The Double Declining Balance Method of Depreciation

The  Double Declining Balance Method of Depreciation Did you buy a computer or an equipment today? Wonder what if you had to sell it off in a year or two? How much would you get? No matter what you own, it won’t be of the same value tomorrow as it is today.While it’s no secret that depreciation happens, when it comes to taxes, you might be better off selecting one method over the other when it comes to calculating the depreciation value. And that’s what this article will be all  about.Before we start with the whole Double Declining Balance Method  though, let’s look into what depreciation is all about. If you are new to the term,  here is what you need to know;  Depreciation  is the reduction of a fixed asset’s registered cost using specific  methods  until the value of the asset falls extremely  low.When we say ‘fixed assets,’  we mean buildings, office equipment, furniture,  machinery and more. However,  although  the  land  is also an asset, we do not include it in the list because it is an asset that  cannot  be depre ciated. The value of an asset such as land  appreciates  over  time  unless there are other environmental reasons for devaluation.Here is a video that talks about it in detail. TYPES OF DEPRECIATIONTo determine  the value of an asset, you have different  types of depreciation  methods and formulas. Few common  ones are as below:Straight-Line Depreciation Method  â€" This is considered one of the simplest methods of all. In this  method,  you will make  the  simple  allocation of the depreciation  rate  every year during the useful life of an asset. Formula: Annual Depreciation Expense = (Cost of Asset/Remaining Value)/Useful life of the asset.Unit of Production Method  â€" This method is used to depreciate the asset based on the number of hours the asset  is  used, or the total production of units during  its  useful life. You may say  that  the unit of production method calculates the output proficiency of the asset in question, instead of considering the number of years used. Form ula:  Per Unit Depreciation = (Cost of Asset â€" Remaining Value)/Units produced during  its functioning  lifeDouble Declining Method  â€" Double declining method is an accelerated depreciation method.  In this method,  companies take maximum depreciation charges in the initial years of useful life of the asset to lower profits in the income statements, instead of the later years when the asset loses its value. The lowering of profits in the initial years  enables lower income taxes during that time. Formula:  Depreciation = 2 X Straight Line Depreciation % X  Book Value*  (beginning of the accounting period)Sum of the Years’ Digits Depreciation Method  â€" Quite close to the declining balance depreciation method, this method also results in accelerated depreciation during the  useful early  life of an asset. For assets that can produce more in the initial years but slows down in the future,  this method  is more useful  compared to the  straight line  depreciation. Formula:  Depr eciation for the Year = (Cost of Asset â€" Salvage Value) X Factor (every year)*Book Value  â€" An asset’s book value is its worth at a given point in time. It is equal to the asset’s cost basis, minus the accumulated depreciation amount.The formula to evaluate an asset’s book value:  Book  Value = Asset’s cost basis â€" Accumulated depreciationThe benefit and reasons  for  each method  are  different, and using the right one that suits your business depends on the type of asset you have. While the  straight line depreciation method sounds the most convenient to use with streamlined accounting calculations, the declining  balance method provides you a precise accounting of the asset’s value.In a nutshell, depending on the nature of the assets and your company’s choice, you can pick one best-suited  depreciation method.PARTIAL YEAR DEPRECIATIONThe purchase of an asset might not always happen  at  the beginning of the accounting year. Sometimes, you might have to purchase some assets in the middle of a fiscal year as well,  and  this complicates the calculation a bit.However, depending on what accounting methods you apply, depreciation on  these sort of assets  can be treated differently. One of the methods would be partial year depreciation, in which the depreciation is evaluated exactly when the asset is in use and the convention in which the depreciation falls.First,  you will need to determine the asset’s depreciation. Check  if it  was used  for the entire fiscal year. By using the asset’s existing  depreciation schedule, you can determine the depreciation of the asset.Further, to extract the amount of the asset’s monthly depreciation, divide the total anticipated depreciation for the year by 12. Multiply this amount by the  number  of  months of the fiscal that the asset  was owned. The result will  provide you with a total amount of depreciation for  a  partial  year.Note: Each asset you purchase will  be depreciated  differently. You wi ll need to be mindful of which method you are using to depreciate an asset before you start your evaluation.WHY SHOULD BUSINESSES RECORD DEPECIATION?So,  now that we know what depreciation is, and different kinds of methods of determining the value of assets are, here is why businesses should record depreciation.  Understanding  accounting concepts  will help your business do more.As explained above, the purpose of depreciation is to match the revenue generated by an asset for the business,  with the cost of the  fixed asset during  its  useful life. Further, the cost of the asset is moved to the income statement from the  balance sheet during that time.What if we don’t use depreciation in accounting?  In such  circumstances, we will be required to charge whatever assets we buy, immediately after.The drawback of not using depreciation in accounting also leads to  an  overstatement  of assets and net income  in the balance sheet and income statement respectively.  Other repercussio ns are that  the cost  of the fixed asset  isn’t considered  while setting the sales prices, and since the established prices  won’t  be high enough, the cost of the fixed asset may not  be covered  as a result.WHAT IS A DOUBLE DECLINING BALANCE METHOD?The double declining balance depreciation method  is used  for accounting the expense of a long-term asset. This method is an enhanced form of depreciation that  is recognized  during the initial few years of the fixed assets’ useful life. Some companies use this method to carry forward the taxes to future years, which is known as double declining balance depreciation.This method also takes the depreciation charges in these initial years and lowers profits on  the  income  statement, instead of considering those later. Reason being, most of the assets loses its value after some time.HOW DOES DOUBLE DECLINING DEPRECIATION WORK?As per the GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), public companies record expenses in the same period as  the  revenue  generated from those expenses. For example, if a public company has bought an expensive asset and will be using it for several years, the  entire asset expense is not deducted in the year of  its  purchase. The deduction  is divided  into many years.This  is beneficial for assets that  lose  its value over a period, because though the depreciation expense of the asset might be larger in  its  initial life,  but  it will become smaller later.For  example, let’s assume you buy a machine for $50,000. You’ll expect it to run for  ten  years, and estimate a salvage value of $5,000. Under the  straight-line  depreciation method, your company will deduct $4,500 for  ten  years ($50,000 $5,000/10). With the double declining balance method, the deduction will be 20% of $50,000 ($10,000) in the first year, 20% of $40,000 ($8,000) in the second and so on.HOW TO CALCULATE DEPRECIATION UNDER THE DOUBLE DECLINING METHOD?Being an  entrepreneur  comes with its risks.  To be able to apply the double declining depreciation formula, you are required to know the asset’s useful life and price first.By dividing 100% by the asset’s useful life (in no. years) you get the asset’s  straight-line  depreciation rate. Further, by multiplying that rate by  two,  you’ll get you  double declining depreciation rate. With this  method,  you’ll see that the depreciation will continue until  the asset’s  salvage value.The salvage  value  of an asset is the resale  value  that you can estimate by the end of the asset’s useful life.  To  calculate the  cost of an asset that will depreciate, you can take the cost of the fixed asset and then minus the salvage value.To summarize we may look at the below pointers:During the time of purchase of an asset, you’ll need to determine the original costDetermine the asset’s salvage value (the selling value of the asset once  it’s  useful life is over)Determine the asset’s useful lifeEvaluate the asset’s d epreciation rate (1/useful life)To  find out the depreciation expense,  and then  multiply  the  book value of the period by twice the depreciation rateDeduct this from the beginning value for the ending period valueRepeat these steps to reach the salvage valueFor example: If you have an  asset that values $50,000, you’ll  estimate the salvage value to be around $5,000 in five years, by the time you are ready to sell it. That would mean, you will depreciate $45,000 over these many years. You will sell the asset for $5,000, and remove the asset from your accounting reports.Here are two formulas to calculate straight line and double declining depreciation rates:Straight line depreciation rate = depreciation expense/depreciable baseDouble declining depreciation rate = straight line depreciation rate X 2WHY WOULD A COMPANY USE DOUBLE-DECLINING DEPRECIATION ON ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS?You need to take a look at the  economics basics  to understand and answer the question.  Using double declining balance depreciation on the financial statements allows a  constant  blend of both depreciation expense and maintenance and  repairs expense, during the asset’s useful life.During the useful life of an asset, the repairs and maintenance expense  is  generally low therefore the depreciation expense is high. As time passes, the repairs and maintenance expense will rise, leading to lowered depreciation expense.In such  cases,  the company  reports  lower net income during the useful life of the asset, which is pretty early and is mostly not deemed acceptable.ADJUSTING DEPRECIATION CHARGES ON BALANCE SHEET, INCOME STATEMENT AND CASH FLOW STATEMENTTo understand how to adjust the depreciation charges on your balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement, let us take an example of a machine that you purchased for a vital purpose in your company:If the cost of the machine is $50,000; the cash and equivalents will be reduced to that amount and will  be moved  to proper ty, plant and equipment section in the balance sheet.  Right then, an outflow of the $50,000 will be visible in the cash flow statement as well.Now, $12,500 is going to  be charged  to the income statement as depreciation expense for the first year, $10,000 in the second and this will continue for 3 4 years more. Though you’ll have already paid for the machinery in full during the time of purchase, however, the expense will be distributed over  time.With every passing year, the depreciation expense will be added to property, plant and equipment section, to reduce any  value  of the asset (this is also known as accumulated depreciation). As per the above example, after the first year, the accumulated depreciation will be $12,500, $10,000 in the second and so on.Once the machine’s  useful life is over, the carrying value of the asset will be very less. You might as well sell the machine, and whether profit or loss, this salvage value of the machine will be hence recorded in the i ncome statement. The amount received on selling the machine is the cash inflow in the cash flow statement, and this will  be registered  in the cash and equivalent section in the balance sheetRECORDING DOUBLE DECLINING BALANCE DEPRECIATION FOR ACCOUNTINGRecording your depreciation every month will keep your financial statements updated. As and when you  register  the depreciation of an asset, the depreciation expense and accumulated depreciation along with  the  net  value of your fixed assets will show in the profit loss statement and your balance sheet respectively. You will be required to record these expenses in a journal entry.To prove that  you own the fixed assets, you’ll need to own enough documentation, like title documentation or contracts, purchase receipts, and others as  proof.  Along with that, to track each asset, you will also need to create a  depreciation schedule.You might need to focus on  this especially if the amount of depreciation you log in the accounting , varies from the one  that  is logged  for tax purpose.What is a Depreciation  Schedule?A depreciation schedule breaks down a firm’s  long-term  asset’s depreciation.  This  is a calculation of the depreciation expense for the assets you purchased and then distributes the cost over the useful life of those  assets.  These schedules are not just for computing the expense but also to track the starting and ending  accumulated depreciation.This  schedule  allows a firm to track its  long-term  assets and analyze the depreciation over time.  You may conclude saying that it’s a description of the assets you purchase, it’s purchase date, cost, it’s useful life and its salvage value.Also, the depreciation schedule provides information on the method of depreciation, the current year’s depreciation,  accumulative depreciation  from the purchase date till today and the net book value of the asset.What is an Accumulated Depreciation?  â€"  Accumulated  depreciation  is  a fixed as set’s total depreciation, that  is charged  to expense from the time it was purchased and  was used. An accumulated depreciation account is a credit balance asset account; which means it will show on the balance sheet as a reduction from the fixed asset’s gross amount.The  accumulated depreciation amount  increases over time, as the depreciation  is charged  against the fixed assets. The actual cost of the asset is the gross cost, whereas the actual cost of the asset minus the accumulated depreciation amount (and any damage) is the asset’s net cost (carrying amount).When the asset is off  its  useful life, and you are planning to sell it, the accumulated depreciation amount is reversed, along with the actual cost of the asset.  This  eliminates all the record of the asset from the balance sheet of your company.ADVANTAGES OF USING THE DOUBLE DECLINING BALANCE METHOD IN ACCOUNTINGWe have constantly  reiterated on double declining balance  method  and also compared it to the  str aight line  depreciation method. So, below are  a  few  points,  to  sum up why it’s advantageous to use the double declining balance method in accounting.Double Declining Balance  â€" This method uses the depreciation rate to double the  straight line  depreciation rate. Let us give you an example  of  that. If the  straight  line  depreciation rate for a 5years asset is 10% each year, using the double declining balance method, the depreciation rate  is doubled  to 20%. Further, the distributed depreciation expense  is extracted  by using the depreciation rate to multiply the depreciation base.Matching Asset Value  â€" When you purchase an asset, you can rest assured that the asset will provide you with optimal usability, at least during the initial years.  For example, any technically sophisticated device may go outdated as and when  new products launch. The device  might not support the latest requirement,  and  this could happen within  a  few  years.  Since the device was  la test during the time of purchase, it  will provide  you  with  optimal usage in the initial years.Depreciation expense is meant to be a fixed asset’s cost  distribution  so that the actual benefit of the asset’s usage  is reflected  in  the same period.Maximizing Tax Deduction  â€"  As we keep mentioning,  the initial years of an asset’s usage adds more value to a  company  and generates  better profits and revenue compared to later years.  When this depreciation expense  is evenly distributed,  it might not help a company when  it  is used  for tax deduction.  In that case, companies need to apply the double declining balance method that gives higher depreciation expenses distributed in the initial years, to balance higher profits and revenues during the same period.Balancing Maintenance Costs  â€" The value of every asset drops with passing years and will require plenty of quality maintenance to keep it up-and-running for a long time. These costs may  be deducted  from the c ompany’s profits. In  these type of scenarios,  companies opt to distribute minimal depreciation expenses for the later years, to avoid adding more cost deductions to reduce profits.The double declining balance method distributes these depreciation expenses in  a  declining  method for the later years to balance the increased maintenance expenses,  with  the  least  depreciation expenses in the same period.Although  double  declining balance  isn’t  used  for tax purposes, a lot of companies apply this method for their internal accounting. Depreciation helps your accounts if you are planning on purchasing expensive assets.This  method  represents the value of electronics and cars precisely compared to other methods.  It’s because  vehicles, devices, furniture and  some  other types of  machinery  lose  value pretty quickly.DISADVANTAGES OF USING THE DOUBLE DECLINING BALANCE METHOD IN ACCOUNTINGNow that we learned about the advantages, below are  a  few  disadvantages as well t o consider before we move further. The double declining balance  method  also has few drawbacks over the straight-line depreciation method:Compared to the simple  straight line  depreciation method,  the  double  declining balance method is a little complicated.Since  the  majority  of your company’s assets will last more and will be used constantly during their useful life, depreciating the value at  an  accelerated  rate isn’t sensible. Also, it might not show the use of the assets precisely.Your company will not be as profitable later as in the early years. Therefore, it won’t be easy to gauge the  operating  profit of the company.ASSET ASSUMPTIONWhen we talk about  the term ‘depreciation,’  its  understood that it is a method that reduces a fixed asset’s registered cost until the value of the asset falls extremely low. If you purchased  a truck for delivery of your goods from one place to another,  look at how you will be using the truck to sell the goods.You can  as sume  the expense to charge  on  both the truck’s worth by the end of  its  useful life and its lifetime. These assumptions will affect the book value of the asset as well as the net income, and will also influence the earning of the asset after selling (if you would), for profit or loss compared to the  book  value.