The key issue of this article is the procedure for conservation of fixed assets. Fixed assets play a huge role in the labor process, as they collectively form the production and technical base and determine the production capacity of the enterprise. The relevance of this issue is that in a period of economic instability, it is important for the preservation of the organization to reduce costs.
Keyword: рreservation of fixed assets; depreciation; accounting; inventory; VAT.
In times of economic instability, cost-cutting is essential to maintaining the organization. Many companies primarily reduce staff costs, but there are measures that have much smaller social consequences, which can also reduce costs and, consequently, reduce losses. These measures include the reduction of depreciation charges in connection with the preservation of fixed assets.
Preservation of fixed assets is a set of measures that are aimed at long-term storage of fixed assets, in the event that there is a complete or partial cessation of economic activity with the probability of resuming their functioning. That is, in the case when the object of fixed assets for any reason is not used, the management of the organization may decide to preserve it for a certain period.
But it should be noted that when transferring fixed assets to conservation, the following difficulties arise:
- Insufficient legislative regulation of the General procedure for the transfer of fixed assets for conservation and their accounting;
- No standardized forms for the design of the preservation process;
- Existence of disputable questions concerning accounting and tax accounting of depreciation of the preserved property.
Since, at present, the procedure for conservation is not regulated by legislation, the entire initiative to conduct this process falls on the leadership of the current organization. However, there are some restrictions on objects subject to conservation, approved by the guidelines.
Thus, the legislation establishes the shortest period of conservation. The duration of this process should be at least three months. In this case, in the case of transfer of fixed assets for conservation for a period of more than 3 months, depreciation is suspended.
The transfer of fixed assets for conservation is carried out with the help of an individual Commission, which is created by the management of the organization. The task of this Commission is the registration of the necessary documentation and inspection of conservation facilities. Members of the individual Commission are heads of structural divisions, representatives of administration and technical services. The Commission also approves decisions on conservation, the list of objects, reasons and terms.
The procedure begins with a mandatory inventory. The final step is to draw up an act approving the transfer of fixed assets for conservation. The act is drawn up in any form, as a unified form is not developed.
As for accounting, the object transferred to conservation continues to be listed as part of fixed assets and is accounted for separately on account 01 «Fixed assets» sub-account «Fixed assets for conservation». At the same time, expenses related to the transfer of fixed assets for conservation are included in other expenses.
This procedure is made out in accounting as follows:
Table 1
Facts of economic life on the account of the process of conservation of fixed assets
№ |
The content of the business transaction |
Correspondence of accounts |
|
debit |
credit |
||
1 |
Object of fixed assets transferred to conservation |
01.2 |
01.01 |
2 |
The costs of conservation, deconservation and maintenance of mothballed fixed assets are taken into account. |
91.2 |
10(23,60.68,70) |
3 |
Resumption of operation of fixed assets |
01.01 |
01.02 |
During the conservation period, the value of the fixed asset is not excluded from the property tax base (regardless of how the tax is calculated-based on the cadastral or book value) [1]. But there is an exception: if the law of the subject of the Russian Federation provides for the exemption from tax of mothballed fixed assets and the organization complies with the conditions for granting this benefit.
It is important to note that if the fixed asset is used in activities subject to VAT,the «input» VAT on goods (works, services) purchased for the preservation of the fixed asset is deducted. Whereas, previously accepted to the deduction of «input» VAT on the main means transferred to conservation, is not restored.
In our opinion, it is important to assess the feasibility of transferring fixed assets to conservation, as in some cases this may adversely affect the efficiency of the company. Incorrectly executed documents can cause incorrect accounting and taxation of objects. The issue of regulation of the order of transfer of fixed assets for conservation remains open and requires improvement of legislation in this area.
References:
- Tax code of the Russian Federation (part second) from 05.08.2000 № 117-FZ (as amended on 28.07.2012);
- The order of the RF Ministry of Finance from 13.10.2003 N 91н (edited from 24.12.2010) «On approval of Methodical instructions on accounting of fixed assets» (Registered in Ministry of justice of Russia 21.11.2003 N 5252);
- Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation of March 30, 2001 №. 26n «on approval of the Regulations on accounting» Accounting of fixed assets " RAS 6/01»;
- Postnikova L. V., Korzhavinа, T. Y. Accounting. Educational method. manual / Postnikova L. V., Кorzhavina T. Y. — M.: MSHA, 2015.
- Horuzhiy L. I., Kharcheva I. V. Accounting and analysis. Part 1: Educational settlement / Horuzhiy L. I., Kharcheva I. V.-M.: Publishing house-MSHA, 2015.