How Does Goodwill Amortize?

Goodwill is an intangible asset, and it often comes into play when a business is purchased or transferred from one person or entity to another. Goodwill can't be separated or divided from the entity with which it is associated. Nor can it be sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged, either individually or together with a related contract, identifiable asset, or liability. Goodwill does not carry contractual or other legal rights, regardless of whether those are transferable or separable from the entity, other rights, or obligations.

In 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) declared in Statement 142, Accounting for Goodwill and Intangible Assets, that goodwill was no longer permitted to be amortized. In accounting, goodwill is accrued when an entity pays more for an asset than its fair value, based on the company’s brand, client base, or other factors. Corporations use the purchase method of accounting, which does not allow for automatic amortization of goodwill. Goodwill is carried as an asset and evaluated for impairment at least once a year.

However, in 2014, this policy was partially rolled back with FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-02, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). The FASB re-allowed private companies to elect to amortize goodwill on a straight-line basis over 10 years. However, the election is not required. If desired, the option to amortize enables private companies to forgo the costly annual impairment tests that are required of public companies.

Until 2001, goodwill could be amortized for a period of up to 40 years. Many companies used the 40-year maximum to neutralize the periodic earnings effect and report supplementary cash earnings that they then added to net income. The FASB changed this in June 2001 with the issuance of Statement 142, which prohibits this.

The first step of the impairment test required under the new standard must be performed within the first half of the company's fiscal year. If an impairment is found, the company reduces the goodwill carrying value and recognizes an impairment loss. Any material impairments found are listed as line items above “income from continuing operations.”

Because annual valuation of goodwill is particularly expensive and time-consuming for private companies, the FASB created alternative goodwill accounting provisions for them. FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-02, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Accounting for Goodwill allows these companies to use straight-line amortization of goodwill for up to ten years, or less if the company is able to demonstrate an alternative useful lifespan. Private companies only need to conduct impairment tests when a triggering event indicates that the company's fair value is less than its carrying amount rather than having to do so every fiscal year.