CAS 409 - Depreciation of Tangible Capital Assets

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9904.409-20 Purpose

This Standard was created to "enhance objectivity and consistency" in allocating depreciation costs to Government contracts. The standard provides criteria for assigning costs of tangible capital assets to cost accounting periods.

9904.409-30 Definitions

(a) The following are definitions of terms which are prominent in this Standard. Other terms defined elsewhere in this Chapter 99 shall have the meanings ascribed to them in those definitions unless paragraph (b) of this subsection, requires otherwise.

(1) Residual Value means the proceeds (less removal and disposal costs, if any) realized upon disposition of a tangible capital asset. It usually is measured by the net proceeds from the sale or other disposition of the asset, or its fair value if the asset is traded in on another asset. The estimated residual value is a current forecast of the residual value.

(2) Service Life means the period of usefulness of a tangible asset (or group of assets) to its current owner. The period may be expressed in units of time or output. The estimated service life of a tangible capital asset (or group of assets) is a current forecast of its service life and is the period over which depreciation cost is to be assigned.

(3) Tangible Capital Asset means an asset that has physical substance, more than minimal value, and is expected to be held by an enterprise for continued use or possession beyond the current accounting period for the services it yields.

(b) The following modifications of terms defined elsewhere in this Chapter 99 are applicable to this Standard: None.

9904.409-40 Requirements

(a) The depreciable cost of a tangible capital asset (or group of assets) shall be assigned to cost accounting periods in accordance with the following criteria:

  • (1) The depreciable cost of a tangible capital asset shall be its capitalized cost less its estimated residual value.
  • (2) The estimated service life of a tangible capital asset (or group of assets) shall be used to determine the cost accounting periods to which the depreciable cost will be assigned.
  • (3) The method of depreciation selected for assigning the depreciable cost of a tangible capital asset (or group of assets) to the cost accounting periods representing its estimated service life shall reflect the pattern of consumption of services over the life of the asset.
  • (4) The gain or loss which is recognized upon disposition of a tangible capital asset shall be assigned to the cost accounting period in which the disposition occurs.

(b) The annual depreciation cost of a tangible capital asset (or group of assets) shall be allocated to cost objectives for which it provides service in accordance with the following criteria:

  • (1) Depreciation cost may be charged directly to cost objectives only if such charges are made on the basis of usage and only if depreciation costs of all like assets used for similar purposes are charged in the same manner.
  • (2) Where tangible capital assets are part of, or function as, an organizational unit whose costs are charged to other cost objectives based on measurement of the services provided by the organizational unit, the depreciation cost of such assets shall be included as part of the cost of the organizational unit.
  • (3) Depreciation costs which are not allocated in accordance with paragraph (b) (1) or (2) of this subsection, shall be included in appropriate indirect cost pools.
  • (4) The gain or loss which is recognized upon disposition of a tangible capital asset, where material in amount, shall be allocated in the same manner as the depreciation cost of the asset has been or would have been allocated for the cost accounting period in which the disposition occurs. Where such gain or loss is not material, the amount may be included in an appropriate indirect cost pool.

9904.409-50 Techniques for application

(a) Determination of the appropriate depreciation charges involves estimates both of service life and of the likely pattern of consumption of services in the cost accounting periods included in such life. In selecting service life estimates and in selecting depreciation methods, many of the same physical and economic factors should be considered. The following are among the factors which may be taken into account: Quantity and quality of expected output, and the timing thereof; costs of repair and maintenance, and the timing thereof; standby or incidental use and the timing thereof; and technical or economic obsolescence of the asset (or group of assets), or of the product or service it is involved in producing.


(b) Depreciation of a tangible capital asset shall begin when the asset and any others on which its effective use depends are ready for use in a normal or acceptable fashion. However, where partial utilization of a tangible capital asset is identified with a specific operation, depreciation shall commence on any portion of the asset which is substantially completed and used for that operation. Depreciable spare parts which are required for the operation of such tangible capital assets shall be accounted for over the service life of the assets.


(c) A consistent policy shall be followed in determining the depreciable cost to be assigned to the beginning and ending cost accounting periods of asset use. The policy may provide for any reasonable starting and ending dates in computing the first and last year depreciable cost.


(d) Tangible capital assets may be accounted for by treating each individual asset as an accounting unit, or by combining two or more assets as a single accounting unit, provided such treatment is consistently applied over the service life of the asset or group of assets.

Estimated Service Lives

(e) Estimated service lives initially established for tangible capital assets (or groups of assets) shall be reasonable approximations of their expected actual periods of usefulness, considering the factors mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection. The estimate of the expected actual periods of usefulness need not include the additional period tangible capital assets are retained for standby or incidental use where adequate records are maintained which reflect the withdrawal from active use.

  • (1) The expected actual periods of usefulness shall be those periods which are supported by records of either past retirement or, where available, withdrawal from active use (and retention for standby or incidental use) for like assets (or groups of assets) used in similar circumstances appropriately modified for specifically identified factors expected to influence future lives. The factors which can be used to modify past experience include:
    • (i) Changes in expected physical usefulness from that which has been experienced such as changes in the quantity and quality of expected output.
    • (ii) Changes in expected economic usefulness, such as changes in expected technical or economic obsolescence of the asset (or group of assets), or of the product or service produced.
  • (2) Supporting records shall be maintained which are adequate to show the age at retirement or, if the contractor so chooses, at withdrawal from active use (and retention for standby or incidental use) for a sample of assets for each significant category. Whether assets are accounted for individually or by groups, the basis for estimating service life shall be predicated on supporting records of experienced lives for either individual assets or any reasonable grouping of assets as long as that basis is consisently used. The burden shall be on the contractor to justify estimated service lives which are shorter than such experienced lives.
  • (3) The records required in subparagraphs (e) (1) and (2) of this subsection, if not available on the date when the requirements of this Standard must first be followed by a contractor, shall be developed from current and historical fixed asset records and be available following the second fiscal year after that date. They shall be used as a basis for estimates of service lives of tangible capital assets acquired thereafter. Estimated service lives used for financial accounting purposes (or other accounting purposes where depreciation is not recorded for financial accounting purposes for some non-commercial organizations), if not unreasonable under the criteria specified in paragraph (e) of this subsection, shall be used until adequate supporting records are available.
  • (4) Estimated service lives for tangible capital assets for which the contractor has no available data or no prior experience for similar assets shall be established based on a projection of the expected actual period of usefulness, but shall not be less than asset guideline periods (mid-range) established for asset guideline classes under Internal Revenue Procedures which are in effect as of the first day of the cost accounting period in which the assets are acquired. Use of this alternative procedure shall cease as soon as the contractor is able to develop estimates which are appropriately supported by his own experience.
  • (5) The contracting parties may agree on the estimated service life of individual tangible capital assets where the unique purpose for which the equipment was acquired or other special circumstances warrant a shorter estimated service life than the life determined in accordance with the other provisions of this 9904.409-50(e) and where the shorter life can be reasonably predicted.

Method of Depreciation

(f)

  • (1) The method of depreciation used for financial accounting purposes (or other accounting purposes where depreciation is not recorded for financial accounting purposes) shall be used for contract costing unless:
    • (i) Such method does not reasonably reflect the expected consumption of services for the tangible capital asset (or group of assets) to which applied, or
    • (ii) The method is unacceptable for Federal income tax purposes.

If the contractors' method of depreciation used for financial accounting purposes (or other accounting purposes as provided above) does not reasonably reflect the expected consumption of services or is unacceptable for Federal income tax purposes, he shall establish a method of depreciation for contract costing which meets these criteria, in accordance with subparagraph (f)(3) of this subsection.

  • (2) After the date of initial applicability of this Standard, selection of methods of depreciation for newly acquired tangible capital assets, which are different from the methods currently being used for like assets in similar circumstances, shall be supported by projections of the expected consumption of services of those assets (or groups of assets) to which the different methods of depreciation shall apply. Support in accordance with paragraph (f)(3) of this subsection shall be based on the expected consumption of services of either individual assets or any reasonable grouping of assets as long as the basis selected for grouping assets is consistently used.
  • (3) The expected consumption of asset services over the estimated service life of a tangible capital asset (or group of assets) is influenced by the factors mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection which affect either potential activity or potential output of the asset (or group of assets). These factors may be measured by the expected activity or the expected physical output of the assets, as for example: Hours of operation, number of operations performed, number of units produced, or number of miles traveled. An acceptable surrogate for expected activity or output might be a monetary measure of that activity or output generated by use of tangible capital assets, such as estimated labor dollars, total cost incurred or total revenues, to the extent that such monetary measures can reasonably be related to the usage of specific tangible capital assets (or groups of assets). In the absence of reliable data for the measurement or estimation of the consumption of asset services by the techniques mentioned, the expected consumption of services may be represented by the passage of time. The appropriate method of depreciation should be selected as follows:
    • (i) An accelerated method of depreciation is appropriate where the expected consumption of asset services is significantly greater in early years of asset life.
    • (ii) The straight-line method of depreciation is appropriate where the expected consumption of asset services is reasonably level over the service life of the asset (or group of assets).


Service Life of Original Complement Low-Cost Equipment

(g) The estimated service life and method of depreciation to be used for an original complement of low-cost equipment shall be based on the expected consumption of services over the expected useful life of the complement as a whole and shall not be based on the individual items which form the complement.

Estimated Residual Values

(h) Estimated residual values shall be determined for all tangible capital assets (or groups of assets). For tangible personal property, only estimated residual values which exceed ten percent of the capitalized cost of the asset (or group of assets) need be used in establishing depreciable costs. Where either the declining balance method of depreciation or the class life asset depreciation range system is used consistent with the provisions of this Standard, the residual value need not be deducted from capitalized cost to determine depreciable costs. No depreciation cost shall be charged which would significantly reduce book value of a tangible capital asset (or group of assets) below its residual value.


Author Summary; Estimated residual values must be determined for all tangible capital assets or groups of assets. The residual values must be deducted from the capitalized value in computing the depreciable cost base, except where;

  • (1) the estimated residual value of tangible personal property does not exceed 10 percent of the capitalized cost or
  • (2) either the declining balance method or class-life-asset-range system is used.


Estimates of Service Life - Re-Examination

(i) Estimates of service life, consumption of services, and residual value shall be reexamined for tangible capital assets (or groups of assets) whenever circumstances change significantly. Where changes are made to the estimated service life, residual value, or method of depreciation during the life of a tangible capital asset, the remaining depreciable costs for cost accounting purposes shall be limited to the undepreciated cost of the assets and shall be assigned only to the cost accounting period in which the change is made and to subsequent periods.


Author Summary; Changes to estimated service lives, residual values, or consumption of services may be required as a result of significantly changed circumstances. Any resulting adjustment to the un-depreciated cost will be assigned only to the cost accounting period in which the change occurs and to subsequent periods. No retroactive adjustments will be made.'

Gains and Losses on Disposition

(j)

  • (1) Gains and losses on disposition of tangible capital assets shall be considered as adjustments of depreciation costs previously recognized and shall be assigned to the cost accounting period in which disposition occurs except as provided in subparagraphs (j) (2) and (3) of this subsection. The gain or loss for each asset disposed of is the difference between the net amount realized, including insurance proceeds in the event of involuntary conversion, and its undepreciated balance. However, the gain to be recognized for contract costing purposes shall be limited to the difference between the original acquisition cost of the asset and its undepreciated balance.
  • (2) Gains and losses on the disposition of tangible capital assets shall not be recognized where:
    • (i) Assets are grouped and such gains and losses are processed through the accumulated depreciation account, or
    • (ii) The asset is given in exchange as part of the purchase price of a similar asset and the gain or loss is included in computing the depreciable cost of the new asset.

Where the disposition results from an involuntary conversion and the asset is replaced by a similar asset, gains and losses may either be recognized in the period of disposition or used to adjust the depreciable cost base of the new asset.

  • (3) The contracting parties may account for gains and losses arising from mass or extraordinary dispositions in a manner which will result in treatment equitable to all parties.
  • (4) Gains and losses on disposition of tangible capital assets transferred in other than an arms-length transaction and subsequently disposed of within 12 months from the date of transfer shall be assigned to the transferor.
  • (5) The provisions of this subsection 9904.409-50(j) do not apply to business combinations. The carrying values of tangible capital assets acquired subsequent to a business combination shall be established in accordance with the provisions of subsection 9904.404-50(d).

Authors Comment/Additional Infomation---Gains and Losses

The standard outlines the following accounting treatment for gains or losses associated with the disposition of tangible capital assets. An impairment loss under FASB Statement No. 121 is recognized only upon disposal of the impaired asset.

  • (1) Where the asset is disposed of without an exchange, the gain or loss is generally treated as an adjustment to the appropriate indirect expense pool in the cost accounting period in which the disposition occurs. However, the auditor should be aware that, in such circumstances, the standard limits the gain to be recognized for contract costing purposes to the difference between the asset’s original acquisition cost and its net book value.
  • (2) Where an asset is exchanged for like property, two options are available to the contractor: either the gain or loss can be recognized as discussed above, or the depreciable cost base of the new asset may be adjusted for the entire gain or loss.
  • (3) Where an asset disposition results from an involuntary conversion and the asset is replaced by a similar asset, the same two options as described above for exchanges of like property are available to the contractor.
  • (4) Where assets are grouped, gains or losses are not recognized. Instead they are processed through the accumulated depreciation account.
  • (5) Assets dispositioned in a business combination meeting the criteria in CAS 404.50(d)(1). The revised CAS 409, effective April 15, 1996, added a new subparagraph CAS 409.50(j)(5) to make it clear that the CAS 409.50(j) provision dealing with the recapture of gains and losses on disposition of tangible capital assets should not apply when assets are transferred subsequent to a business combination meeting the criteria in CAS 404.50(d)(1). The revised CAS 409.50(j)(5) stipulates that the provisions of CAS 409.50(j) do not apply to business combinations and that the carrying values of tangible capital assets acquired subsequent to a business combination are to be established by the acquiring company in accordance with the provisions of CAS 404.50(d)(1). Consequently, since CAS 404.50(d)(1) does not recognize an increase or decrease in the asset values as a result of a business combination, any gain or loss realized by the seller on disposition of assets as a result of the business combination is also not recognized.
  • (6) Assets dispositioned in a business combination meeting the criteria in CAS 404.50(d)(2). The April 15, 1996 revision to CAS 409.50(j)(5) does not apply to assets dispositioned in a business combination meeting the criteria in CAS 404.50(d)(2), i.e., the tangible capital assets acquired in the business combination did not generate either depreciation expense or cost of money charges during the most recent cost accounting period. Therefore, the provision on the recapture of gains and losses would apply to the dispositioned assets. However, for contracts awarded prior to April 24, 1998, tangible capital assets meeting the requirements of CAS 404.50(d)(2) must still comply with the requirements of FAR 31.205-16 and 52. Consequently, although the gain or loss may be recognized for CAS purposes, no gain or loss would be allowed per FAR. Effective April 24, 1998 (FAC 97-04), FAR 31.205-52 was revised to conform to the revised CAS 404 and 409. Therefore, gain or loss would be allowed for assets dispositioned in a business combination meeting the criteria in CAS 404.50(d)(2).

Average Charging Rates

(k) Where, in accordance with 9904.409-40(b)(1), the depreciation costs of like tangible capital assets used for similar purposes are directly charged to cost objectives on the basis of usage, average charging rates based on cost shall be established for the use of such assets. Any variances between total depreciation cost charged to cost objectives and total depreciation cost for the cost accounting period shall be accounted for in accordance with the contractor's established practice for handling such variances.

Practices for Determining Depreciation Methods

(l) Practices for determining depreciation methods, estimated service lives and estimated residual values need not be changed for assets acquired prior to compliance with this Standard if otherwise acceptable under applicable procurement regulations. However, if changes are effected such changes must conform to the criteria established in this Standard and may be effected on a prospective basis to cover the undepreciated balance of cost by agreement between the contracting parties pursuant to negotiation under subdivision (a)(4) (ii) or (iii) of the contract clause set out at 9903.201-4(a).


Authors Comment; The contractor may select any appropriate method of depreciation which reflects the pattern of consumption of services over the life of the asset. For example, an accelerated method is appropriate where the expected consumption of services is greatest in the early years of the asset life.'


Financial accounting methods are expected to approximate the pattern of consumption of services. Therefore, if the contractor continues to use previous methods found to be acceptable to the government on similar assets for financial accounting, no additional support of existing method will ordinarily be required.


A depreciation method selected for newly acquired assets which differs from the depreciation method currently used for like assets in similar circumstances must be supported by the contractor’s projection of expected consumption of services.


Depreciation costs are generally allocated as indirect costs to the cost objectives for which the assets provide service. They may be charged directly to cost objectives at average rates only if the charges are based on usage and the costs of all like assets used for similar purposes are also charged directly. Depreciation costs for assets included in service centers, where significant, must be charged to the service center.


The standard prohibits the depreciation of assets or asset groups below their residual value, if the residual value is greater than ten percent of the capitalized cost of the asset, or if the asset is real property. For personal property that has a residual value less than or equal to ten percent of the capitalized cost of the asset, the asset or asset group may be depreciated below residual value if the residual value is immaterial. Materiality should be determined based on the general criteria contained in 48 CFR 9903.305, Materiality.

Substantiation and Record Keeping Requirements

The standard requires the contractor to maintain adequate records which identify the age of the asset or asset group at retirement or withdrawal from active use. The record should contain such information as asset acquisition/disposition dates, date asset was withdrawn from active service, and any other factors that directly influence asset lives. The record need not be maintained solely for fixed asset accounting; it may be a record used for such other purposes as property insurance, income/property taxes, property control, or maintenance.

If supporting records are not available on the date the contractor must first comply with the standard, the estimated service lives should be those used for financial accounting. However, the required supporting records must be developed by the end of the second fiscal year after that date and used as a basis for estimated service lives on assets subsequently acquired.

Related Pages

CAS 409 - Depreciation of Tangible Capital Assets - Illustrations

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