Fully Depreciated Assets

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Hussain Lokhandwala (Querist)
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25 February 2010 If a Fixed Assets has been fully depreciated in the books but still has useful life, what should be the accounting treatment for depreciation of the asset?

CA Amit Joshi

CA Amit Joshi (Expert)
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25 February 2010 Only maintain assets at it nominal value and don't charge deprecition on it when the amount is very low. so that u can maintain the assets in the B/S

Hussain Lokhandwala

Hussain Lokhandwala (Querist)
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25 February 2010 Thanks for your reply. Kindly elaborate your answer further or give me some reference of any accounting standard (relevant paragraph) or any case law.

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Hussain Lokhandwala

Hussain Lokhandwala (Querist)
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25 February 2010 Thanks for your reply. Kindly elaborate your answer further or give me some reference of any accounting standard (relevant paragraph) or any case law.

Asha Kanta Sharma

Asha Kanta Sharma

(Expert)
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25 July 2024 When a fixed asset has been fully depreciated in the books but still has a useful life, the accounting treatment for depreciation depends on the applicable accounting standards and practices followed by the entity. Here’s how this situation is typically handled:

### Accounting Treatment Options:

1. **No Further Depreciation:**
- According to some accounting practices, once an asset is fully depreciated, no further depreciation is recorded, even if the asset continues to be used in the business.
- This approach assumes that the asset's cost has been fully allocated over its useful life, and there is no residual value or future economic benefit to be recognized.

2. **Revised Useful Life and Residual Value Assessment:**
- In some cases, especially under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), if there is evidence that the asset continues to provide economic benefits to the entity beyond its originally estimated useful life, the entity may revise the useful life and residual value estimate.
- This revision would result in recalculating depreciation expense over the remaining useful life, considering any residual value that the asset may still have at the end of its useful life.

3. **Continued Use without Further Depreciation:**
- Alternatively, some entities may choose to continue using the asset without recognizing any further depreciation expense.
- This approach is typically followed when the entity believes that the asset's future benefits can still be derived without needing to allocate additional costs against current periods' income.

### Accounting Standards and Guidance:

- **IAS 16 (International Accounting Standard 16):** IAS 16 provides guidance on the accounting treatment of property, plant, and equipment, including depreciation. Paragraph 50 of IAS 16 states that depreciation is recognized unless an asset has no future economic benefits. Therefore, if an asset continues to provide economic benefits even after it has been fully depreciated, further depreciation should be recognized over its revised remaining useful life.

- **US GAAP:** Under US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP), the accounting treatment may vary slightly but generally follows the principle of matching expenses with revenues. Once an asset is fully depreciated, further depreciation is not recorded unless there are indications of impairment or a change in the useful life or residual value.

### Case Law and Practical Considerations:

- In practice, the treatment of fully depreciated assets often depends on the specific circumstances and the entity's accounting policies.
- Legal precedents or case law may not provide direct guidance on this matter, as accounting treatment is primarily governed by accounting standards and the entity’s accounting policies.

### Conclusion:

The decision on how to treat fully depreciated assets with remaining useful life should align with the entity's accounting policies, which are often guided by applicable accounting standards (such as IAS 16 or local GAAP). It’s important for entities to disclose their accounting policies regarding depreciation in their financial statements to provide transparency to users of financial statements regarding the treatment of such assets. If in doubt, consulting with a professional accountant or auditor familiar with your jurisdiction's accounting rules and practices would be advisable.