1.) Expenses incurred during the current financial year only
All expenses have to be written off with effect on income and
may not be shown in the fixed assets movement schedule as
"additions" and "disposals".
2.) Expenses incurred both in prior years and during the
current financial year.
Prior year values are shown as "disposals" and written off
with effect on income; for current year values see no. 1.
Demarcation between manufacturing process and maintenance
When accounting for and valuing tangible assets, it should be remembered that, according to the type and scope of repair and
maintenance expense, there might exist both a capitalization requirement for this expense and a current operating expense.
Maintenance work leads to a manufacturing process, and thus to
a capitalization requirement, if the following criteria exist:
a) Production of a new asset;
b) Extension of an existing asset;
c) Major improvement of an existing asset;
d) General overhauls.
In all other cases, maintenance work is booked as a current expense.
These criteria are explained in more detail below:
a) Production of a new asset
When fixed assets are first created by the company itself, manufacturing costs exist which must be capitalized.
If an item whose main parts are worn-out, used or destroyed is
restored to use as a result of a general overhaul, then this also
has to be seen as the manufacture of a new asset. Consequently,
this expense must be capitalized and is subject to depreciation
over its remaining estimated useful life.
If only parts are replaced during a general overhaul, without this
creating any appreciable increase in useful life, then this expense
has to be booked as a current maintenance expense.
If useful life is increased by more than one-third as a result of the
above-mentioned work, then this expense must always be capitalized.
b) Extension of an existing asset
Extension means that the item's substance has been increased,
and this includes an extension of its possible uses (e.g., when elevators are first installed in a building, extension of a conveyor
belt). This expense has always to be recorded as an addition to
the book value of the existing item, and is subject to depreciation
in accordance with that item's remaining useful life.
If only parts of an asset are renewed, and these solely serve to
keep it functioning, then this is current expense for the period.
c) Appreciable improvements to an existing asset
Capitalization must also be performed if the nature of an item is
changed, and it is improved appreciably compared to its original
state. This is especially the case if an existing item is changed in
such a way that a new possibility for use exists (e.g. conversion of
a warehouse into an administrative building, major increase in
production capacity). Measures, which only serve to ensure the
item's original potential for use, are current operating expense.
d) General overhauls
If original useful life is extended by more than a third in the course
of a general overhaul, this expense has to be capitalized.
In case of doubt please consult the consolidation office of the
MAHLE Group (CC).