IAS 38 Intangible Assets – Summary with Examples – PDF

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IAS 38 Intangible Assets gives guidance on the accounting treatment for intangible assets that are not dealt with specifically in another standard.
IAS 38 Intangible Assets


IAS Standards

IAS 2 Inventories       

IAS 7 Statements of cash flows

IAS 7 Statement of cash flows  – Revisited

IAS 8 Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates, and errors

IAS 10 Events after the reporting period       

IAS 12 Income taxes 

IAS 16 Property, plant and equipment          

IAS 17 Leases

IAS 19 Employee benefits     

IAS 20 Accounting for government grants and disclosure of government assistance          

IAS 21 The effects of changes in foreign exchange rates     

IAS 23 Borrowing costs        

IAS 24 Related party disclosures

IAS 27 Consolidated and separate financial statements        

IAS 28 Investments in associates and joint ventures 

IAS 32 Financial instruments: presentation  

IAS 33 Earnings per share

IAS 33 Earnings per share – Revisited          

IAS 36 Impairment of assets 

IAS 37 Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets        

IAS 38 Intangible assets

IAS 40 Investment property

IFRS Standards

IFRS 3 Business combinations    

IFRS 5 Non-current assets held for sale and discontinued operations    

IFRS 7 Financial instruments: disclosures          

IFRS 8 Operating segments         

IFRS 9 Financial instruments      

IFRS 10 Consolidated financial statements        

IFRS 11 Joint arrangements         

IFRS 12 Disclosure of interests in other entities 

IFRS 13 Fair value measurement 

IFRS 15 Revenues from contracts with customers          

IFRS 16 Leases

IAS 17 VS IFRS 16 Lease – Differences

Ratio Analysis

IAS 38 full text Overview

IAS 38 Intangible assets gives guidance on the accounting treatment for intangible assets that are not dealt with specifically in another standard. It requires an entity to recognize an intangible asset upon fulfillment of certain recognition criteria. It also specifies how to measure the carrying amount of intangible assets and requires certain disclosures regarding intangible assets.

Tackle IAS 38 in TWO simple steps:

  1. Understanding
  2. Recognition and Accounting treatment

Step 1: Understanding Intangible Assets


IAS Intangible assets

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Intangible asset is an identifiable non-monetary asset without physical substance. An intangible asset is identifiable when it:

  • is separable (capable of being separated and sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged, either individually or together with a related contract), or
  • arises from contractual or other legal rights, regardless of whether those rights are transferable or separable from the entity or from other rights and obligations.

IAS 38 Intangible assets Examples

  • patented technology, computer software, databases.
  • trademarks, newspaper mastheads, Internet domains.
  • video and audiovisual material.
  • customer lists.
  • mortgage servicing rights.
  • licensing royalty and standstill agreements.
  • import quotas.
  • franchise agreements.
  • customer and supplier relationships.
  • marketing rights.

Application: IAS 38 standard applies to all intangible assets other than:

  • financial assets (IAS 32 Financial Instruments)
  • exploration and evaluation assets (IFRS 6 Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources).
  • expenditure on the development and extraction of minerals, natural gas, and similar resources.
  • intangible assets arising from insurance contracts.
  • intangible assets covered by another IFRS

Step 2: Recognition and Accounting treatment IAS 38 criteria


Recognition and Accounting

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Intangible Assets can be acquired as:

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Purchased Separately

  • Recognized and Capitalized at Cost/Purchased price.

Exchange transactions

  • An intangible asset may be acquired in exchange or part exchange of another intangible asset. The cost of such item is measured at fair value.

Granted by Government

  • At fair value of normal amount ( Plus ) any expenditure incurred.

Acquired in business combination

  • Recognize any intangible asset so acquired at its fair value.
  • This may include any Research and development in progress of acquiree.

Internally Generated

IAS 38 research and development

  • Costs incurred on internally generated intangible assets are incurred at Research Phase and Development stage.

Research costs

Examples of costs at Research Phase are costs from:

  • obtaining new knowledge.
  • search for application of knowledge and material.
  • testing of materials.
  • Research costs are expensed as incurred.

Development costs

Capitalize as intangible if ALL of following are met:

  • project is technically feasible to complete.
  • company intends to complete the project.
  • it is capable of being used/sold and future benefits can be generated.
  • resources are available to complete it.
  • development expenditure can be measured reliably.



Subsequent Measurement

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Cost Model

An intangible asset is carried as its cost (less) any accumulated depreciation and impairment loss after initial recognition.

Cost includes:

  • expenditure on material and services used.
  • salaries, wages and other employment related cost directly engaged in generating the asset.

Cost Prohibited:

  • selling and administration overheads.
  • initial operating losses.
  • training expenditure.

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Amortization

With Finite life

  • Asset must be amortized over its life.
  • Amortization method should reflect the pattern in which asset’s future economic benefits are expected to be consumed.
  • if that pattern cannot be determine reliably, use straight-line method.

Indefinite life

  • The asset should not be amortized but impairment review should carried out annually.
  • The life should be review each period.
  • The change in life is a change in accounting estimate in accordance with IAS 8.


Revaluation Model

  • Very rare in practice.
  • Intangible assets may be carried at a revalued amount (based on fair value) less any subsequent amortization and impairment losses only if fair value can be determined by reference to an active market.

IAS 38 pdf

The above IAS 38 summary is the most simplified version. Moreover, Click here to Download IAS 38 intangible assets pdf

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