difference between an asset and an expense
For example, inventory is an asset. Expenses are the cost of bringing in revenues. They were needed to bring in the revenues and profits that you reported this year. Expenses appear on the income statement. For example, just as inventory is an asset, âcost of goods soldâ is an expense. This is the cost of inventory that was sold during the year. The difference is really one of timing. An asset is expected to bring in a benefit sometime in the future. When the benefit comes in, then the asset becomes an expense. As it is sold, inventory is moved out of the inventory account on the balance sheet, and into the cost of goods sold account on the balance sheet.