Distinguish a capital expenditure from an expense, and measure the financial statement effects of an expensing error
Response to the following problem:
The European Press (TEP) is a major telecommunication conglomerate. Assume that early in year 1, TEP purchased equipment at a cost of 20 million euros (€20 million). Management expects the equipment to remain in service for four years and estimated residual value to be negligible. TEP uses the straight-line depreciation method. Through an accounting error, TEP expensed the entire cost of the equipment at the time of purchase. Because TEP is operated as a partnership, it pays no income tax.