Should a plant asset must be fully depreciated before it can be removed from the books?

No, a plant asset does not need to be fully depreciated before it can be removed from the books. An asset can be disposed of, sold, or retired at any time, regardless of its depreciation status. However, any remaining book value must be accounted for, and any gain or loss on disposal should be recognized in the financial statements. Proper accounting practices require that adjustments reflect the asset's actual economic life and value at the time of removal.