Improving the Methodology of Accounting for Intangible Assets in the ICT Sector

This article presents the author’s methodological solutions for improving the accounting for intangible assets in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. The study addresses three interrelated problems observed in the accounting practice of ICT enterprises: the incomplete recognition of internally generated intangible assets, uncertainty in the determination of useful lives, and insufficient disclosure. A systems approach, methodological modelling and comparative analysis were applied, and the proposals were benchmarked against IAS 38, IAS 36 and United States GAAP guidance on software costs. Three interconnected methodological solutions are developed. The first covers the recognition and initial measurement of internally generated assets and introduces a “technical feasibility point” criterion that objectively separates the research phase from the development phase of the software development life cycle, supported by a system of ICT-specific subaccounts 0411–0415. The second establishes recommended useful lives, a basis for selecting the amortisation method, and a four-indicator technological obsolescence monitoring cycle linked to impairment testing under IAS 36. The third proposes a five-group classification of digital assets and a three-tier disclosure system. The scientific novelty lies in integrating these solutions into a single chain within the standards in force, adapted to the ICT sector.