Accumulated Depreciation
Accumulated depreciation is a contra account that offsets a companys fixed assets on the balance sheet. By creating an account that tracks how much of a companys fixed assets were used during the accounting period, financial statements remain accurate and compliant.
Accumulated depreciation is a cumulative total of the periodic depreciation expense recorded against a fixed asset. It increases with each recorded entry or journal entry and is reported in the “Accumulated Depreciation” contra asset account found on the company’s balance sheet.
The total amount of accumulated depreciation is calculated by subtracting the asset’s current value or remaining book value from its initial cost or book value reported on the balance sheet. For example, if a company purchased a truck for $40,000 and, by the end of the period, the truck had accumulated $20,000 in depreciation, the total accumulated depreciation would be $20,000.
Accumulated depreciation is a non-cash item and is used to reduce the stated value of a companys fixed assets and record them as an expense over the useful life of the asset. The process of expensing part of an asset’s cost each year is normally referred to as depreciation.
Depreciation expense is recorded in both the income statement and the statement of cash flows over the useful life of the asset. This is done by reducing the recorded value of the fixed asset on the balance sheet and simultaneously recording an increasing balance to the contra-asset account of “Accumulated Depreciation.”
Accumulated depreciation is one of several ways to account for a physical asset over time on a company’s balance sheet and income statement. Alternatively, a company may choose to use the Depreciation and Amortization Expense account, which combines both of these activities into one entry.
The accumulated depreciation tax deductible feature makes the account a lucrative option for businesses. Any business that owns or leases tangible assets can use this account to minimize the sum of taxes it pays each year. Due to depreciation expenses, the business’ taxable income decreases as the costs to buy or lease the tangible assets increase.
Accumulated depreciation is also useful for businesses that want to manage their income tax payments more efficiently. This account helps businesses reduce the taxes they owe in the present, which can free up capital that the company can reinvest in its operations.
In conclusion, accumulated depreciation is a way of tracking how much of a company’s fixed assets were used during the accounting period, and it is a great tool for businesses to reduce their taxable income. This account also allows businesses to manage their income tax payments more efficiently.