SEO Sai Gr. Hosp.
208697 Points
Joined July 2016
Here are some of their differences:
Term
Capital expenditure is a long-term investment for the organization, whereas revenue expenditure is a short-term one. Unlike revenue expenditure, organizations record capital expense as a fixed asset rather than charging it immediately. In contrast, you can pay the operational expenditure benefits within the current financial year due to their short-term nature.
Frequency
Capital expenditure is a one-time cost that organizations incur to improve the organization's efficiency and capacity, unlike revenue expenditure, which is a recurrent cost. The nature of capital expenditure being a one-time payment means that it's often a substantial amount. This may require the organization to budget and plan, which involves setting aside money for these purchases.
Approving these payments is a stringent process, meaning it's well-regulated and requires many approvals and signatures. An example of capital expenditure is purchasing land and equipment. In contrast, revenue expenditure is a payment that organizations make every month or every few months, such as employee salaries and equipment maintenance costs.
Reporting
An organization reports its revenue expenditures in an income statement, unlike capital expenditures, which it reports in a cash flow statement and balance sheet. A cash flow statement includes an organization's inflow and outflow from its operating, financing and investing activities. In contrast, an income statement defines the business's revenue and gains, including non-cash accounts, such as depreciation over a specific period.
The balance sheet displays an organization's assets and how it finances them, either by debt or equity. Capital expenditure falls under the fixed assets category on the balance sheet. You can capitalize on asset expenses but not revenue expenses. Capitalization of costs refers to recording costs on a balance sheet to defer the full impact of the expense.
Functionality
Revenue expenditure ensures the smooth functioning of fixed assets through maintenance and operational costs. Its primary function is to run the daily operations of an organization. In contrast, the primary function of capital expenditure is to acquire capital assets to grow and diversify the organization.
Physical existence
Capital expenditure can be both tangible and intangible. A tangible expense can include purchasing land or new equipment, while the intangible can include purchasing licenses or patents. In contrast, revenue expenditure doesn't have a physical presence, as it relates to daily business operations, such as payment of rent, power and employee salaries.
Tax
Capital expenditure is indirectly tax deductible, whereas revenue expenditure is directly tax deductible. Operational expenditures are short-term expenses you can fully deduct from a company's yearly taxes. In contrast, capital expenses are indirectly tax deductible, meaning that they work to reduce the company's income tax through the depreciation they generate. For example, an organization investing Rs.250,000 in a new asset it expects to run for a minimum of ten years can lead to a depreciation expense of Rs.25,000 each year, reducing its pre-tax income.
Cost
Revenue expenditure costs are typically smaller than capital expenditure. This is because purchasing assets is usually more expensive than maintaining them. For example, a company can buy a vehicle for Rs.50,000, but the maintenance costs for its daily operation, such as fuel and car servicing, may be significantly less.