Para 6 of IAS 16 states that the Useful life of an Asset is: (a)Â Â the period over which an asset is expected to be available for use by an entity; or (b)Â Â the number of production or similar units expected to be obtained from the asset by an entity. Paras 56-57 state:
The future economic benefits embodied in an asset are consumed by an entity principally through its use. However, other factors, such as technical or commercial obsolescence and wear and tear while an asset remains idle, often result in the diminution of the economic benefits that might have been obtained from the asset. Consequently, all the following factors are considered in determining the useful life of an asset –
(a)Â Â expected usage of the asset. Usage is assessed by reference to the asset’s expected capacity or physical output.
(b)Â Â expected physical wear and tear, which depends on operational factors such as the number of shifts for which the asset is to be used and the repair and maintenance program, and the care and maintenance of the asset while idle.
(c)Â Â technical or commercial obsolescence arising from changes or improvements in production, or from a change in the market demand for the product or service output of the asset.
(d)Â legal or similar limits on the use of the asset, such as the expiry dates of related leases.
- The useful life of assets is defined in terms of the asset’s expected utility to the entity. The asset management policy of the entity may involve the disposal of assets after a specified time or after consumption of a specified proportion of the future economic benefits embodied in the asset. Therefore, the useful life of an asset may be shorter than its economic life. The estimation of the useful life of the asset is a matter of judgement based on the experience of the entity with similar assets.
