impairmentpróf

Impairmentpróf, or impairment test, is an accounting process used to determine whether the carrying amount of an asset or a cash‑generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs of disposal and its value in use (the present value of expected future cash flows). If the carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount, an impairment loss is recognized in the income statement and the asset’s carrying amount is reduced to the recoverable amount.

Standards and scope vary by jurisdiction, but under IFRS the impairment test is governed primarily by IAS 36. Goodwill and indefinite‑lived intangible assets must be tested at least annually; other assets are tested when there are indications of impairment. Testing can be conducted at the level of an individual asset or, more commonly, at a cash‑generating unit level.

Indicators of impairment include external factors such as adverse economic conditions or declines in market value, and internal factors such as obsolescence, physical damage, or underutilization. The process typically involves estimating the recoverable amount, which may require forecasting future cash flows, selecting appropriate discount rates, and considering market prices.

Recognition and measurement: the impairment loss is the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and its recoverable amount, and is recorded in the income statement. Allocation of impairment losses is done to the asset or to the cash‑generating unit, with consideration given to the unit’s structure.

Reversal: under IFRS, impairment losses can be reversed for most assets in a later period if the recoverable amount increases, but not for goodwill. Reversals are limited so that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed what it would have been had no impairment occurred, minus depreciation or amortization. Disclosures typically include the impairment loss(s) recognized, key assumptions, and sensitivity to changes in those assumptions.