What Is a Fixed Asset?

What Is a Fixed Asset?

A fixed asset is a long-term tangible property or equipment a company uses to operate its business. Fixed assets include buildings, computer equipment, software, furniture, land, machinery, and vehicles. Companies can depreciate the value of these assets to account for wear and tear. Fixed assets commonly appear on a company balance sheet as property, plant, and equipment (PP&E).

Accounting for Fixed Assets

A company's balance sheet statement includes its assets, liabilities, and shareholder equity. Assets are divided into current assets and noncurrent assets, the difference of which lies in their useful lives. Current assets are typically liquid and can be converted into cash in less than a year. Current assets include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable (AR), inventory, and prepaid expenses.

Fixed assets are noncurrent assets that are not easily converted to cash. Noncurrent assets also include long-term investments, deferred charges, and intangible assets. These assets won't be depleted or sold within the accounting period. A fixed asset has a physical form and is reported on the balance sheet as PP&E. Companies purchase fixed assets to produce goods or services, for office and operating use, or to rent to third parties. Fixed assets are depreciated, while current assets are not.

Depreciation

Fixed assets lose value as they age. Because they provide long-term income, these assets are expensed differently than other items. Tangible assets are subject to periodic depreciation while intangible assets are subject to amortization.

A certain amount of an asset's cost is expensed annually. The asset's value decreases along with its depreciation on the company's balance sheet to match its long-term value. How a business depreciates an asset can cause its book value, the asset value that appears on the balance sheet, to differ from the current market value (CMV).

Acquisition and Disposal

The acquisition or disposal of a fixed asset is recorded on a company's cash flow statement under the cash flow from investing activities. The purchase of fixed assets represents a cash outflow to the company while a sale is a cash inflow. If the asset's value falls below its net book value, it is subject to an impairment write-down. Its recorded value on the balance sheet is adjusted downward to reflect that it is overvalued compared to the market value.

When a fixed asset reaches the end of its useful life, it is usually disposed of by selling it for a salvage value. This is the asset's estimated value if broken down and sold in parts. In some cases, the asset may become obsolete and will, therefore, be disposed of without receiving any payment in return. The fixed asset is written off the balance sheet since it is no longer used.

The Bottom Line

A fixed asset is long-term tangible property or equipment a company owns and uses to generate income. These assets are not expected to be sold or used within a year and are sometimes recorded on the balance sheet as property, plant, and equipment (PP&E). Fixed assets are subject to depreciation, whereas intangible assets are amortized. Fixed assets are often contrasted with current assets, which are expected to be converted to cash or used within a year.