Topic 10 - Depreciation
What is depreciation?
Depreciation is the allocation of the cost of a fixed asset over its useful life. It is a revenue expenditure. It will appear in the Profit & Loss Account as an expense.
What is net book value?
Net Book Value = Historical Cost – Total Depreciation
What are the causes of depreciation?
· WEAR AND TEAR
This is the loss of effectiveness through use.
· OBSOLESCENE
This is the loss of economic effectiveness due to technological advancement or changes of fashion.
· PASSAGE OF TIME
Some assets, such as leasehold property and patent rights, have fixed lives. The worth of such assets decreases with the passing of time.
· DEPLETION
This is the diminishing of natural resources from wasting assets such as mines, quarries and forests.
What are the different methods of depreciation?
1. STRAIGHT LINE METHOD
Annual Depreciation =
Cost of Fixed Assets - Scrap
Estimated Useful Life
Or
Annual Depreciation =
x % X Cost of Fixed Assets
Rate of Depreciation =
Annual Depreciation x 100%
Cost of Fixed Assets
Feature: equal amount every year
Advantage: easy to calculate
Disadvantage: no proper matching if the service is not uniform every year
2. REDUCING BALANCE METHOD
Annual Depreciation =
x % X Net Book Value of Assets
Where
Net Book Value =
Cost - Accumulated Depreciation
Feature: the amount of depreciation per year diminishes with each successive year
Advantage: overall expenses stay constant throughout the asset’s life
Disadvantage: difficult to calculate; asset will always have a small value left
3. REVALUATION METHOD
Annual Depreciation =
Cost of Fixed Assets At Beginning – Cost of Fixed Asset At End of Period
The revaluation method is normally used for calculating depreciation of items such as loose tools and farmers’ livestock, which are difficult to estimate with any certainty the rate at which the asset will depreciate.
Advantage: This allows for a more realistic financial position to be expressed.
Disadvantage: A lot of time and effort has to be expended in order to revalue the assets.