Current Expenditures Definition

Current expenditures refer to short-term spending that is fully expensed in the fiscal period in which it is incurred. They are in contrast to capital expenditures, which refer to spending on long-term assets that are capitalized and amortized over their useful life. Examples of this type of expenditure include wages, salaries, raw material costs, and administrative expenses.

Accounting Treatment

In accounting, treat current expenditures like other short-term expenses. Fully expense them during the fiscal period they incur. Unlike capital expenditures, which are first recorded on the balance sheet as assets before hitting the income statement as amortization expenses, record current expenditures directly on the income statement as expenses in the current fiscal period. Basically, if the capital outlay is invested in an asset that will last longer than one year, then consider it a capital expenditure and treat it accordingly. On the other hand, if the capital outlay is invested in an asset that will last less than one year, then consider it a current expenditure.

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See Also:
Double Entry Bookkeeping
Indirect Labor
Indirect Materials
Lease Agreements
Net Operating Loss Carryback and Carryforward