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Budgeting & Forecasting › Capital Budgeting

What is the difference between capital and revenue expenditure in budgeting?

Beginner

Answer

Capital expenditure buys or improves long-term assets (benefits over many years) and is planned in the capital budget and appraised by investment techniques. Revenue expenditure is short-term operating cost planned in the operating budget and expensed in the period. The distinction affects which budget it sits in and how it's evaluated.
New machine = capex (capital budget); machine repair = revenue (operating budget).
Real-world example A new delivery vehicle goes in the capital budget; its fuel goes in the operating budget.

Common follow-ups: Which budget holds capex? | How is each evaluated?