3008.9 Change in Custody to Another Department Procedure

Procedure # 3008.9; Rev.: 0 (Effective January 1, 2017)
Related Policy: UW-3008 Capital Equipment Policy
Functional Owner: Property Control, Business Services
Contact: Property Control Mailbox, property@bussvc.wisc.edu


Contents

  1. Procedure statement
  2. Who is affected by this procedure
  3. Procedure
  4. Contact roles and responsibilities
  5. Definitions
  6. Revisions

I. Procedure statement

When capital equipment is transferred to another UW–Madison department it is a change in custody. This type of occurrence is not reported as a disposal because the equipment is still in use by another department. Revenue is not generated in the transfer of equipment to another department. If the current custody department has expenses related to the transfer (e.g. packing/unpacking, setting up, re-calibrating, training, etc.) to the new department, the reasonable costs for these expenses may be transferred to the new department.

To record a change of custody between UW–Madison departments, departments must notify Property Control in writing via email. The department initiating the change must indicate the new department, responsible employee, and location for the piece of equipment. Property Control will update the records in the asset management system.

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II. Who is affected by this procedure

  • Department personnel – both current and future custody departments
  • Department Property Administrator (DPA) – both current and future custody departments
  • Property Control
  • Research and Sponsored Programs (depending on original funding source)

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III. Procedure

The following steps represent the overall process:

  1. The responsible employee sends written notice to the DPA requesting the change in custody of equipment. The email should indicate the intended recipients name and department.
  2. The DPA forwards the request, via email, to the Department/Division Chair and Property Control for review and authorization of the change in custody.
  3. If the equipment is funded by 133/144 funds, Property Control will contact the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to verify change of custody is acceptable.
  4. Property Control will notify both the current and new departments and DPAs of approval.
  5. For costs related to packing/unpacking, setting up, re-calibrating, training, etc., the department may initiate cost transfer journal entries or internal billing to recover costs of the change in custody. Capital account codes in the 46xx series are not authorized for these cost transfers. Example of accounting for the capital equipment department transfer:
    EXAMPLE: Cost transfer (ALLOWABLE)

    Debit: Transfer Cost to the New Custodial Department $XXXX
    Credit: Transfer Cost from the Prior Custodial Department $XXXX

    Capital account code, series 46xx, is not permitted for the allowable cost transfers. Departments may recover direct costs incurred to move equipment to a new custodial department (such as decommissioning, transportation, set-up, or recalibration). Direct costs may include, for example, an average hourly rate for a staff member multiplied by the number of hours it took to transport an item. Direct costs should not include administrative overhead. Direct costs should be supported by reasonable estimate and coded to an expense account.

    EXAMPLE: Internal sale (NOT ALLOWABLE)

    Debit: Internal Bill to the New Custodial Department $XXXX
    Credit: Internal Sale for the Prior Custodial Department $XXXX

    It is NOT ALLOWABLE for departments to “sell” equipment in their custody to other departments by processing an internal billing. Such transactions lack economic substance because they do not represent arm’s length transactions between independent parties. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES may a change in custody be recorded as a revenue transaction in the ledger.

  6. Property Control will update the records in the asset management system.

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IV. Contact roles and responsibilities

wdt_ID Change of Custody to another Department Responsible Employee DPA Dept Chair/ Dept Admin Property Control RSP
1 1) Notify DPA, in writing, of the request to transfer custody. The email should include the intended recipients name and department. X
2 2) Forward the notice to the Property Control Office and Department/Division for review and authorization of the change in custody. X
3 3) Contact RSP to verify change is custody is acceptable. X X
4 4) Notify the current and new departments and DPA of approval. X
5 5) If necessary, initiate cost transfers journal entries or internal billing to recover costs of the change in custody. X
6 6) Update the records in the asset management system. X

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V. Definitions

Capital Equipment Definitions (PDF)

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VI. Revisions

Procedure Number 3008.9
Date Approved January 1, 2017
Revision Dates Jan. 19, 2021 – Changed Procedure Number to 3008.9 from 110.9

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