The answer is B. False. Before jumping on the solution to know why goodwill is not fictitious, we need to know what are fictitious assets? Fictitious assets are false assets or not true assets. These are not assets but expenses & losses that are not written off from the profit & loss accountRead more
The answer is B. False. Before jumping on the solution to know why goodwill is not fictitious, we need to know what are fictitious assets?
Fictitious assets are false assets or not true assets. These are not assets but expenses & losses that are not written off from the profit & loss account but shown in the balance sheet as assets under the head miscellaneous expenditure. For example preliminary expenses, loss on issue of debentures, etc.
Goodwill is not a fictitious asset but an intangible asset which means it has no actual physical appearance and cannot be touched and felt like other assets like buildings and machinery. It is nothing but a firm’s reputation which can be sold just like other assets help the business grow and earn revenue. Goodwill is shown in the balance sheet as follows:


To understand why we do not record self-generated goodwill in accounting, let us first understand what goodwill is and its accounting treatment. What is Goodwill? Goodwill is an intangible asset of a business. It represents the reputation and brand value of a business built over time. It is a valueRead more
To understand why we do not record self-generated goodwill in accounting, let us first understand what goodwill is and its accounting treatment.
What is Goodwill?
Goodwill is an intangible asset of a business. It represents the reputation and brand value of a business built over time. It is a value over and above the tangible assets of the business.
Goodwill often arises when a business purchases another business and pays a premium, which means a price higher than the fair value of the business.
Characteristics of Goodwill
Goodwill has the following characteristics:
Example of Goodwill
Let us take an example to understand the concept of goodwill better.
Suppose there is a company ABC Ltd. It is planning to acquire XYZ Ltd. The fair value of the assets of XYZ is calculated to be 600,000. However, ABC has agreed to pay a sum of 650,000 to acquire the company. This difference of 50,000 is goodwill.
Impact on Financial Statements
Goodwill is shown under the assets side of the Balance Sheet.
What is self-generated goodwill?
Self-generated goodwill in simple words means the positive reputation or trust that a business earns over time through their own hard work and decisions. It’s not something bought or inherited but something built from scratch internally, like a brand’s reputation, loyal customers, strong relationships, or unique ideas.
For example, a small business that goes the extra mile to offer great customer service or always delivers high-quality products over the years will naturally build goodwill.
It is also known as internally generated goodwill.
Why do we not record sef-generated goodwill?
Self-generated goodwill is not recorded in the financial statements because of the following reasons:
Conclusion
On a concluding note, self-generated goodwill is something that adds real value to a business, but it’s not something that can easily be measured or captured in financial statements. Accounting is all about providing clear, reliable information, and including goodwill would make things murky and open to manipulation. Even though it doesn’t show up on the books, you can still see its effects in a company’s reputation and success. Maybe in the future, businesses will find a way to highlight it better, but for now, leaving it out helps keep financial reports honest and straightforward.
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