Is Land a Current Asset
No, land is not considered a current asset. Instead, it’s classified as a long-term asset or a non-current asset on a company’s balance sheet.
Current assets are assets that can be converted into cash or used to pay liabilities within one year. They include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory, and other short-term assets.
On the other hand, long-term assets or non-current assets are assets that cannot easily be converted into cash or are not expected to become cash within the span of one year. They include property, plant, and equipment (PP&E), long-term investments, intangible assets like patents or trademarks, and more.
Land falls under the category of property, plant, and equipment (PP&E), which also includes things like buildings, equipment, machinery, vehicles, furniture, and more. PP&E assets are tangible items that are used in the operation of a business and have a useful life of more than one year.
Unlike other PP&E assets, land is not depreciated because it is considered to have an unlimited useful life. In other words, its value does not decrease over time due to usage, as is the case with equipment or buildings, for instance.
Note that if a company bought land as an investment with the intention to sell it within one year, it might classify it as a current asset. However, in most cases, land is considered a non-current asset.
Example of: Is Land a Current Asset
Let’s look at a simplified example of a balance sheet to show where land would be classified:
XYZ Company Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash: $50,000
Accounts Receivable: $30,000
Inventory: $40,000
Prepaid Expenses: $5,000
Total Current Assets: $125,000
Non-Current Assets
Property, Plant, and Equipment: Building: $350,000
Machinery: $100,000
Equipment: $75,000
Land: $500,000
Total Property, Plant, and Equipment: $1,025,000
Total Non-Current Assets: $1,025,000
Total Assets: $1,150,000
LIABILITIES AND OWNERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable: $25,000
Short-Term Loans: $30,000
Total Current Liabilities: $55,000
Non-Current Liabilities
Long-Term Loans: $500,000
Total Non-Current Liabilities: $500,000
Total Liabilities: $555,000
Owners’ Equity
Capital Stock: $500,000
Retained Earnings: $95,000
Total Owners’ Equity: $595,000
Total Liabilities and Owners’ Equity: $1,150,000
In this example, land is listed as a non-current asset under “Property, Plant, and Equipment,” along with other long-term assets like buildings, machinery, and equipment. These assets are intended to be used for longer than a year to support the company’s operations and are not expected to be converted into cash within the next year.
