Depreciation

Examples of Estimates

The calculation of depreciation shown above included two estimates:

1. Salvage value. Salvage value is the estimated amount that a company will receive when it disposes of an asset at the end of the asset's useful life. Often the salvage value is estimated to be zero. However, we assumed $500 in order to demonstrate how an amount would be handled. Salvage value is also referred to as disposal value, scrap value, or residual value.
2. Useful life. The useful life of an asset is an estimate of how long the asset will be used (as opposed to how long the asset will last). For example, a graphic artist might purchase a computer in 2009 and expects to replace it in 2011 with a more advanced computer. Hence the graphic artist's computer will have an estimated useful life of 2 years. An accountant purchasing a similar computer in 2009 expects to use it until 2013. The accountant will use an estimated useful life of 4 years when computing depreciation. Both the graphic artist and the accountant are correct—the graphic artist in using 2 years and the accountant in using 4 years—even if the computers will be in working order for many years after their useful lives end.

Changes in Estimates

Whenever estimates are used in accounting, it is possible they will change as time moves forward. For example, a company bought a machine for $14,000 on January 1, 2005. At the time it was estimated to have no salvage value at the end of its useful life estimated to be 7 years. The company used straight-line depreciation. In 2009 the company realizes that technology will cause the machine to be obsolete by December 31, 2010 and there will be no salvage value at that time. Instead of the original useful life of 7 years, the company now estimates a total useful life of only 6 years (January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2010). This change in the estimated useful life affects only the current and future years. In other words, in this example the depreciation for 2009 and 2010 will be affected. The depreciation already reported for the years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 cannot be changed. Any amount not depreciated as of December 31, 2008 will have to be depreciated over the years 2009 and 2010.

Let's first calculate the straight-line depreciation using the estimates in January 2005:

Cost of the asset $14,000 Less: Expected salvage value   –     0 Depreciable Cost (amount to be depreciated over the estimated useful life) $14,000 Years of estimated useful life          7 Depreciation Expense per year $ 2,000

In the T-accounts we can see the cost of the Equipment $14,000 and the Accumulated Depreciation of $8,000 as of December 31, 2008:

Equipment (balance sheet account)

Debit Increases an asset				Credit Decreases an asset
Jan. 1, 2005 ENTRY	14,000

Accumulated Depreciation – Equipment (balance sheet acct.)

Debit Decreases a contra asset				Credit Increases a contra asset
				2,000		ENTRY Dec. 31, 2005
				2,000		ENTRY Dec. 31, 2006
				2,000		ENTRY Dec. 31, 2007
				2,000		ENTRY Dec. 31, 2008
				8,000		Balance Dec. 31, 2008

These accounts show that $6,000 ($14,000 – $8,000) remains on the books at December 31, 2008 and there are only two years remaining (2009 and 2010) in which to depreciate the remaining $6,000. The remaining $6,000 will be divided by the 2 years remaining and will result in $3,000 of depreciation in each of the years 2009 and 2010.

In general journal format the entries will be:

Date	Account Name		Debit	Credit
December 31, 2009	Depreciation Expense		3,000
		Accumulated Depreciation		3,000
December 31, 2010	Depreciation Expense		3,000
		Accumulated Depreciation		3,000

At the end of 2010 the Accumulated Depreciation account will look like this:

Accumulated Depreciation – Equipment (balance sheet acct.)

Debit Decreases a contra asset				Credit Increases a contra asset
				2,000		ENTRY Dec. 31, 2005
				2,000		ENTRY Dec. 31, 2006
				2,000		ENTRY Dec. 31, 2007
				2,000		ENTRY Dec. 31, 2008
				3,000		ENTRY Dec. 31, 2009
				3,000		ENTRY Dec. 31, 2010
				14,000		Balance Dec. 31, 2010

Note that the depreciation amounts recorded in the years 2008 and before were not changed.

What Is It?

Accelerated depreciation is an alternative to the straight-line depreciation method. Compared to the straight-line method, accelerated depreciation methods provide for more depreciation in the early years of an asset's life but then less depreciation in the later years. Under any depreciation method, the maximum depreciation during the life of an asset is limited to the cost of the asset. The difference in depreciation methods involves when you will report the depreciation. It's a matter of timing. Again, the total depreciation during the life of the asset is the same regardless of the depreciation method used.

As stated earlier, most companies use the straight-line method of depreciation for their financial statements. It is easy to compute and to understand. With straight-line depreciation the company will have the same amount of depreciation in each of the years of the asset's life. Accelerated depreciation will mean larger Depreciation Expense in the early years of the asset's life and then smaller Depreciation Expense in the later years. This larger expense in the earlier years will mean the company will report less profits in the earlier years of an asset's life (and greater profits in later years). Generally this is not appealing to most companies. As a result most companies will opt for the straight-line depreciation for their financial statements.

However, using an accelerated depreciation method on the company's income tax returns is very appealing. Higher depreciation in the early years of the asset means immediate income tax savings. Smaller depreciation in later years is far into the future. Generally, it is better to take the income tax savings sooner rather than later.

Fortunately a company is permitted to use straight-line depreciation on its financial statements and at the same time it can use accelerated depreciation on its income tax returns.

Various Accelerated Depreciation Methods

There are various methods of accelerated depreciation. Here are some of them:

• Double-declining balance (also known as the 200% declining balance)
• 150% declining balance
• 125% declining balance
• Sum-of-the-years' digits

To learn more about these accelerated depreciation methods, refer to an Intermediate Accounting textbook. If you wish to use accelerated depreciation on your income tax return, refer to the Internal Revenue Service publications and/or consult with a tax professional.

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Because the material covered here is considered an introduction to this topic, many complexities have been omitted. You should always consult with an accounting professional for assistance with your own specific circumstances.

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