Fixed Asset Depreciation: Here's What You Need to Know

May 30, 2024

Understanding fixed asset depreciation is crucial for any business aiming to optimize financial performance and maintain compliance with accounting standards. In this blog, we’ll demystify the complexities surrounding the depreciation of fixed assets, providing you with the essential knowledge to better track and manage your company’s valuable resources.

Whether you're a seasoned finance professional or new to fixed asset management, this guide will equip you with the insights needed to enhance your organization’s asset tracking and financial planning.

Main Takeaways From This Article:

Understanding and applying the concept of fixed asset depreciation is crucial for accurate financial statements and tax reporting.
The different methods of fixed asset depreciation are straight-line, declining balance, sum-of-the-years' digits, and units of production, which provide flexibility based on your company’s specific circumstances.
Each depreciation method comes with its unique step-by-step process, from the identification of the asset to the recording of the depreciation expense.
Estimating salvage value, an essential aspect of depreciation calculations can be achieved through history, professional appraisal, or percentage estimates.
RedBeam's software solution offers an easy way to optimize your asset inventory management, making depreciation calculations and recording more efficient.

What Is Fixed Asset Depreciation?

Fixed Asset Depreciation refers to the gradual decrease in the value of tangible assets over time due to factors such as wear and tear, obsolescence, or aging. This decline in value is systematically recorded in a company's financial statements to accurately reflect the asset's reduced worth over its useful life. Depreciation is a non-cash expense, meaning no physical money is exchanged, but it impacts a company's profitability and tax obligations.

Fixed Assets vs. Intangible Assets

Fixed assets and intangible assets are both crucial components of a company's balance sheet, representing valuable resources that contribute to its operations and potential for future growth. However, they differ in nature, characteristics, and treatment in financial accounting. Here's a breakdown of their distinctions:

Fixed Assets

Tangible Nature: Fixed assets are physical assets with a definite, measurable value and a finite useful life.
Examples: Common examples include land, buildings, machinery, vehicles, and equipment.
Acquisition Cost: Fixed assets are typically acquired at a cost that includes purchase price, installation, and any other expenses necessary to make the asset ready for its intended use.
Depreciation: These assets undergo depreciation, where their value gradually decreases over time due to wear and tear, obsolescence, or other factors.
Financial Reporting: Depreciation expenses associated with fixed assets are recorded on the income statement, while the asset's carrying value is reported on the balance sheet.

Intangible Assets

Non-Physical Nature: Intangible assets lack physical substance and are typically intellectual property or rights.
Examples: Examples include patents, trademarks, copyrights, goodwill, and software.
Valuation: Determining the value of intangible assets can be challenging, often requiring valuation techniques such as market approach, income approach, or cost approach.
Amortization: Similar to depreciation, intangible assets undergo amortization, where their value is systematically reduced over their useful life.
Financial Reporting: Amortization expenses related to intangible assets are recorded on the income statement, while the asset's carrying value is reported on the balance sheet.

Key Methods to Calculate Depreciation of Fixed Assets

With these differences in mind, let's explore essential methods for calculating the depreciation of fixed assets.

Straight-Line Depreciation Method

The straight-line depreciation method distributes the initial cost of fixed assets evenly throughout their expected useful life. This technique calculates the annual depreciation expense by dividing the asset's initial purchase price by its predicted period of functionality. With each passing year, a uniform amount is pared down from the asset's total value, resulting in a steady decrease over time.

Declining Balance Depreciation Method

The declining balance method of depreciation represents an accelerated depreciation approach that proportionally assigns a fixed percentage of the remaining book value of a tangible asset to each fiscal year. This method underscores a greater depreciation expense during the asset's initial operational years, with these charges gradually diminishing as the asset ages.

This method offers efficacy, particularly for assets such as state-of-the-art technology or advanced machinery, which tend to depreciate more quickly during their initial operational years.

Sum of the Years' Digits Depreciation

The sum-of-the-years' digits method is a depreciation approach that assigns a considerably larger portion of an asset's depreciation value towards the beginning stages of its lifecycle. In essence, this is an advanced technique that calculates yearly depreciation costs by applying a unique fraction to the total depreciable cost of the asset. This ratio is determined by adding all the numbers that compose the complete useful life of the asset.

This method stands out because it is fast. It quickly accounts for depreciation expenses, making it the go-to choice for assets that experience a steep drop in value during their earlier life stages.

Units of Production Depreciation Method

Unlike other depreciation methods that rely on time, this technique concentrates on the actual output or utilization of an asset. The depreciation expense is allocated primarily based on the asset's actual use, such as the number of miles driven for vehicles or the operational hours for machinery.

What sets the units of production depreciation method apart is its precise reflection of the asset's wear and tear over time.

How To Depreciate Fixed Assets Step-By-Step

Now that you know how to calculate the depreciation of fixed assets, take a look at our comprehensive step-by-step approach. From determining asset cost to selecting the depreciation method, we'll walk you through each crucial stage.

1. Identify the Asset

The first step toward depreciating your company's fixed assets is to identify each asset specifically. This is more than simply knowing what the asset is; it involves a comprehensive understanding of its features and attributes. By following these simple steps, you can make this process efficient and error-free:

Itemization: Make a detailed list of each of the fixed assets. Include everything from office equipment to buildings.
Description: Include a detailed description for each asset. Indicate the type, model, make, serial number, and other details that make it unique.
Purchase Details: Record the date and price of purchase. This information is crucial when calculating depreciation.
Location: Track where each asset is located within your organization. This will facilitate asset tracking and manageability.
Asset Condition: Regularly assess the condition of the asset. The asset's condition might impact its depreciation rate and its future resale value.
Associated Documentation: Gather all related documents, such as purchase orders, warranties, and maintenance records. These documents help identify the asset and are invaluable during audits or asset disposal.

2. Determine the Asset's Useful Life

The useful life of an asset refers to the period over which an asset is expected to be usable, providing economic benefits to the business. Here's how you can go about achieving this step:

Industry Standards: Different industries often have standard asset life cycles. Doing a quick search or asking other businesses within your industry can provide a good starting point.
Manufacturer Guidelines: Oftentimes, the manufacturer provides guidelines on how long an asset is expected to last. This information can be pulled from the product manual or warranty document.
Company Experience: Past experiences within the company with similar assets can be leveraged. Historical data may offer insights into the average lifespan and depreciation rate of an asset.
Professional Assessment: If it’s difficult to determine the useful life, you can consult with a professional evaluator. They will do an in-depth assessment of the asset, evaluating all factors that may affect its lifespan.

3. Calculate the Depreciable Base

This calculation forms the cornerstone of any depreciation schedule and predicts the amount your asset will depreciate over its expected lifespan. We have broken down the process for you in a few simple steps:

Determine the initial cost of the asset: This is the purchase price or production cost of the asset, including all costs needed to acquire it and make it ready for use. For example, these costs can be insurance during transport, installation expenses, and sales tax.
Estimate the salvage value: This is a prediction of what an asset may be worth at the end of its useful life. Predominantly, this is an estimated selling price, particularly in the context of an asset that can be resold once its usefulness to your business has ended.
Calculate the depreciable base: Subtract the salvage value from the initial cost of the asset. The result is the depreciable base or the total amount of an asset that is to be depreciated over time.

4. Select the Depreciation Method

Choosing the correct depreciation method ensures accurate asset values over time. This choice should reflect the usage, wear and tear, and life span of the asset. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

Usage Review: Prioritize methods like the units of production method if the asset's usage significantly impacts its value decline.
Economic Factors: Consider economic conditions like inflation or market trends, possibly advantaging declining balance methods.
Company Policy: Company policies may have predetermined methods. Ensure that these align with your asset's characteristics and GAAP standards.
Regulatory Compliance: Stay compliant with regulatory requirements, like tax norms, which might influence the selection.
Financial Reporting: The method you select will affect your balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. The straight-line method, for instance, provides consistency, making financial forecasting more manageable.

Consider these factors in your decision-making process to ensure a practicable depreciation strategy. When in doubt, consult a financial advisor or use specialized software like RedBeam to guide you in the right direction.

5. Apply the Depreciation Formula

The application of the formula will vary depending on the type of depreciation method chosen. So, let's look at each method and its formula for a clear understanding:

Straight-Line Method: Depreciation Expense = (Cost of Asset – Salvage Value) / Useful Life. The same amount is depreciated each year over the asset's useful life.
Declining Balance Method: Depreciation Expense = Book Value at the start of the year * Depreciation rate. The rate is greater than that used in the straight-line method, which results in larger depreciation expenses during the early years of an asset's life and decreases over time.
Sum of the Years' Digits Method: Depreciation Expense = (Cost of Asset – Salvage Value) * (Remaining Life / Sum of The Years’ Digits). This approach provides accelerated depreciation, wherein the expense is higher in the earlier years and lower as the asset ages.
Units of Production Method: Depreciation Expense = (Cost of Asset – Salvage Value) / Total Units Expected to be produced. This method ties the depreciation charge directly to the level of asset usage.

Understanding and applying these formulas will help calculate asset depreciation appropriately, thereby ensuring that asset values on your balance sheet remain accurate.

6. Record the Depreciation Expense

Recording depreciation expenses accurately is essential for a clear picture of the asset's worth over time and for informed decision-making. Here's how you can keep accurate records:

Journal Depreciation Expense: Start by recording your depreciation expense in the company's financial journal. This entry reflects how much value the asset has lost over a specific period, typically over a month or a year.
Adjust the Carrying Value: The carrying value is the original cost minus any accumulated depreciation. It's important to adjust this in your records regularly.
Revaluate Regularly: Monitor the asset's depreciated value. This periodic check ensures your records are accurate, adjusts for any methodological changes, and salvages value if the asset is sold prematurely.
Tax Considerations: Ensure your records reflect the correct depreciation expense, as this will impact the business's taxable income. Incorrect or omitted entries may lead to disparities, potentially resulting in financial penalties.
Year-End Accounts: At the end of the fiscal year, transfer the year's accumulated depreciation from the income statement to the balance sheet's accumulated depreciation account.

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