Capitalization of Interest Costs

TLDR: In this article, the authors examined the nature of the costs of fixed assets that can be capitalized and concluded that there are finely balanced arguments in favour and against capitalization of interest costs, and the requirements that are applicable to those enterprises that do not capitalize borrowing costs are aimed at ensuring a consistent capitalization policy is adopted within the enterprise.

Abstract: Capitalization of interest, from the financial stand-point, refers to the cost associated with the borrowing of funds, or obtaining a loan in order to finance the acquisition of certain fixed assets. The focal point of this paper is an examination of the nature of the costs of fixed assets that can be capitalized Consequently, discussions revolve around the meaning of capitalization of interest or borrowing costs; steps that are involved in the computation of capitalization of interest costs; the arguments in favour and against interest costs capitalization. Technical difficulties or problems that confront an organization‘s policy on capitalization of interest costs such as the identification of the amount of financing costs that should be capitalized are also discussed. The paper concludes that there are finely balanced arguments in favour and against capitalisation. Furthermore, enterprises should be allowed to decide whether or not to capitalize their borrowing costs on fixed assets that take a substantial period of time to bring into service; and the requirements that are applicable to those enterprises that do not capitalize borrowing costs are aimed at ensuring that a consistent capitalization policy is adopted within the enterprise. Again, through disclosure the impact of capitalization on the results and financial position of the enterprise are understood; and that there is comparability between enterprises capitalizing interest costs