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Software Development Cost Analysis

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FASB defines research as planned search or investigation to discover new knowledge; it defines development as the translation of research findings into a plan or design. Under US GAAP, both research and development costs are expensed as incurred. While under IFRS (IAS 38), costs associated with the creation of intangible assets are classified into research phase costs and development phase costs. Costs in the research phase are always expensed (PWC, pg. 6-7). However, IFRS has broad-based guidance that requires companies to capitalize development expenditures, including internal costs, when certain criteria are met (KPMG). Further differences might exist in such areas as software development costs, where US GAAP provides specific detailed …show more content…

6-8). For an asset to have alternative use, it must be reasonably expected (greater than a 50% chance) that an entity will achieve economic benefit from such alternative use and further development is not needed at the acquisition date to use the asset (E&Y, pg. 6-9).While under IFRS, acquired research and development assets are capitalized if it is probable that they will have future economic benefits. The price paid reflects expectations about the probability that the future economic benefits of the asset will flow to the entity. The probability recognition criterion is always assumed to be met for separately acquired intangible assets (E&Y, pg. 6-9). The starting point for companies applying IFRS is to differentiate between costs that are related to ‘research’ activities versus those related to ‘development’ activities. According to KPMG, while the definition of what constitutes ‘research’ versus ‘development’ is very similar between IFRS and US GAAP, neither provides a bright line on separating the two. Instead, a company needs to develop processes and controls that allow it to make that distinction based on the nature of different activities. To analyse the differences in accounting under IFRS and US GAAP, it can be better understood with the example. The Boeing Company follows

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