Property, Plant and Equipment
Treatment under IFRS
Sachanlagen werden zu Anschaffungs-/Herstellungskosten oder nach der Neubewertungsmethode (Revaluation Model) bewertet. Planmäßige Abschreibungen über die wirtschaftliche Nutzungsdauer.
- Wahlrecht: Anschaffungskostenmodell oder Neubewertungsmodell (Fair Value).
- Komponentenansatz: wesentliche Teile einer Anlage werden separat abgeschrieben.
- Außerplanmäßige Abschreibungen nur bei Wertminderung (IAS 36 Impairment Test).
- Nachträgliche Aktivierungen, wenn künftiger Nutzenzufluss wahrscheinlich.
- Rückbauverpflichtungen sind in die Anschaffungskosten einzubeziehen (IAS 37).
Treatment under German GAAP (HGB)
Sachanlagen sind zu Anschaffungs- oder Herstellungskosten, vermindert um Abschreibungen, zu bilanzieren. Keine Neubewertung nach oben zulässig.
- § 253 Abs. 1 HGB: Anschaffungs-/Herstellungskosten als Bewertungsobergrenze.
- § 253 Abs. 3 HGB: planmäßige Abschreibungen nach Nutzungsdauer.
- § 255 HGB: Pflichtbestandteile der Herstellungskosten.
- § 268 Abs. 2 HGB: Anlagenspiegel als Pflichtangabe.
Key differences
- Neubewertungsmodell (Zeitwert über AHK) ist nach HGB nicht zulässig.
- Komponentenansatz nicht zwingend; HGB erlaubt einheitliche Abschreibung der Gesamtanlage.
- Außerplanmäßige Abschreibung im Anlagevermögen nur bei voraussichtlich dauernder Wertminderung (§ 253 Abs. 3 S. 5 HGB).
- Steuerliche Abschreibungsdauern (AfA-Tabellen) haben stärkere praktische Bedeutung als nach IFRS.
Example
Worked example
Assumptions: Machine, cost €1,000,000 at the start of Year 1, useful life 10 years, straight-line, no residual value. IFRS: the revaluation model is elected (an option, IAS 16.31). HGB: the cost model (the only permitted method). At the end of Year 4 the fair value is €900,000, above the carrying amount. Simplification: no transfer of the revaluation surplus to retained earnings, no deferred tax. All amounts in euros; due to rounding, figures may differ by ±€1.
Step 1 – Carrying amount to the end of Year 4 (identical in both systems)
Up to the revaluation, IFRS (cost basis) and HGB are identical: straight-line depreciation of €100,000 p.a.
| Year | Depreciation | Carrying amount |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | — | 1,000,000 |
| 1 | 100,000 | 900,000 |
| 2 | 100,000 | 800,000 |
| 3 | 100,000 | 700,000 |
| 4 | 100,000 | 600,000 |
Step 2 – Revaluation at the end of Year 4 (IFRS only)
- Fair value €900,000 − carrying amount €600,000 = revaluation surplus €300,000
- The write-up is recognised in other comprehensive income (OCI) and accumulated in equity as a revaluation surplus (IAS 16.39) – not in profit or loss.
- HGB: no write-up above cost (§ 253 (1) HGB) → carrying amount stays at €600,000.
Step 3 – Depreciation Years 5–10
Under IFRS the new carrying amount of €900,000 is depreciated over the remaining useful life of 6 years (€150,000 p.a.); under HGB unchanged at €100,000 p.a.
| Year | IFRS depr. | IFRS carrying amt | HGB depr. | HGB carrying amt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 150,000 | 750,000 | 100,000 | 500,000 |
| 6 | 150,000 | 600,000 | 100,000 | 400,000 |
| 7 | 150,000 | 450,000 | 100,000 | 300,000 |
| 8 | 150,000 | 300,000 | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| 9 | 150,000 | 150,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| 10 | 150,000 | 0 | 100,000 | 0 |
| Σ 5–10 | 900,000 | — | 600,000 | — |
Step 4 – Balance-sheet effect (carrying amount and equity)
The difference in carrying amounts equals the not-yet-depreciated revaluation surplus in equity.
| Year-end | IFRS carrying amt | HGB carrying amt | Difference (reval. surplus) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 900,000 | 600,000 | 300,000 |
| 5 | 750,000 | 500,000 | 250,000 |
| 6 | 600,000 | 400,000 | 200,000 |
| 7 | 450,000 | 300,000 | 150,000 |
| 8 | 300,000 | 200,000 | 100,000 |
| 9 | 150,000 | 100,000 | 50,000 |
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Step 5 – Effect on profit and equity
The €300,000 write-up increases equity without affecting profit (OCI). In Years 5–10 IFRS depreciation is €50,000 p.a. higher than under HGB (€300,000 in total), reducing profit accordingly. Over the entire useful life the total effect on equity is the same in both systems; IFRS merely shifts it in time and into OCI.
| IFRS | HGB | |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation over 10 years (P&L) | −1,300,000 | −1,000,000 |
| Revaluation in OCI | +300,000 | 0 |
| Total effect on equity | −1,000,000 | −1,000,000 |
Step 6 – Journal entries
IFRS – revaluation at the end of Year 4:
| Account | Debit | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Property, plant and equipment (machine) | 300,000 | |
| Revaluation surplus (OCI / equity) | 300,000 |
IFRS – depreciation Year 5:
| Account | Debit | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation expense | 150,000 | |
| Property, plant and equipment | 150,000 |
HGB: no revaluation entry (cost ceiling). Depreciation Year 5:
| Account | Debit | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation expense | 100,000 | |
| Property, plant and equipment | 100,000 |
Key takeaway
HGB treats cost as an absolute ceiling (§ 253 (1) HGB) – a write-up above historical cost is not permitted. IFRS offers the revaluation model as an option: the write-up to fair value is recognised in OCI (revaluation surplus) and subsequently leads to higher depreciation. Over the whole useful life the total effect on equity is identical (−€1,000,000); IFRS, however, shows higher carrying amounts in the interim and a separate revaluation surplus in equity.