Depreciation Method

What is a Depreciation Method?

A depreciation method is a system used to allocate the cost of a tangible asset over its useful life. The purpose of depreciation is to match the cost of the asset with the revenue it generates.
 

TL;DR

Depreciation Method: It’s a system to spread the cost of a tangible asset over its useful life, aligning cost with generated revenue.

Common Methods: Straight-line (even allocation), Declining balance (front-loaded), and Units-of-production (based on production) are popular choices.

Advantages: Straight-line is simple, declining balance accelerates tax benefits, and units-of-production closely matches value decline.

Disadvantages: Straight-line may not closely match value decline, declining balance might fully depreciate an asset early, and units-of-production can be complex to calculate.

 
There are a number of different depreciation methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The most common depreciation methods are:

  • Straight-line depreciation: This method allocates the cost of an asset evenly over its useful life. It is the simplest and most straightforward method of depreciation.
  • Declining balance depreciation: This method allocates a greater amount of depreciation in the early years of an asset’s life and a smaller amount of depreciation in the later years. This method can be used to accelerate the tax benefits of depreciation.
  • Units-of-production depreciation: This method allocates depreciation based on the number of units produced by an asset. This method is used for assets that are used to produce a product or service.

The method of depreciation that is used will depend on the specific asset and the company’s accounting policies.

Here is a table summarizing the three most common depreciation methods:

Depreciation Method Description Advantages Disadvantages
Straight-line depreciation The cost of the asset is allocated evenly over its useful life. Simplest and most straightforward method. Depreciation expenses are not as closely aligned with the asset’s decline in value.
Declining balance depreciation A greater amount of depreciation is allocated in the early years of an asset’s life and a smaller amount of depreciation in the later years. Can be used to accelerate the tax benefits of depreciation. The asset may be fully depreciated before it is no longer useful.
Units-of-production depreciation Depreciation is allocated based on the number of units produced by an asset. Depreciation expenses are more closely aligned with the asset’s decline in value. Can be more complex to calculate than other methods.

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