Browse Accounting

Fixed, Tangible, Intangible, and Noncurrent Assets

Accounting terms for fixed assets, intangible assets, plant assets, tangible assets, and non-current assets.

Fixed, Tangible, Intangible, and Noncurrent Assets covers fixed assets, intangible assets, plant assets, tangible assets, and non-current assets.

Use these pages when asset measurement changes book value, earnings timing, impairment risk, return metrics, collateral value, or valuation assumptions. It sits inside Asset Classes and Balance Sheet Presentation, so readers can move up when the broader accounting context matters.

Use the table below to choose the narrower accounting branch before applying a term to a statement line, model input, audit trail, tax schedule, covenant test, or management report.

What This Branch Covers

AreaUse it for
Fixed AssetA fixed asset is a long-lived asset held for continuing business use rather than near-term sale and is commonly depreciated or otherwise allocated over time.
Intangible AssetAn intangible asset is a nonphysical asset with economic value, such as a patent, trademark, license, or acquired goodwill.
Non-Current AssetsNon-current assets are long-lived assets not expected to be converted into cash or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle.
Plant AssetsPlant assets are long-lived tangible assets such as land, buildings, and machinery used in operations.
Tangible AssetA tangible asset is an asset with physical substance, such as land, buildings, equipment, inventory, or vehicles, that can be used, sold, or valued directly.

What to Check

  • Asset type, cost basis, capitalized amount, useful life, depreciation or amortization policy, and impairment trigger.
  • Balance sheet line, acquisition record, capitalization policy, impairment test, appraisal, disposal record, and note disclosure.
  • Carrying value, fair value, recoverable amount, residual value, accumulated depreciation, goodwill, and lease right-of-use asset.
  • Whether the issue affects earnings, equity, taxes, covenant ratios, collateral, or valuation multiples.
  • Comparability across GAAP, IFRS, peer policies, and reporting periods.

Common Mistakes

  • Treating book value as market value or recoverable value.
  • Ignoring accumulated depreciation, amortization, impairment, and write-downs.
  • Capitalizing routine expenses without checking the accounting policy.
  • Comparing asset-heavy businesses without normalizing useful lives and impairment history.

Asset-accounting content is educational and does not provide accounting, audit, tax, appraisal, investment, or valuation advice.

In this section

Choose a subsection first. Deeper term pages live inside each subsection, which keeps large topic hubs readable.

Fixed Asset

A fixed asset is a long-lived asset held for continuing business use rather than near-term sale and is commonly depreciated or otherwise allocated over time.

Intangible Asset

An intangible asset is a nonphysical asset with economic value, such as a patent, trademark, license, or acquired goodwill.

Non-Current Assets

Non-current assets are long-lived assets not expected to be converted into cash or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle.

Plant Assets

Plant assets are long-lived tangible assets such as land, buildings, and machinery used in operations.

Tangible Asset

A tangible asset is an asset with physical substance, such as land, buildings, equipment, inventory, or vehicles, that can be used, sold, or valued directly.

Revised on Sunday, June 21, 2026