The recognition of an item as an intangible asset requires an enterprise to demonstrate that the item meets the definition of an intangible asset and recognition criteria set out as below:
- It is probable that the future economic benefits that are attributable to the asset will flow to the enterprise. An enterprise uses judgement to assess the degree of certainty attached to the flow of future economic benefits that are attributable to the use of the asset on the basis of the evidence availabl at the time of initial recognition, giving greater weight to external evidence and
- The cost of the asset can be measured reliably.
These recognition criteria apply to both costs incurred to acquire an intangible asset and those incurred to generate an asset internally. However, the standard also imposes certain additional criteria for the recognition of internally-generated intangible assets.
When assessing the probability of expected future economic benefits, reasonable and supportable assumptions should be used, representing management’s best estimate of the set of economic conditions that will exist over the useful life of the asset.
An intangible asset should be measured initially at cost.