Questions Chapter 10 (Continued)
(b) Assets acquired by gift or donation—when assets are acquired in this manner a strict cost
(c) Cash discount—when assets are purchased subject to a cash discount, the question of how
the discount should be handled occurs. If the discount is taken, it should be considered a
reduction in the asset cost. Different viewpoints exist, however, if the discount is not taken.
(d) Deferred payments—assets should be recorded at the present value of the consideration
exchanged between contracting parties at the date of the transaction. In a deferred payment
situation, there is an implicit (or explicit) interest cost involved, and the accountant should be
careful not to include this amount in the cost of the asset.
(e) Lump sum or basket purchase—sometimes a group of assets are acquired for a single lump
sum. When a situation such as this exists, the accountant must allocate the total cost among
the various assets on the basis of their relative fair value.
(f) Trade or exchange of assets—when one asset is exchanged for another asset, the accountant
is faced with several issues in determining the value of the new asset. The basic principle
involved is to record the new asset at the fair value of the new asset or the fair value of what is
13. The cost of such assets includes the purchase price, freight and handling charges incurred,
insurance on the equipment while in transit, cost of special foundations if required, assembly and
installation costs, and costs of conducting trial runs. Costs thus include all expenditures incurred in
X Cost = Cost allocated to land
Fair value of building and land