Construction company's accounts

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kamal kishore (Querist)
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29 October 2012 If a company constructs buildings and then sells them, should one treat finished buildings as finished goods and categorize them as inventory? what if a company constructs buildings on contract as well as for selling (both activities)?

kamal kishore

kamal kishore (Querist)
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07 November 2012 can anybody explain?

Asha Kanta Sharma

Asha Kanta Sharma

(Expert)
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20 July 2024 In accounting for a construction company that constructs buildings and sells them, as well as undertakes construction contracts, the treatment of buildings under construction and completed buildings (whether for sale or under contract) differs based on the nature of the activity. Here’s how they are typically categorized:

### 1. Construction for Sale (Speculative Construction):

- **Finished Buildings for Sale**: Buildings constructed with the intention to sell them in the ordinary course of business are treated as inventory. They are classified as **finished goods** in the inventory of the construction company.

- **Accounting Treatment**: These finished buildings are recorded at their cost (including direct materials, direct labor, and allocated overheads) until they are sold. Once sold, the cost of goods sold is recognized, and the revenue from the sale is recorded.

### 2. Construction Contracts (Contract Work):

- **Buildings under Construction**: Buildings that are constructed under a specific contract with a customer are not treated as inventory but as **work in progress (WIP)** or **construction in progress (CIP)**.

- **Accounting Treatment**: Costs incurred in these construction contracts are accumulated in a WIP account. This includes direct costs (materials, labor, subcontractor costs) and a portion of indirect costs (overheads) allocated to the project. Revenue recognition follows the percentage of completion method or another suitable method as per accounting standards.

### Dual Activity (Both Speculative and Contract Work):

- If a construction company engages in both speculative construction (for sale) and contract work (for clients), it should maintain separate accounting for each activity:

- **Inventory**: Buildings intended for sale are classified as finished goods (inventory).
- **Work in Progress**: Buildings under construction for specific contracts are classified as work in progress (WIP).

- The company needs to ensure clear segregation of costs and revenues between speculative construction and contract work to avoid confusion and ensure accurate financial reporting.

### Financial Reporting and Disclosures:

- **Financial Statements**: The company’s financial statements should clearly disclose the amount of inventory (finished buildings for sale) and the amount of work in progress (buildings under construction for contracts).

- **Revenue Recognition**: For contract work, compliance with revenue recognition standards (like percentage of completion method) is crucial to accurately reflect the revenue earned over the duration of the contract.

### Conclusion:

In summary, for a construction company involved in both speculative construction (for sale) and contract work, finished buildings intended for sale are treated as inventory (finished goods). Buildings under construction for specific contracts are treated as work in progress (WIP) until completion. Clear segregation and proper accounting treatment are essential to comply with accounting standards and provide accurate financial reporting.

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