A key characteristic that separates intangible assets from assets such as property, plant and equipment is:

Question

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Question restatement: A key characteristic that separates intangible assets from assets such as property, plant and equipment is:

Options:
1) length of useful life.
2) separability.
3) reliability.
4) lack of physical substance.

Analysis of each option:
Option 1 — length of useful life:
While useful life is a consideration for depreciation and amortization, it is not the defining feature that distinguishes intangible assets from tangible assets like property, plant, and equipment. Tangible assets also have finite or indefinite useful lives, depending on the asset, so this characteristic does not uniquely separate intangibles. Therefore this statement is not the key distinguishing feature.

Option 2 — separability:
Separability means an asset can be separated from the entity and sold, licensed, or otherwise transferred. This can apply to some intangible assets and to certain tangible assets as well. Because separability is not exclusive to intangible assets and tangible assets can also be separable, this is not the primary distinguishing characteristic that sets intangible assets apart. Hence, this option is not the core differentiator.

Option 3 — reliability:
Reliability as a concept relates to the trustworthiness of financial information or the asset's expected performance, but it is not a defining attribute that separates intangible assets from tangible ones. Both tangible and intangible assets can be reliable or unreliable in different contexts, so this is not the distinguishing feature.

Option 4 — lack of physical substance:
This is the fundamental attribute that separates intangible assets from tangible assets like property, plant, and equipment. Intangible assets, such as patents, trademarks, and software, do not have physical form, whereas tangible assets are physical in nature. This lack of physical substance is the defining characteristic used in accounting to classify intangible assets and differentiate them from tangible ones.

In summary, the options can be weighed by considering what uniquely differentiates intangible assets: only option 4 highlights the absence of physical substance, which is the standard distinguishing feature between intangible and tangible assets. The previous options do not capture this core distinction and thus do not serve as the primary differentiator.

22420 Accounting Standards and Regulations - Spring 2025 Checkpoint week 4

A key characteristic that separates intangible assets from assets such as property, plant and equipment is:

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