This article focuses on the main differences between the old and the new UK GAAP regime, concerning intangible assets. Detailed taxation adjustments relevant on transition and arising out of the reporting differences are outside of the scope of this article. Definition of intangible asset FRS 102 definition of an intangible asset is now more in line with IFRS and expands on what is defined as an intangible asset in comparison to the old UK GAAP. In the old UK GAAP (FRS 10) intangible assets are defined as ‘Non-financial fixed assets that do not have physical substance but are identifiable and are controlled by the entity through custody or legal rights’.’ For the purposes of the old GAAP, ‘identifiable’ meant ‘being able to be disposed of or transferred separately, without also disposing the business they were part of’. In practice this meant that some intangible assets may not have been recognised, as disposing of them would have meant that the business would have ceased to exis...