Impairment definition

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘impairment.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. ABC Company, based in Florida, purchased a building many years ago at a historical cost of $250,000. It has taken a total of $100,000 in depreciation on the building and therefore has $100,000 in accumulated depreciation. The building’s carrying value, or book value, is $150,000 on the company’s balance sheet. An impaired capital event occurs when a company’s total capital becomes less than the par value of the company’s capital stock.

• Amortisation is the more gradual, common decrease in the value of an intangible asset.
• Impairment refers to the reduction in the value of a company asset, either a fixed asset or an intangible asset.
• This person may be able to perform the
  daily activity (reading) using some type of assistive technology to overcome this
  handicap.

Amortisation is the more gradual, common decrease in the value of an intangible asset. Amortisation is tracked and accounted for over time based on the useful life of the asset and the expected resale value. Under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), assets are considered to be impaired when their fair value falls below their book value. An asset’s carrying value, also known as its book value, is the value of the asset net of accumulated depreciation that is recorded on a company’s balance sheet. For example, a construction company may face extensive damage to its outdoor machinery and equipment due to a natural disaster.

GAAP Requirements for Impairment

Cindy already experiences a handicap as compared with other children in her class at school, and she may fail third grade. Her condition will become more handicapping as she gets older if an effective approach is not found to improve her reading or to teach her to compensate for her reading difficulties. Even if the level of disability stays severe (that is, she never learns to read well), this will be less handicapping if she learns to tape lectures and “read” books on audiotapes. Using such approaches, even in elementary school, can prevent her reading disability from interfering with her progress in other academic areas (increasing her handicap). Impairment refers to the reduction in the value of a company asset, either a fixed asset or an intangible asset. The entire value of the asset is not typically recorded as a loss, but most often the difference between the predicted cash flow of the asset and the book value (if the book value is higher) is the amount recorded as a loss.

The impairment may be caused by a change in the company’s legal or economic circumstances or by a casualty loss from an unforeseeable disaster. Although often applied differently, impairment occurs when the value of a fixed asset drops dramatically lower than it’s market or book value. This can cause ramifications in the balance sheet based on the value that has been recorded for the asset. The value of fixed assets such as buildings, land, machinery, and equipment can be susceptible to impairment. The decline in their value could be due to any number of factors, such as wear and tear, poor management, new competition, technological innovations, etc.

Fixed assets that are susceptible to impairment should be checked regularly by an accountant who can then handle the write-off for the loss amount in the business accounts. The disability can probably be improved by trying different teaching methods and using those that seem most effective with Cindy. Under GAAP, an impaired asset must be recorded as a loss on the income statement. It is important to compare the value of the asset to the fair market value to help determine the loss.

More meanings of impairment

He has little handicap in his preschool classroom, though he needs some assistance to move about the classroom and from one activity to another outside the classroom. Appropriate services and equipment can reduce the extent to which cerebral palsy prevents David from fulfilling a normal role in the home, school and community as he grows. The overall goal of asset impairment is to periodically evaluate a company’s assets to make sure the total value of the assets is not being overstated. An impaired asset is one that has a market value less than what is listed on the company’s balance sheet. There are various factors that can affect an asset’s value so periodically checking its value is prudent business management. The value of fixed assets such as machinery and equipment depreciates over time.

A person who is born blind (the impairment)
is unable to read printed material, which is how most information is widely
disseminated (the disability). If this person is
prevented from attending school or applying for a job because of this
impairment and disability, this is a handicap. This person may be able to perform the
daily activity (reading) using some type of assistive technology to overcome this
handicap. By attributing the handicap to the environment as opposed to an
individual, the emphasis is placed on using AT to produce
functional outcomes as opposed to focusing on functional limitations. In accounting, impairment is the diminishing in quality, strength, amount, or value of an asset.

How impairment is determined

If any impairment exists, the accountant writes off the difference between the fair value and the carrying value. Fair value is normally derived as the sum of an asset’s undiscounted expected future cash flows and its expected salvage value, which is what the company expects to receive from selling or disposing of the asset at the end of its life. David’s cerebral palsy is handicapping to the extent that it prevents him from fulfilling a normal role at home, in preschool, and in the community. His level of handicap has been only very mild in the early years as he has been well-supported to be able to play with other children, interact normally with family members and participate fully in family and community activities. As he gets older, his handicap will increase where certain sports and physical activities are considered “normal” activities for children of the same age.

The amount of depreciation taken in each accounting period is based on a predetermined schedule using either a straight line method or one of a number of accelerated depreciation methods. The generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) define an asset as impaired when its fair value is lower than its book value. To check an asset for impairment, the total profit, cash flow, or other benefit expected to be generated by the asset is compared with its current book value. If it is determined that the book value of the asset is greater than the future cash flow or benefit of the asset, an impairment is recorded. When testing an asset for impairment, the total profit, cash flow, or other benefits that can be generated by the asset is periodically compared with its current book value. If the book value of the asset exceeds the future cash flow or other benefits of the asset, the difference between the two is written off, and the value of the asset declines on the company’s balance sheet.

An asset can become less valuable because of use, as is often the case with assets like machinery for instance, or an asset simply depreciates in value over time. Track the value of your assets and depreciation by registering them in online accounting software like Debitoor. If there is impairment, then the difference between the fair value of the asset and its carrying amount is written off. This write-off occurs at once; the charge is not spread over multiple accounting periods. This situation exists when the cash flows or other benefits generated by an asset decline, as determined through a periodic assessment process.

Any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function. A debit entry is made to “Loss from Impairment,” which will appear on the income statement as a reduction of net income, in the amount of $50,000 ($150,000 book value – $100,000 calculated fair value). Skylar Clarine is a fact-checker and expert in personal finance with a range of experience including veterinary technology and film studies.

Accounting for an Impairment

Depending on the situation, an impairment can cause a major decline in the book value of a business. An example of an impairment is when a tornado blows the roof off a factory, with rain ruining the machinery installed there. Certain assets, such as intangible goodwill, must be tested for impairment on an annual basis in order to ensure that the value of assets is not inflated on the balance sheet. Depreciation schedules allow for a set distribution of the reduction of an asset’s value over its lifetime, unlike impairment, which accounts for an unusual and drastic drop in the fair value of an asset. Unlike impairment of an asset, impaired capital can naturally reverse when the company’s total capital increases back above the par value of its capital stock.

Standard GAAP practice is to test fixed assets for impairment at the lowest level where there are identifiable cash flows. For example, an auto manufacturer should test for impairment for each of the machines in a manufacturing plant rather than for the high-level manufacturing plant itself. If there are no identifiable cash flows at this low level, it’s allowable to test for impairment at the asset group or entity level. Impairment is most commonly used to describe a drastic reduction in the recoverable value of a fixed asset.

Impairment vs. amortisation

Other accounts that may be impaired, and thus need to be reviewed and written down, are the company’s goodwill and its accounts receivable. Cindy is an 8-year-old who has extreme difficulty with reading (severe dyslexia). She went to an excellent preschool and several different special reading programs have been tried since early in kindergarten. His level of disability can be improved with physical therapy and special equipment.

Understanding Impairment

This will appear on its books as a sudden and large decline in the fair value of these assets to below their carrying value. The inability to move the legs easily at the joints and inability to bear weight on the feet is an impairment. Without orthotics and surgery to release abnormally contracted muscles, David’s level of impairment may increase as imbalanced muscle contraction over a period of time can cause hip dislocation and deformed bone growth. As part of the same entry, a $50,000 credit is also made to the building’s asset account, to reduce the asset’s balance, or to another balance sheet account called the “Provision for Impairment Losses.” After assessing the damages, ABC Company determines the building is now only worth $100,000. The building is therefore impaired and the asset value must be written down to prevent overstatement on the balance sheet.