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Microlesson · 5-min read

AS 28 – Impairment under Revaluation Model: Excess Depreciation and Eroding Revaluation Reserve

## AS 28 — Advanced: Revaluation Model with Excess Depreciation Transfer

### The Core Problem

When an asset is upward revalued, the new depreciation (based on the higher revalued amount) is greater than what it would have been at cost. This difference is the excess depreciation.

Each year, this excess depreciation is silently transferring value out of the Revaluation Reserve into Retained Earnings — so by the time an impairment occurs, the RR balance is lower than the original surplus.

---

### Excess Depreciation Transfer (Annual)

```

Excess Depreciation p.a. = Depreciation after revaluation

− Depreciation at cost (original rate)

Dr Revaluation Reserve XXX

Cr Retained Earnings (Reserves) XXX

```

> This is a reserve movement — it does NOT go through P&L. It represents the difference between the higher depreciation being charged on the revalued asset vs. what would have been charged at cost.

---

### RR Balance Available at Date of Impairment

```

Original Revaluation Reserve XXX

Less: Cumulative excess depreciation

transferred to Retained Earnings (XXX)

─────────────────────────────────────────────

RR Balance available for impairment set-off XXX

```

---

### Step-by-Step: Impairment under Revaluation Model

Step 1 — Compute revaluation surplus (original RR).

Step 2 — Compute excess depreciation per year:

```

Excess = Dep p.a. (post-revaluation) − Dep p.a. (pre-revaluation at cost)

```

Step 3 — Compute cumulative excess transferred:

```

Cumulative = Excess p.a. × Number of years since revaluation

```

Step 4 — Remaining RR at impairment date:

```

Remaining RR = Original RR − Cumulative excess

```

Step 5 — Set off impairment loss:

```

Dr Revaluation Reserve [up to remaining RR]

Cr PPE

Dr P&L (Impairment Loss) [balance, if any]

Cr PPE

```

---

### After Impairment: RR Balance = NIL (or residual)

Once RR is used up in the impairment, the balance becomes zero. The revised carrying amount = RA.

Worked example

### Example 1

CDR Illustration — Revaluation Reserve Eroded by Excess Depreciation

Phase 1: Before Revaluation

  • Pre-revaluation depreciation = ₹1.00 crore/year
  • After 4 years: CA = ₹3.00 crore (arrived at after charging dep at ₹1 crore/year)

Phase 2: Upward Revaluation on 01.04.2014

₹ Crores
CA before revaluation3.00
Fair value (revalued amount)5.10
Revaluation Surplus → RR2.10

Revised CA = ₹5.10 crore | Remaining life (reassessed) = 3 years

New annual depreciation = 5.10/3 = ₹1.70 crore/year

Phase 3: Excess Depreciation Transfer (FY 2014-15 and FY 2015-16)

Per Year2 Years
Dep after revaluation1.703.40
Dep at cost (original)1.002.00
Excess dep → Retained Earnings0.701.40

RR balance after 2 years = 2.10 − 1.40 = ₹0.70 crore

Phase 4: Impairment Test on 31.03.2016

₹ Crores
CA = 5.10 − 2 × 1.701.70
Recoverable Amount (given)0.79
Impairment Loss0.91

Phase 5: Allocation of Impairment Loss

₹ Crores
Absorbed by RR (limited to balance)0.70
Balance to P&L0.21
Total0.91

Journal Entries:

```

Dr Revaluation Reserve 0.70

Cr PPE 0.70

Dr P&L (Impairment Loss) 0.21

Cr PPE 0.21

```

Revised CA after impairment = ₹0.79 crore | RR balance = NIL

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Treating the original Revaluation Reserve as fully available at the date of impairment without deducting the cumulative excess depreciation already transferred to retained earnings.
  • Recording the annual excess depreciation transfer through P&L instead of as a reserve movement (Dr Revaluation Reserve / Cr Retained Earnings).
  • Confusing the direction of excess depreciation: it runs from RR to Retained Earnings (a credit to RE), not from RE to RR.
  • Failing to update the RR balance tracking when there are multiple periods between revaluation and impairment — always calculate cumulative excess for ALL years elapsed since revaluation.
Bare-Act text Paragraph 57 (Impairment Loss on Revalued Assets) · AS 28 — Impairment of Assets (ICAI) · click to expand
An impairment loss on a revalued asset is recognised as an expense in the statement of profit and loss. However, an impairment loss on a revalued asset is recognised directly against any revaluation surplus for the asset to the extent that the impairment loss does not exceed the amount held in the revaluation surplus for that same asset.
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