1. Policy Statement
State of Colorado Higher Education Accounting Standard #5, Capital Asset Reporting, sets guidelines on capitalizing construction expenses such as Land, Improvements to Land, Building, Leasehold Improvements and Equipment. In addition to building new structures, construction expenditures can also include repairs, renovations and remodeling. This policy and procedure is intended to clarify when to capitalize repair, renovation or remodeling expenditures as an asset in the Investment In Plant Fund.
2. Procedure
In all of the following discussion, if any part of the old asset is replaced or removed, the value of that portion replaced or removed should be deleted from the capitalized value.
Note: Higher Education Accounting Standard #5 uses a $50,000 threshold above which expenses are capitalized. However, the University of Colorado uses a $75,000 threshold by authorization of the State Controller.
3. Repairs
Repairs are the restoration of a capital asset to its full productive capacity without an increase in its previously estimated service life or productive capacity.
Capitalization Guidelines: Repairs costing $75,000 or less should not be capitalized. Repairs in excess of $75,000 should not be capitalized unless it can be shown that it extends the useful life of the asset or significantly changes the functionality of the asset in which the quantity or quality of the asset’s output is enhanced.
4. Renovation, Remodeling, Additions & Improvements
These categories may be considered as betterments which are expenditures having the effect of extending the useful life of an existing fixed asset.
Capitalization Guidelines: Expenditures in this category costing $75,000 or less should not be capitalized. Expenditures in excess of $75,000 should be capitalized unless it can be shown it does not extend the useful life of the asset.