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Microlesson · 5-min read

AS 28 — Treatment of Impairment Loss with Revaluation Reserve

# AS 28: Treatment of Impairment Loss — Revaluation Reserve

## General Rule

Impairment loss is recognized as an expense in Profit & Loss account.

## Exception — Asset Previously Revalued

When an asset has been upward-revalued in prior periods and a Revaluation Reserve exists for that specific asset:

### Sequence of Adjustment

StepAction
1stDebit Impairment Loss against Revaluation Reserve (up to available balance)
2ndAny remaining impairment loss → charge to P&L

> This prevents double-counting: the upward revaluation was credited to the reserve; the impairment reverses that gain before hitting the income statement.

## Post-Impairment Carrying Amount

Revised CA = Recoverable Amount (RA)

## Edge Case: If RA = Zero

If both VIU = 0 and NSP ≤ 0 (disposal costs exceed sale price), then:

RA = 0 → Impairment Loss = Full CA → Revised CA = zero

Worked example

### Example 1

Illustration 11 — With Revaluation Reserve:

Cost of Plant = ₹5.00 crores

Accumulated Depreciation = ₹4.15 crores

CA on 31.03.Y1 = ₹0.85 crores

Current year depreciation = ₹0.25 crores

CA on 31.03.Y2 = ₹0.60 crores

RA Computation (31.03.Y2):

  • NSP = ₹24 lakhs = ₹0.240 crores
  • VIU = ₹24.5 lakhs = ₹0.245 crores
  • RA = max(0.240, 0.245) = ₹0.245 crores

Impairment Loss = ₹0.60 − ₹0.245 = ₹0.355 crores

Revaluation Reserve balance = ₹0.12 crores

Treatment:

  • Adjusted against Revaluation Reserve = ₹0.12 crores
  • Balance to P&L = 0.355 − 0.12 = ₹0.235 crores

Revised CA = ₹0.245 crores

### Example 2

Extension of Illustration 11 — If RA = Zero:

CA before impairment = ₹0.60 crores

VIU = ₹0

NSP: SP = ₹0, Cost of disposal = ₹0.02 crores → NSP = −₹0.02 → treated as ₹0

RA = max(₹0, ₹0) = ₹0

Impairment Loss = ₹0.60 crores

(First ₹0.12 crores against Revaluation Reserve; remaining ₹0.48 crores to P&L if no reserve)

Revised CA = ₹0

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Charging the entire impairment loss to P&L when a Revaluation Reserve exists — the reserve must be debited first.
  • Reversing the sequence — some students adjust P&L first and then the reserve; AS 28 requires Reserve first, P&L second.
  • Using a general reserve or any revaluation reserve instead of the one specifically related to the impaired asset.
  • Confusing revised CA with RA — after impairment, the new carrying amount equals RA exactly.
Bare-Act text Para 60 · AS 28 (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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