Updated: April 2025
IAS 16 sets the rules for accounting for Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE). This guide breaks it down clearly, plus it includes 2 free video lectures and downloadable IAS 16 compliance checklist.

Jump to section:

1. Free VIDEO lecture: Overview of IAS 16 in 10 minutes
2. Recognition of Property, Plant and Equipment
3. Initial & subsequent costs of PPE
4. Initial measurement of PPE
5. Subsequent measurement of PPE: cost model and revaluation model
6. Free VIDEO lecture: Revaluation model explained with example
7. Depreciation
8. Note to impairment under IAS 36
9. Derecognition of PPE
10. DOWNLOAD IAS 16 Compliance Checklist (including disclosures)
11. Further reading&learning

1. Overview of IAS 16 in 10 minutes (free VIDEO lecture)

 

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2. Recognition of Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are tangible items that are held:

  • for use in the production or supply of goods or services,
  • for rental to others, or
  • for administrative purposes;

and are expected to be used during more than one period (IAS 16.6).

IAS 16.7 states that the cost of an item of property, plant and equipment shall be recognized as an asset if, and only if:

  • it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the entity; and
  • the cost of the item can be measured reliably.

This recognition principle shall be applied to all costs at the time they are incurred, both incurred initially to acquire or construct an item of property, plant and equipment and incurred subsequently after recognition to add to, replace part of or service it.

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3. Initial and subsequent costs of PPE

2.1 Initial costs

Some items of property, plant and equipment might be necessary to acquire for safety or environmental reasons. (IAS 16.11)

Although they do not directly increase the future economic benefits, they might be inevitable to obtain future economic benefits from other assets and therefore, should be recognized as an asset.

For example, water cleaning station might be necessary in order to proceed with some chemical processes within chemical manufacturer.

2.2 Subsequent costs

Day-to-day servicing of the item shall be recognized in profit or loss as incurred, because they just maintain (not enhance) item’s capacity to bring future economic benefits. (IAS 16.12,13)

However, some parts of the item of property, plant and equipment may require replacement at regular intervals, for example, aircraft interiors.

In such a case, an entity derecognizes carrying amount of older part and recognizes the cost of new part into the carrying amount of the item. The same applies to major inspections for faults, overhauling and similar items.

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4. Initial measurement of PPE

An item of property, plant and equipment that qualifies for recognition as an asset shall be measured at its cost (IAS 16.15)

The cost of an item of property, plant and equipment comprises (IAS 16.16):

  1. its purchase price including import duties, non-refundable purchase taxes, after deducting trade discounts and rebates
  2. any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management. Examples of these costs are: costs of site preparation, professional fees, initial delivery and handling, installation and assembly, etc.,
  3. the initial estimate of the costs of dismantling and removing the item and restoring the site on which it is located.

The cost of an item of property, plant and equipment is the cash price equivalent at the recognition date.

If payment is deferred beyond normal credit terms, the difference between the cash price equivalent and the total payment is recognized as interest over the period of credit (unless such interest is capitalized in accordance with IAS 23).

If an asset is acquired in exchange for another non-monetary asset, the cost will be measured at the fair value unless:

  • the exchange transaction lacks commercial substance or
  • the fair value of neither the asset received nor the asset given up is reliably measurable.

If the acquired item is not measured at fair value, its cost is measured at the carrying amount of the asset given up.

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5. Subsequent Measurement of PPE


An entity may choose 2 accounting models for its property plant and equipment:

  1. Cost model: An entity shall carry an asset at its cost less any accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses.
  2. Revaluation model:An entity shall carry an asset at a revalued amount. Revalued amount is its fair value at the date of the revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

An entity shall revalue its assets with sufficient regularity so that the carrying amount does not differ materially from its fair value at the end of the reporting period. If an item of property, plant and equipment is revalued, the entire class of property, plant and equipment to which that asset belongs shall be revalued.

The change of asset’s carrying amount as a result of revaluation shall be treated in the following way:

Change in Carying Amount Where
Increase Other comprehensive income (heading “Revaluation surplus”) Profit or loss if reverses previous revaluation decrease of the same value
Decrease Profit or loss Other comprehensive income if reduces previously recognized revaluation surplus (heading “Revaluation surplus”)

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6. Revaluation model explained with example (free video lecture)

You can learn more about the revaluation model in this video:

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7. Depreciation (both models)

Depreciation is defined as the systematic allocation of the depreciable amount of an asset over its useful life.

The items of property, plant and equipment are usually depreciated in order to maintain matching principle – as they are in operation for more than 1 year, they assist in producing the revenues in more than 1 year and therefore, their cost shall be spread among those years in order to match the revenue they help to produce.

When dealing with the depreciation please do have 3 basic things in mind:

  • Depreciable amount: Depreciable amount is simply HOW MUCH you are going to depreciate. It is the cost of an asset, or other amount substituted for cost, less its residual value.
  • Depreciation period: Depreciation period is simply HOW LONG you are going to depreciate and it is basically asset’s useful life.

    Useful life is the period over which an asset is expected to be available for use by an entity; or the number of production or similar units expected to be obtained from the asset by an entity.

    IFRS16 lists several factors that shall be considered when establishing item’s useful life:

    • expected usage of the item,
    • expected physical wear and tear,
    • technical or commercial obsolescence of the item, and
    • legal or other limits on the use of the asset.

    Useful life and asset’s residual value (input to depreciable amount) shall be reviewed at least at the end of each financial year.

    If there is a change in the expectations comparing to previous estimates, then change shall be accounted for as a change in an accounting estimate in line with IAS 8 (no restatement of previous periods).

  • Depreciation method: Depreciation method is simply HOW, IN WHAT MANNER you are going to depreciate.

    The depreciation method used shall reflect the pattern in which the asset’s future economic benefits are expected to be consumed by the entity.

    An entity may select from variety of depreciation methods, such as straight-line method, diminishing balance method and the units of production methods.

    Selected method shall be reviewed at least at the end of each financial year. If there is a change in the expected pattern of asset’s usage, then the depreciation method shall be changed and be accounted for as a change in an accounting estimate in line with IAS8 (no restatement of previous periods).

    Depreciation shall be recognized in profit or loss unless it is capitalized into the carrying amount of another asset (for example, inventories, or another item of property, plant and equipment).

    Each part of an item of property, plant and equipment with a cost that is significant in relation to the total cost of the item shall be depreciated separately. For example, aircraft interior cost might be depreciated separately from the remaining airplane cost.

IAS 16 Depreciation

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8. Note to Impairment (IAS 36)

Here, IAS 16 refers to another standard, IAS 36 Impairment of Assets, that prescribes rules for reviewing the carrying amount of assets, determining their recoverable amount and impairment loss, recognizing and reversing impairment loss and more.

IAS 16 states that compensation from third parties for items of property, plant and equipment that were impaired, lost or given up shall be included in profit or loss when the compensation becomes receivable.

For example, claim for compensation of damage on insured property from insurance company is recognized to profit or loss when insurance company accepts claim, closes the case and agrees to compensate (or after whatever procedure is agreed in the insurance contract).

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9. Derecognition of PPE

IAS 16 prescribes that the carrying amount of an item of property, plant and equipment shall be derecognized on disposal; or when no future economic benefits are expected from its use or disposal.

The gain (not classified as revenue!) or loss arising from the derecognition of an item of property, plant and equipment shall be included in profit or loss when the item is derecognized. The gain or loss from the derecognition is calculated as the net disposal proceeds (usually income from sale of item) less the carrying amount of the item.

IAS 16 Derecogniton of PPE

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10. IAS 16 Compliance Checklist – free DOWNLOAD

IAS 16 Checklist

  1. Recognition Criteria
    • Will the asset provide future economic benefits?
    • Can the cost be measured reliably?
  2. Initial Measurement
    • Purchase price includes import duties and non-refundable taxes
    • Directly attributable costs included (e.g., site preparation, installation)
    • Dismantling/restoration obligations estimated and added
    • For exchanges: fair value used unless not measurable or lacks commercial substance
  3. Subsequent Expenditures
    • Routine maintenance expensed
    • Replacement of significant parts: old part derecognized, new capitalized
    • Major inspections capitalized and depreciated separately
  4. Measurement After Recognition
    • Cost model OR revaluation model selected and applied consistently
    • Revaluations done regularly (if applicable)
    • Entire class of assets revalued (not just selected items)
  5. Depreciation
    • Method reflects usage pattern (straight-line, diminishing balance, units of production)
    • Useful life and residual value reviewed at least annually
    • Significant components depreciated separately
    • Changes treated as accounting estimates (IAS 8)
  6. Impairment
    • Reviewed for impairment under IAS 36 when indicators exist
    • Compensation for damage/loss recognized when receivable
  7. Derecognition
    • Derecognize on disposal or when no future benefits expected
    • Gain/loss = Proceeds minus Carrying Amount (reported in P/L)
  8. Disclosure Requirements (Summary)
    • Measurement basis (cost or revaluation)
    • Depreciation methods and useful lives or rates
    • Gross carrying amount and accumulated depreciation (beginning and end)
    • Reconciliation of carrying amount (additions, disposals, revaluations, depreciation, impairment, etc.)
    • Restrictions on title and PPE pledged as security
    • Expenditures recognized in the carrying amount of PPE in the course of its construction
    • Contractual commitments for acquisition of PPE
    • Compensation received from third parties (e.g., for loss or damage)
    • For revalued assets:
      • Date of revaluation and use of independent valuer
      • Carrying amount under cost model
      • Revaluation surplus movement (OCI and equity)

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Further reading

Explore more on IAS 16: Visit this page to access the full library of all IAS 16-related articles, videos, and examples published by CPDbox.

Learn IFRS with real examples – not just theory.

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