2.1 Overview
ASC 360-10
35-15
There are unique requirements of accounting for the
impairment or disposal of long-lived assets to be held and
used or to be disposed of. Although this guidance deals with
matters which may lead to the ultimate disposition of
assets, it is included in this Subsection because it
describes the measurement and classification of assets to be
held and used and assets held for disposal before actual
disposition and derecognition. See the Impairment or
Disposal of Long-Lived Assets Subsection of Section
360-10-40 for a discussion of assets or asset groups for
which disposition has taken place in an exchange or
distribution to owners.
Long-lived assets within the scope of ASC 360-10 are accounted for
and tested for impairment differently depending on the entity’s intent with regard
to the assets. Long-lived assets classified as held and used are those that the
entity intends to recover through use. Long-lived assets the entity intends to
recover through sale are classified as held and used until the held-for-sale
classification criteria are met (Chapter 3). Long-lived assets the entity intends to dispose of other
than by sale are classified as held and used until they are disposed of (Chapter 4).
ASC 360-10 contains a specific framework for accounting for long-lived assets
classified as held and used. Under ASC 360-10-35-21, long-lived assets that are
classified as held and used “shall be tested for recoverability whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that [their] carrying amount may not be
recoverable.” In addition, ASC 360-10-35-23 states that such assets “shall be
grouped with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable
cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and
liabilities.”
In accordance with ASC 360-10-35-17, a long-lived asset (asset group) is not
recoverable if its carrying amount “exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows
expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset (asset
group).” When a long-lived asset (asset group) is not recoverable, it is necessary
to determine its fair value since “[a]n impairment loss shall be measured as the
amount by which the carrying amount of a long-lived asset (asset group) exceeds its
fair value.”