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Accounting For Goodwill

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  • MARTIN BLOOM

Abstract

This article provides a means of resolving one of accounting's ongoing problems—how to account for goodwill in an era where the unidentifiable intangible asset is often an entity's largest value component. Despite the general recognition that, in practice, the two classes of goodwill are indistinguishable in terms of their ability to generate streams of revenue, a distinction is traditionally drawn between internally generated and purchased goodwill. The former should not be brought to account because it is impossible to do so within the accepted rules of double entry bookkeeping and historical cost based accounting. On the other hand, there is no difficulty in bringing purchased goodwill to account, but controversy has always existed as to how to treat the amount once recognized. It can confidently be expected that, as anomalies and practical difficulties manifest themselves in practice, the current impairment regime will, in its turn, be abandoned.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Bloom, 2009. "Accounting For Goodwill," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 45(3), pages 379-389, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:45:y:2009:i:3:p:379-389
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6281.2009.00295.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Martina K. Linnenluecke & Jacqueline Birt & Xiaoyan Chen & Xin Ling & Tom Smith, 2017. "Accounting Research in Abacus, A&F, AAR, and AJM from 2008–2015: A Review and Research Agenda," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 53(2), pages 159-179, June.
    2. Sacui Violeta, 2015. "Internally Generated Goodwill Of A Company," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(2), pages 398-403, December.
    3. Wayne Lonergan, 2009. "Discussion of Bloom," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 45(3), pages 390-396, September.
    4. Luc Paugam & Jean‐François Casta & Hervé Stolowy, 2018. "Non‐additivity in Accounting Valuation: Theory and Applications," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 54(3), pages 381-416, September.
    5. Durocher, Sylvain & Georgiou, Omiros, 2022. "Framing accounting for goodwill: Intractable controversies between users and standard setters," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    6. Suntharee Lhaopadchan, 2010. "Fair value accounting and intangible assets," Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 18(2), pages 120-130, May.
    7. Atanasov, Atanas, 2019. "Репутацията Като Обект На Счетоводството: Признаване, Оценяване, Оповестяване [Goodwill as an accounting object: initial recognition, measurement, disclosure]," MPRA Paper 97938, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Roncagliolo, Elisa & Avallone, Francesco, 2022. "Recognition of provisional goodwill: Real need or communication strategy?," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    9. Johansson, Sven-Erik & Hjelström, Tomas & Hellman, Niclas, 2016. "Accounting for goodwill under IFRS: A critical analysis," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 13-25.
    10. R. G. Walker, 2009. "Discussion of Lev, Radhakrishnan and Zhang," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 45(3), pages 299-311, September.
    11. Graeme Dean, 2010. "Background and Case for Exit Price Accounting," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 46(1), pages 84-96, March.
    12. George Emmanuel Iatridis & Daniel Senftlechner, 2014. "An Empirical Investigation of Goodwill in Austria: Evidence on Management Change and Cost of Capital," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 24(2), pages 171-181, June.
    13. d'Arcy, Anne & Tarca, Ann, 2018. "Reviewing IFRS Goodwill Accounting Research: Implementation Effects and Cross-Country Differences," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 203-226.
    14. Julius Gaël Tchatchou Tchaptchet & Olivier Colot, 2019. "Goodwill’s Accounting Practices in Belgium and Compliance with IAS 36 Required Disclosures," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(3), pages 139-152, March.

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