Better Information for Intangibles: Which is the Best Way to Go
You Can’t Touch This:
The Intangible Assets Debate
Since the 90s, business leaders have understood that digitization would transform the fundamental makeup of our economy. That vision has come to pass as the engine of our economic growth has begun shifting from goods and services to intangible assets.
CPAs have always approached intangibles cautiously but as they increasingly drive for economic growth the profession may need to reconsider its approach.
This paper introduces the intangibles conversation and asks CPAs to consider what role the profession is meant to play in this exciting—and controversial—space.
Read the paper
Business and policy leaders are currently engaged in a critical discussion about how to value and report on intangibles. It’s time for the accounting profession to play a leading role in the debate.
We encourage you to read CPA Ontario’s 2021 whitepaper “You Can’t Touch This: The intangible assets debate” and join the discussion.
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The rise of the intangible economy
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The intangible dilemma and accounting's place in it
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The accounting debate on capitalizing internally generated intangibles
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Mounting momentum to re-think intangibles
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Where to from here?
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The rise of the intangible economy
A snapshot of the local intangible economy
In advanced economies, intangible assets make up a greater proportion of business value and are recognized as a key source of innovation and growth. In the last 15 years investment in intangible assets has grown 400 per cent, eclipsing investment in tangible assets.
Covid-19 has accelerated the size and importance of intangibles in our economy.
Some 2.5 million Ontarians shifted to working from home and SaaS companies benefited from the resulting unprecedented level of investment in digitization.
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The intangible dilemma and accounting’s place in it
Is there an intangible black hole in markets?
Does treating intangibles as intermediate expenses have a distorting effect on decision-making and investment? Though book value is no substitute for fair market or business value, the widening of what is called the financial reporting “black hole” appears to correlate with a growing volume of intangible capital. Advocates suggest that capitalizing intangibles will help boost equity across the board but not everyone agrees that intangibles are inadequately represented in financial reporting to date.
Can accounting be part of the solution?
Economists and policy analysts have advocated boosting the intangible economy. But, public debate has not reconciled the complexity of accounting for these hotly contested assets.
If the momentum behind intangibles continues to grow, CPAs will need to raise their voices and insist that the accounting implications of intangibles be addressed.
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The accounting debate on capitalizing internally generated intangibles
Intangibles have become a divisive and contentious issue in the accounting community. Standard-setters, regulators and academics have examined and re-examined the matter via projects, studies, calls for comment, expert groups and committees with multiple positions emerging.
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Mounting momentum to re-think intangibles
Concerns abound on the difficulty of measuring intangibles. A decade ago, intangible-heavy start-ups were valued based on rudimentary proxy measures. No doubt some data is better than none but as economies digitize, advances in data analytics, AI and quantum computing may make valuing intangibles fast and affordable.
In the meantime, economists and analysts are gaining confidence in putting figures to intangibles. As these measures become more precise and ubiquitous, companies will gain the sophistication required to quantify them.
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Where to from here?
New opportunities for the CPA profession
In light of the growing importance of intangibles, future-focused sections of the profession are encouraging CPAs to reposition themselves in the intangible economy. Some have suggested that CPAs have transferable skills that will equip and prepare them to tackle intangibles in a different way.
As the issue of intangibles tops agendas in the coming years, CPAs should inform themselves about the various opinions of those in the profession who are already working in the space.
Related insights
Time to Get Tangible about Intangible Assets
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