Advantages Of Depreciation

Even though Mr. Fordham mentions that he in his “Statement of Cost of Goods Manufactured for Year Ended Dec. 31 1956” that he depreciated $24,000 of Plant and Equipment, I decided to change the depreciation schedule so that PP&E would be fully depreciated by the end of the 5 year period. Thus, I used a straight-line depreciation schedule that accumulated $40,000 worth of depreciation per year, which was spread evenly across the 12 months of this Balance Sheet (or $3,333.33 per month).

The value of fixed assets typically decreases over time. The amount of the decrease each year is accounted for and is called depreciation. Depreciation for the year is expensed on the income statement and added to the accumulated depreciation account on the balance sheet. So the value of the fixed assets on the balance sheet is reduced by the accumulated depreciation.

1. The first step to evaluating the cash flows is to conduct the depreciation tax flow analysis. Depreciation is not a cash flow, but the depreciation expense lows the taxes payable for the company. As a result, the tax effect of deprecation needs to be calculated as a cash flow. There are two depreciable items on the company's balance sheet the building and the equipment. The equipment is known to have a seven year depreciable life, which will be assumed to be straight line. The building is also assumed to be subject to straight line depreciation, this time of forty years. The tax saving reflects the depreciation expense multiplied by the tax rate, which in this case is assumed to be 28%. The following table illustrates the tax effect in future dollars of the depreciation expense:

c. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the asset’s estimated useful life, which is determined by asset category as follows: Buildings and improvements (5 – 40 years); Store fixtures and equipment (3 – 15years), Leasehold improvements (Shorter of initial lease term or asset life); Capitalized software (3 – 7 years).

| In Year 1, depreciation is $5,000 plus 15% of the asset’s outlayFrom Year 2, depreciation is either * 30% of the asset’s book value; or * if the asset’s book value is less than $6,500, depreciation is the asset’s book value (i.e. asset is depreciated to zero once book value < $6,500)

Depreciation is the loss in value of an asset / building over time due to wear and tear, physical deterioration and age. Depreciation is treated as an expense and is a line item on your income statement but must be applied only to the building and not the land (since land does not wear out over time). You will be able to depreciate the building over a period of 39 years using the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS). IRS Publication 946 contains the rules and guidelines governing depreciation of non-residential or commercial property.

The type of depreciation method the Target Corporation uses is a straight-line method. Property and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives or lease terms if shorter. “Target amortizes leasehold improvements purchased after the beginning of the initial lease term over the shorter of the assets' useful lives or a term that includes the original lease term, plus any renewals that are reasonably assured at the date the leasehold improvements are acquired” (Stock Analysis, n.d.).

-The estimated depreciation lives on certain U.S. plants, machinery and equipment changed. The economic life of these assets was increased, so the depreciation expense was lowered.

Furthermore, by adopting a historical cost approach the assets will be depreciated over that useful life which has been estimated. With the useful life of an asset being so subjective it is hard to apportion a useful figure to depreciation. By increasing the useful life of an asset you are effectively spreading the depreciation expense over a longer period of time resulting in lower depreciation expenses and vice versa. In fact, Zheng et al. (2012) go one step further and consider depreciation to be a strategy for managers to manipulate profits.

Every company has their own way to depreciate fixed assets based on their requirements and situations. The main reason for such a difference in strategies is showing the amount of profit in a particular period. In case of Delta they have increased the life of an asset showing low depreciation which leads to low operating expense resulting in higher profits. However for Singapore airline the operating profit is good and there is not much need to show lower depreciation, moreover it adds on to their value by showing a higher salvage value for the equipments they carry.

Depreciation is the reduction in the value of certain fixed assets. It is a periodic reduction of fixed assets, usually done every year. Fixed assets are assets that add value to the company. Examples of fixed assets that can be depreciated are vehicles, buildings, machinery, equipment and fixture and fittings. The only fixed asset that is not depreciated is land, because it is not worn-out overtime, unless natural resources are being exploited. When a company buys a new fixed asset it doesn’t account for the full cost of it as one single large expense, instead the expense is spread over the life time of the asset. This is done by depreciating the asset. For example a company purchases a CNC router for €50,000 and will be used for five year. If they pay the full amount in the

Historic cost depreciation is being used which leads to skewed numbers that misrepresent how well a product line will continue to operate in the future due to understated replacement value of fixed assets.

costs. It compares initial investment options and identifies the least cost alternatives for a twenty year period. As applied to

3. Depreciation: The moment a product is sold it is considered as used product and price of the product is less. There are some exceptions to this rule as land; gold etc. usually appreciates over time. For other products customers are actually buying products that will depreciate over time.

Archives are well documented extensive records or collected data of historical documents which are used as tools for critical analysis. Appraisal on the other hand is the act of estimating or judging the nature or value of something. Essentially, taking into account the definitions, archival appraisal is looking at all the available dimensions and variables of a subject, keeping in mind its pros and cons, its advantages and disadvantages and at the same time assessing the strengths and weaknesses. It is critically analysing the available literature. The ulterior motive so to speak is to preserve the documents by adding value, keeping in mind the various biases and results of other’s studies, in order to extend the life of the archived documents.