Which of the following statements represents good advice prior to making capital expenditures related to prepaid expenses?

• A. Assume all capital expenditures can be reversed at any time without consequence.
• B. Ignore the need for documentation since prepaid expenses are always immaterial.
• C. Evaluate the expected future benefits and ensure the expenditure aligns with the company's strategic goals.
• D. Record the entire expenditure as an immediate expense, regardless of its future benefit.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of prepaid expenses: Prepaid expenses are payments made in advance for goods or services that will be received in the future. These are recorded as assets initially and expensed over time as the benefit is realized.
2. Evaluate the expected future benefits: Before making capital expenditures related to prepaid expenses, assess the future benefits that the expenditure will provide. This ensures that the expenditure is justified and aligns with the company's financial goals.
3. Align with strategic goals: Ensure that the expenditure supports the company's broader strategic objectives. This involves analyzing whether the investment contributes to long-term growth or operational efficiency.
4. Avoid assumptions that could lead to poor decision-making: For example, assuming that all capital expenditures can be reversed without consequence or ignoring documentation requirements can lead to financial mismanagement. Proper documentation is essential for transparency and compliance.
5. Record expenses appropriately: Prepaid expenses should not be recorded as immediate expenses unless they provide no future benefit. Instead, they should be capitalized and expensed over the period they provide benefit, following the matching principle in accounting.