Determine Capitalization Thresholds
Before You Begin
The University capitalizes all property and equipment that, in general, have a useful life of more than one year and a unit value equal to or greater than the capitalization thresholds.
Begin
To determine capitalization thresholds:
- Consult Classify Equipment and Property to determine the classification of equipment or property.
- Consult Determine the Value of Equipment or Property to determine how to value your equipment or property.
- Review the information below to determine capitalization thresholds. Click on a link to open or close it:
Moveable equipment is capitalized if its value is $5,000 or more.
Inexhaustible collections are not capitalized unless they were already capitalized as of June 30, 1999, when new accounting guidelines went into effect. If a collection qualifies for capitalization, it is capitalized regardless of its value.
Exhaustible collections follow moveable equipment capitalization thresholds for the collection as a whole.
Intangible assets (software, trademarks, patents, easements, and copyrights) are capitalized if purchase or development costs are $100,000 or more. Software and other intangible assets are not subject to capitalization if they are to be leased or sold, used in research and have no alternative uses, or are developed for others under contractual arrangements.
Land
Site Improvements - Material and identifiable site improvement costs must be recorded as a capital asset if the improvement total is $100,000 or more. Immaterial or unidentifiable site improvement costs are either expensed or capitalized as part of building or infrastructure project costs.
Buildings
All buildings are capitalized if the cost is $100,000 or more.
Remodel/Renovation - Repairs and maintenance are always expensed. Remodeling or renovation may be capitalized if a project:
- Costs $100,000 or more.
- Significantly increases the efficiency, usefulness, or service life of a building.
- Involves enhancing or replacing something within the existing structural “footprint” (foundation/number of floors, that is, gross square footage) of a building.
The cost of building components removed during renovation is considered fully depreciated. Therefore, an asset's original recorded value is not adjusted for the historical cost of elements removed. Consequently, no effort is made to value and adjust for the cost of components removed during renovation/remodeling.
Replacements - Costs incurred to replace elements of existing assets are capitalized or expensed according to the type of property and its capitalization threshold.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is capitalized if a project’s total cost is $1,000,000 or more.
Related Policies and Procedures
Classify Equipment and Property
Determine the Value of Equipment or Property
Last Updated: June 1, 2011 | Approved: Senior Associate Vice President for Business and Finance - June 2011