAS 38.
The standard contains certain key definitions:
•
Impairment loss – the amount by which the carrying amount of an asset or cash generating
unit exceeds its recoverable amount.
•
Carrying amount – the amount at which the asset is recognised in the statement of financial
position, after deducting accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.
•
Recoverable amount – the higher of the asset’s fair value less costs of disposal (net selling
price) and its value in use.
•
Fair value – the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to settle a liability
between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction. The standard provides
guidance:
•
The best evidence of fair value is a binding sale agreement less disposal costs.
•
If there is an active market as evidenced by buyers, sellers and readily-available
prices, it is permissible to use the market price less disposal costs.
•
Where there is no active market, the entity can use an estimate based on the best
information available of the selling price less the disposal costs.
•
Costs of disposal are direct costs only, for example legal or removal expenses.
•
Value in use – the present value of the estimated future cash flows expected to be derived
from an asset or cash generating unit. This is usually calculated using discounted cash flow
techniques. The entity should consider the following:
•
estimated future cash flows from the asset
•
expectations of possible variations, either in amount or timing of the future cash
flows
•
current interest rates
•
the effect of uncertainty inherent in the asset.
Identifying an
asset that may be impaired
At the end of each reporting period, an entity is required to assess whether there is any indication that
an asset may be impaired (i.e. its carrying amount may be higher than its recoverable amount). If
there is an indication that an asset may be impaired, then the asset’s recoverable amount should be
calculated. Goodwill acquired in a business combination should be tested for impairment annually.
Dostları ilə paylaş: