Example of accounting for a self-constructed fixed asset

Let’s assume that Company ABC needs a new piece of equipment for its production process and no vendor manufactures such equipment. Company ABC decides to self-construct the equipment by purchasing parts and using three of its employees in the construction. The company will also have some indirect costs associated with this self-constructed asset.

On January 4, 20X3, the company paid $100,000 for parts to be used in the equipment construction:

Account Titles	Debit	Credit
Construction in Progress	$100,000
Accounts Payable		$100,000

In January 20X3, the company calculated that employees spent 50% of their January time on the new equipment construction and the other 50% was devoted to the manufacturing of products for sale. Employee payroll and benefits amounted to $12,000 and included such categories (not a real-life breakdown of costs – for illustration purposes only): $8,000 in payroll, $3,000 in payroll taxes, and $1,000 in health insurance. The company would record these costs as follows (assuming the 50% related to the product manufacturing is an inventory cost):

Account Titles	Debit	Credit
Construction in Progress	$6,000
Inventory Work in Process	$6,000
Wages Payable		$8,000
Payroll Taxes Payable		$3,000
Health Insurance Payable		$1,000

In January 20X3, the company also determined that $4,000 of indirect costs (overhead) should be allocated to the cost of the equipment. The breakdown of such costs (again, not a real-life one – for illustration purposes) is as follows: $3,000 in depreciation expense and $1,000 in electricity. The company would post this journal entry:

Account Titles	Debit	Credit
Construction in Progress	$4,000
Accumulated Depreciation		$3,000
Accrued Expenses – Utilities		$1,000

At the end of January, the equipment was completed (e.g., Engineering Services approved equipment for service) and the company transferred it to a fixed asset account:

Account Titles	Debit	Credit
Fixed Assets – Equipment	$110,000
Construction in Progress		$110,000

Finally, note that the company would also start depreciating the asset once it’s put in service (the company would follow its depreciation policy for equipment).