Definition of Accelerated Depreciation
Accelerated depreciation is the allocation of a plant asset's cost at a faster rate than straight-line depreciation.
Compared to straight-line depreciation, accelerated depreciation will mean:
Since the total amount of depreciation over the asset's life will be the same regardless of the depreciation method used, the difference involves the timing of when the depreciation is reported.
Examples of Accelerated Depreciation Methods
Three examples of accelerated depreciation methods include the following:
- Double-declining-balance method (or 200% declining-balance method)
- 150%-declining-balance method
- Sum-of-the-years'-digits (SYD) method
Use of Accelerated Depreciation for Income Tax Reporting
The U.S. income tax regulations allow a business to use accelerated depreciation on its income tax return while using straight-line depreciation on its financial statements. For profitable corporations, this likely results in deferred income tax payments.
