Easy2 marksMultiple Choice
Accounting for TransactionsIAS 38Intangible AssetsSection B

ACCA · Question 25 · Accounting for Transactions

SECTION B

CASE SCENARIO: BioHarvest Ltd is an agricultural biotech firm. At 31 December 20X8, BioHarvest has growing crops with a historical cost of $100,000. The fair value of these crops is $150,000, and estimated costs to sell are $10,000. During the year, BioHarvest harvested seeds. At the point of harvest, the seeds had a fair value of $50,000 and costs to sell of $5,000. On 1 January 20X8, BioHarvest signed a contract granting a customer a 3-year right to access its patented seed technology, receiving $300,000 upfront. BioHarvest also spent $500,000 developing a new drought-resistant seed variant; $200,000 was spent before the project met the IAS 38 capitalization criteria on 1 July 20X8, and $300,000 was spent after.

QUESTION: How should the $200,000 spent before 1 July 20X8 be treated in the financial statements?

Answer options:

A.

Capitalized as part of the intangible asset.

B.

Recognized as an expense in the Statement of Profit or Loss.

C.

Deferred in Other Comprehensive Income until the project is complete.

D.

Capitalized as Property, Plant and Equipment.

How to approach this question

Recall the IAS 38 rule for development costs incurred before capitalization criteria are met.

Full Answer

B.Recognized as an expense in the Statement of Profit or Loss.✓ Correct
Under IAS 38, expenditure on an intangible item that does not meet the criteria for recognition as an asset must be recognized as an expense when it is incurred. It cannot be capitalized retroactively once the criteria are eventually met.

Common mistakes

Thinking that early development costs can be held in a suspense account or OCI until the project's viability is proven.

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