Software as the Enterprise Intangible Asset: The Accounting Aspect

Management of large amounts of information involves the use of software, which is one of the main intangible assets of modern enterprises. The article is devoted to the study of the importance of software in the current conditions of managing and determining its place in the accounting system. The analysis of scientific and legal approaches to understanding the economic and legal nature of software was carried out. It was determined that the software is a more integrated concept and actually includes the whole range of computer programs. Therefore, the object of accounting is software – the complex of programs that provide business entities with the possibility of automated processing of information and create an information base for making managerial decisions. The term 'computer program' refers to a separate component of software. The legal bases for the use of software were systematized, their interrelation with the accounting system was revealed. The main features of the software were identified, which may have an impact on its recognition of the object of accounting. Three main models of accounting software as an object of intangible assets were presented. The main criteria for software as an intangible asset of the enterprise were disclosed. It was proved that the method of accounting for software depends on a number of factors, the main ones being the type of software, the availability of property rights to it, and variants of use. It was determined that the main areas for improving the accounting of operations with software is the formation of a legal basis for intellectual property that meets modern conditions, as well as the search for reliable methods for estimating software as an accounting object.