Last updated: 5 August 2026.
Quick answer. Goodwill is an intangible asset representing the additional value a company holds above the sum of its identifiable net assets, arising from factors such as brand, reputation, customer base, location, know-how or business relationships; under Royal Decree 602/2016 it is amortised in the accounts. Net equity is the portion of a company’s assets not financed by debt, calculated as total assets minus total liabilities, and serves as a key solvency indicator. The auditor must verify that both items are correctly valued and recorded under the applicable rules — including IFRS 3, IAS 12, 36 and 38, Law 27/2014 and the ICAC Resolution of 9 February 2016 — and must issue a qualified or unfavourable opinion if errors or irregularities are detected.
1.Definition and Characteristics
1.1 Goodwill
Goodwill is an intangible asset that represents the additional value that a company possesses above the sum of its identifiable net assets. This value arises from factors such as brand, reputation, customer base, location, know-how, or business relationships.
Characteristics:
- It is not a physical asset.
- It is generated over time.
- It can be acquired or generated internally.
- It has an indefinite useful life.
- It is amortized in the accounts.
1.2 Net Equity
Net equity, also known as shareholders’ equity, is the portion of a company’s assets that is not financed by debt. It is calculated as the difference between total assets and total liabilities.
Characteristics:
- It represents the company’s wealth.
- It is an indicator of the company’s solvency.
- It can be positive or negative.
- It is made up of different items, such as share capital, reserves, and accumulated profits.
2. Applicable Regulations
The regulations that govern goodwill and net equity in Spain are the following:
- Royal Decree 602/2016: modifies the General Accounting Plan and establishes the amortization of goodwill.
- International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 3: “Business Combinations”.
- International Accounting Standards (IAS):
- IAS 12: “Income Taxes”.
- IAS 36: “Impairment of Assets”.
- IAS 38: “Intangible Assets”.
- Law 27/2014: of the Corporation Tax.
- Resolution of February 9, 2016: of the Institute of Accounting and Auditing of Accounts (ICAC) on the accounting of the Tax on Benefits.
3. The role of the Auditor
The auditor must assess whether goodwill and net equity have been valued and recorded correctly in accordance with the applicable regulations. To do this, the auditor must perform the following tests:
- Verify the existence and value of goodwill.
- Assess the useful life of goodwill.
- Check the correct amortization of goodwill.
- Analyze the composition of net equity.
- Determine if there are any subsequent events that may affect the value of goodwill or net equity.
In the event that the auditor detects errors or irregularities in the valuation or recording of goodwill or net equity, he/she must issue a qualified or unfavorable opinion in his/her audit report.
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4. Amortization Methodology for Goodwill
4.1. Determination of Useful Life
The first step in amortizing goodwill is to determine its useful life. Spanish regulations do not establish a predetermined useful life for goodwill, so the company must estimate it in a reliable and justifiable manner.
Factors to consider:
- Type of business: Some businesses have goodwill with a longer useful life than others.
- Competitive environment: A competitive environment can affect the useful life of goodwill.
- Market trends: Changes in market trends can affect the useful life of goodwill.
- Management changes: Changes in management can affect the useful life of goodwill.
Estimation methods:
- Analysis of the customer renewal rate: This method analyzes the frequency with which the company loses and gains customers.
- Analysis of the competition: This method analyzes the company’s competition and the probability that the company will lose its competitive advantage.
- Market analysis: This method analyzes market trends and the probability that the market for the company’s product or service will decline.
4.2. Amortization Methods
There are two main methods for amortizing goodwill:
4.2.1. Straight-line method:
This method consists of amortizing goodwill in equal installments over its useful life. The formula for calculating the annual amortization is as follows:
Annual amortization = Goodwill / Useful life
4.2.2. Constant percentage method:
This method consists of amortizing goodwill by applying a constant percentage to its net book value at the beginning of each year. The formula for calculating the annual amortization is as follows:
Annual amortization = Net book value at the beginning of the year x Amortization percentage
4.3. Criteria for choosing the amortization method
- Useful life of goodwill: If the useful life of goodwill is short, the straight-line method may be more appropriate.
- Pattern of consumption of economic benefits: If the pattern of consumption of the economic benefits of goodwill is uniform, the straight-line method may be more appropriate.
- Residual value of goodwill: If goodwill is expected to have a significant residual value, the constant percentage method may be more appropriate.
4.4. Review of useful life
- The company should review the useful life of goodwill at least annually and make adjustments if necessary.
4.5. Tax implications
- In Spain, the amortization of goodwill is tax deductible with an annual limit of 5% of its value.
4.6. Practical example
- Suppose a company has acquired goodwill for a value of 100,000 euros and has estimated its useful life at 10 years. The company decides to use the straight-line method to amortize goodwill.
- The annual amortization would be 10,000 euros (100,000 euros / 10 years).
- At the end of 10 years, the goodwill will have been fully amortized.
5. Conclusion
The amortization of goodwill is a complex process that requires careful consideration of various factors. The company should choose the amortization method that best reflects the pattern of consumption of the economic benefits of goodwill and review its useful life annually.
It is important to note that this is just an example and that the goodwill amortization methodology may vary depending on the specific circumstances of each company.
It is recommended to consult with a accounting or financial professional to obtain specific advice on the amortization of goodwill.
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Frequently asked questions
Goodwill is an intangible asset that represents the additional value a company possesses above the sum of its identifiable net assets. It arises from factors such as brand, reputation, customer base, location, know-how or business relationships. It is not a physical asset, it is generated over time, it can be acquired or generated internally, it has an indefinite useful life and it is amortised in the accounts.
Net equity, also known as shareholders’ equity, is the portion of a company’s assets that is not financed by debt. It is calculated as the difference between total assets and total liabilities. It represents the company’s wealth, acts as an indicator of solvency, can be positive or negative, and is made up of items such as share capital, reserves and accumulated profits.
The main rules are Royal Decree 602/2016, which modifies the General Accounting Plan and establishes the amortisation of goodwill; IFRS 3 on business combinations; IAS 12 on income taxes, IAS 36 on impairment of assets and IAS 38 on intangible assets; Law 27/2014 on Corporation Tax; and the Resolution of 9 February 2016 of the Institute of Accounting and Auditing of Accounts (ICAC).
The auditor must assess whether goodwill and net equity have been valued and recorded correctly under the applicable regulations. This involves verifying the existence and value of goodwill, assessing its useful life, checking its correct amortisation, analysing the composition of net equity and determining whether subsequent events may affect the value of either item.
If the auditor detects errors or irregularities in the valuation or recording of goodwill or net equity, he or she must issue a qualified or unfavourable opinion in the audit report, reflecting the impact of those deficiencies on the financial statements.
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