tillgångsbegreppet

The concept of "tillgångsbegreppet" translates to "asset concept" in English. It is a fundamental notion in accounting and finance, referring to resources controlled by an entity as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity. This definition is widely used in accounting standards, such as International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Swedish accounting principles.

For something to be classified as an asset, three main criteria must be met. Firstly, it must be a resource controlled by the entity. This control is typically established through legal ownership or other rights that allow the entity to obtain the future economic benefits. Secondly, the resource must be a result of past events. This means the entity has already acquired or created the resource. Thirdly, future economic benefits must be expected to flow to the entity. These benefits can take various forms, such as cash inflows, reduced cash outflows, or the ability to use the resource in the production of goods or services.

Assets are typically categorized into current assets and non-current assets. Current assets are those expected to be realized, sold, or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle of the business, whichever is longer. Examples include cash, accounts receivable, and inventory. Non-current assets, also known as fixed assets, are those with a useful life of more than one year, such as property, plant, and equipment, and intangible assets. The classification of assets is crucial for understanding an entity's liquidity, financial structure, and overall economic position.