Depreciation is the reduction in the value of a fixed asset due to usage, wear and tear, the passage of time, or obsolescence. The loss on an asset that arises from depreciation is a direct consequence of the services that the asset gives to its owner. Therefore, a reasonable assumption is that the loss in the value of a fixed asset in a period is the worth of the service provided by that asset over that period. From an accounting perspective, depreciation is the process of converting fixed assets into expenses. Also, depreciation is the systematic allocation of the cost of noncurrent, nonmonetary, tangible assets (except for land) over their estimated useful life. Depreciation is a systematic procedure for allocating the acquisition cost of a capital asset over its useful life. Capital assets such as buildings, machinery, and equipment are useful to a company for a limited number of years. The entire cost of a capital asset is not charged to any one year as an expense; rather the cost is spread over the useful life of the asset. Thus, the cost of the asset is charged as an expense to the periods that benefit from the use of the asset. The part of the cost that is charged to operation during an accounting period is known as depreciation. Hence, the objective of depreciation is to achieve the matching principle (i.e., to offset the costs of the goods and services being consumed in an accounting period with the period's revenue, thereby determining the profit or loss made by the business). Depreciation accounting is a system of accounting that aims to distribute the cost (or other basic values) of tangible capital assets less its scrap value over the effective life of the asset. Thus, depreciation is a process of allocation and not valuation. The expenditure on the purchase of machinery is not regarded as part of the cost of the period; instead, it is shown as an asset in the balance sheet. The expenditure incurred on the purchase of a fixed asset is known as a capital expense. Capital expenditure is a fixed asset that is charged off as depreciation over a period of years. The decisions that are made about how much depreciation to charge off are influenced by the accountant's judgment. To measure the depreciation of an asset, the following must be known: The purchase price of an asset is its cost plus all other expenses paid to acquire and prepare the asset to ensure it is ready for use. Estimated residual value is also known as the salvage value or scrap value. This is the expected value of the asset in cash at the end of its useful life. When calculating depreciation, the estimated residual value is not depreciation because the business can expect to receive this amount from selling off the asset. The cost of the asset minus its residual value is called the depreciable cost of the asset. The depreciable cost is allocated over the useful life of the asset. However, if the asset is expected not to have residual value, the full cost of the asset is depreciated. Estimated useful life is the number of years of service the business expects to receive from the asset. The causes of depreciation include physical deterioration and obsolescence. An overview of the main causes is given below. Assets decline in value due to use and wear and tear. All assets have a useful life and every machine eventually reaches a time when it must be decommissioned, irrespective of how effective the organization's maintenance policy is. An asset may become obsolete due to better designs, new inventions, or simply changing fashions. This may result in the asset being discarded even though it is still useful and in excellent physical condition. An asset may be exhausted through work. This is the case for mineral mines, oil wells, and other similar assets. Due to the continuous extraction of minerals or oil, a point comes when the mine or well is completely exhausted—nothing is left. Therefore, after a certain period, the value of the exhausted asset will be zero. The value of certain assets falls with the passage of time. Leasehold properties, patents, and copyrights are examples of such assets. Depreciation is allocated over the useful life of an asset based on the book value of the asset originally entered in the books of accounts. The market value of the asset may increase or decrease during the useful life of the asset. However, the allocation of depreciation in each accounting period continues on the basis of the book value without regard to such temporary changes. Also, depreciation expense is merely a book entry and represents a "non-cash" expense. Therefore, depreciation is a process of cost allocation—not of valuation. Suppose that a company purchases a weighing machine for $1,000. After a year's use, the value of the machine is assessed at $800. In this example, we can say that the service given by the weighing machine in its first year of life was $200 ($1,000 - $800) to the company. It is in this sense that depreciation is considered a normal business expense and, consequently, treated in the books of account in more or less the same way as any other expense. Fixed assets lose value throughout their useful life—every minute, every hour, and every day. It would, however, be impractical (and of no great benefit) to calculate and re-calculate the extent of this loss over short periods (e.g., every month). As business accounts are usually prepared on an annual basis, it is common to calculate depreciation only once at the end of each financial year. There are three popular ways to calculate depreciation. These are:Depreciation: Definition
Depreciation: Explanation
Depreciation Accounting
Measuring Depreciation
Causes of Depreciation
Physical Deterioration
Obsolescence
Exhaustion
Efflux of Time
Depreciation Is a Process of Cost Allocation
Example
Methods of Calculating Depreciation
Depreciation FAQs
The purpose of Depreciation is to allocate the cost of non-current assets over their useful life. This allocation is reflected in periodic expense entries. These expense entries reduce taxable income each year and hence result in tax savings. (Note: Taxable income = Net profit + Depreciation)
The concept of useful life represents the period beyond which it would not be practical to use an asset anymore. Useful life is not equivalent to physical life.
If the useful life is short, then calculated Depreciation will also be less in the early accounting periods. This means that there will be a large difference between tax expense and taxable income at the beginning of the accounting period. Because large losses are realized early, the tax benefit will be spread over a longer period.
Amortization results from a systematic reduction in value of certain assets that have limited useful lives, such as intangible assets. Depreciation occurs when a non-current asset loses value due to use or passage of time. Depreciation does not result from any systematic approach but occurs naturally through the passage of time.
An accounting loss results from expensing a revenue-generating asset instead of capitalizing it and thus, not creating any future value for the company. In this event, the book value of the asset becomes smaller each year. The accumulated Depreciation account will show a debit balance as a result.
True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.
True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.
To learn more about True, visit his personal website or view his author profiles on Amazon, Nasdaq and Forbes.
