Software as intangible asset – evaluation models, use of qualitative and quantitative methods

In recent years, we have been able to experience the rapid development of digitalization, which in recent months has spread to the lives of almost every business, regardless of company size, due to the pandemic. Digitalization is constantly developing new and even newer business models, and their evaluation and connection to the business strategy can be helped with software and analysis. In this article we deal with the place and evaluation of software in the accounting statements.

CONTROLLER INFO VIII. ÉVF. 2020. 2. SZÁM 53-58.

DOI: 10.24387/CI.2020.2.10

Software evaluation – as required by accounting law Software are typically included in non-current assets, including intangible assets. Intangible assets are such non-material assets that serve the business directly and permanently, beyond one year.
Within intangible assets, the legislator defines property rights as acquired perpetual rights that are not related to real estate and that do not belong to intellectual property. In the case of software, if we talk about a perpetual right of use, it is included in property rights. (Sztv. 25. § (6). In this case, we are entitled to use the software.
On the other hand, if the software is created by the company, so it receives copyright protection, in this case the software is registered in the books of the company, albeit among the intangible assets, but already among the intellectual products.
The legislator specifically names software products as copyrighted works. (Sztv. 25. § (7)) In addition to the base cases listed, the used software may need to be upgraded. If the development is not performed by the software producer, but by the user of the software, the development can only be carried out if permission from the software owner is obtained. The software itself is protected by copyright, so its development is subject
to a license, because after the development an intellectual product is created, so the lessee of the software must show it in its books not only as a property right, but also as an intellectual product.
In determining the value of intellectual property, costs incurred on the leased software that are directly related to the development of the software may be taken into account. (Sztv. 23. § (3))

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