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Microlesson · 5-min read

Cost of PPE – Items Excluded from Capitalisation

## PPE Cost: What Must NOT Be Capitalised

AS 10 – Property, Plant and Equipment defines the cost of a PPE item. However, certain costs — even if incurred at the same time — must not form part of the asset's cost.

### Costs That Are EXCLUDED from PPE Cost

Excluded CostReason
Costs of opening a new facility (e.g., inauguration costs)Business development, not asset creation
Costs of introducing a new product or service (including advertising and promotional activities)Revenue in nature
Costs of conducting business in a new location or with a new customer class (including staff training costs)Operational/revenue cost
Administration and general overhead costsCannot be directly attributed to the asset

### The Correct Test for Capitalisation

A cost should be included in PPE only if it:

1. Is directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for its intended use, AND

2. Results in future economic benefits flowing to the entity

### Common Capitalisation Errors in Practice

Companies often attempt to capitalise inauguration parties, product launch campaigns, and general management time during a new unit setup. These are revenue expenses — expensing them reduces current profit, so there is always pressure to capitalise them incorrectly.

Worked example

### Example 1

Q (based on Q26): HR & Associates are auditing a company that capitalised the following as part of the cost of a new manufacturing unit's PPE: (a) factory inauguration ceremony costs ₹2.5 lakhs, (b) product launch advertising ₹8 lakhs, (c) training costs for staff on new machinery ₹3 lakhs, (d) directly attributable installation cost ₹15 lakhs. Which should be excluded?

A: Items (a), (b), and (c) must be EXCLUDED from PPE cost and expensed:

  • (a) Inauguration costs = opening a new facility = not directly attributable to the asset
  • (b) Product launch advertising = introducing new product = revenue in nature
  • (c) Staff training = operating a new location = revenue in nature

Only item (d) ₹15 lakhs (installation cost) is directly attributable to bringing the asset to its intended condition and should be capitalised.

Total incorrectly capitalised = ₹2.5L + ₹8L + ₹3L = ₹13.5 lakhs must be reversed and expensed.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Capitalising inauguration/launch event costs — these are always revenue expenses regardless of scale
  • Including training costs in PPE — staff training is always revenue expenditure even if training is on specific new machinery
  • Including advertising and promotional costs — these benefit future periods as revenue expenses, not the asset itself
  • Confusing 'directly attributable' costs (include) vs 'incidental to business operations at the time' (exclude)
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