Accelerated depreciation 

Accelerated depreciation 

An important instrument in the financial management of firms is accelerated depreciation. This technique enables enterprises to lower their taxable revenue during the first few years of an asset’s useful life, freeing up cash flow for other costs. This strategy has important financial repercussions and can significantly affect a company’s bottom line.  

What is accelerated depreciation? 

Accelerated depreciation is an accounting strategy that allows firms to claim bigger tax deductions by depreciating assets more quickly in the early years of their useful life. With this approach, the tax deduction is higher in the early years and lower in the later years. It is called “accelerated” because the depreciation expense is greater than what would be calculated using the straight-line depreciation method. Accelerated depreciation methods are often used to encourage investment by reducing the tax liability of businesses.  

Understanding accelerated depreciation 

Compared to the straight-line method, the accelerated depreciation method calculates an asset’s depreciation expense more quickly, resulting in greater tax deductions in the first few years of an asset’s useful life. According to this methodology, a costlier asset will depreciate more quickly in the first few years of usage, necessitating a higher depreciation charge to be recorded in those years. This strategy offers the advantage of lowering taxable revenue and tax obligations during the first few years of an asset’s useful life, which can be advantageous for businesses wishing to reinvest those savings back into the company. The asset’s book value is also reduced using this strategy in the initial years, which may affect the company’s financial ratios and financial condition. 

Types of accelerated depreciation methods 

The types of accelerated depreciation methods are as follows:  

• Double declining balance (DDB) 

This method calculates depreciation by doubling the straight-line rate and applying it to the asset’s book value each year. The asset is depreciated faster in the early years of its useful life and slower in the later years. 

• Sum-of-the-years-digits (SYD) 

This method determines depreciation by multiplying the asset’s book value by a fraction based on the usable life of the asset’s components. The asset also depreciates more quickly in the initial years with this strategy. 

• 150% declining balance 

This method applies a depreciation rate of 1.5 times the straight-line rate to the asset’s book value each year. This method is also commonly used for tax purposes. 

• Modified accelerated cost recovery system (MACRS) 

This method is used for tax purposes and involves calculating depreciation using specific depreciation rates and recovery periods based on the asset’s classification. 

Example of the double declining balance method 

The double declining balance method is a depreciation method used to calculate the declining value of an asset over time. Suppose a company purchases a piece of machinery for US$100,000 with a useful life of 5 years and a salvage value of US$10,000.  

The company uses the double declining balance method to depreciate the asset. First, the company calculates the depreciation rate, which is 40% (2 x 1/5). In the first year, the company would depreciate the asset by 40% of its current book value, US$40,000 (US$100,000 x 40%).  

The new book value after the first year would be US$60,000. In the second year, the company would again apply the 40% depreciation rate to the new book value, which would be US$24,000  (US$60,000 x 40%). The process continues until the salvage value of US$10,000 is reached. 

Financial statement impact of different depreciation methods 

The impacts of different financial statements of different depreciation methods are as follows: 

• Income statement 

The depreciation expense is recorded on the income statement, reducing the company’s net income. The higher the depreciation expense, the lower the net income. 

• Balance sheet 

Accumulated depreciation is displayed as a contra-asset account on the balance sheet. The asset’s book value, which is the difference between its cost and accumulated depreciation, is decreased by accumulated depreciation. 

• Cash flow statement 

The depreciation expense is added to the net income when calculating the operating cash flow on the cash flow statement. This is because depreciation is a non-cash expense that reduces net income but does not require a cash outflow. 

• Tax reporting 

Different depreciation methods have different tax reporting impacts. Accelerated depreciation methods can result in a larger tax deduction in the early years and a smaller deduction in later years, reducing the tax liability of businesses. 

Frequently Asked Questions