Do Accountants Use Their Super Powers

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)

In accordance with the ASC 360-10-35-21, several changes should be evaluated in testing for the recoverability of long-lived assets: decline in market value, adverse changes in way asset is used or physical change in asset, adverse changes in legal factors or business climate, accumulated costs in excess of the original expected acquisition or construction price, current period losses with history of operating or cash flow losses associated with asset, and sales or disposal before the end of useful life.

Penman (2007) had stated that historical cost may provide useful margins on turnover for forecasting operating cash flows in a going concern business. On the other hand, when valuing a portfolio of marketable investments with fair value, it tends to be more reliable. Stakeholder of Woolworths includes investors, creditors, lenders and so forth, their needs of accounting information are different. Some of the investors are interested in the information using fair value approach for them to decide whether to buy or sell their shares, some of the lenders and creditors are interested in the current value of assets and liabilities of the entity to decide the ability of the entity to pay off a debt when due. Further, a particular stakeholder need more than one measurement approach to satisfy their needs of accounting information (e.g. considering to engage with Woolworths). Therefore, mixed measurement approach would be more appropriate to satisfy each stakeholder needs of accounting information (Rankin et al., 2012; Dvorakova, D., 2011).

The equipment can be depreciated by one of two methods: Section 179 allows for a full write off in the year of acquisition (subject to certain limits). MACRS depreciation allows a systematic write off of equipment based on the type of asset. More business assets are either 5 year or 7 year property (CompleteTax, 2012).

Property and Equipment—Depreciation and amortization are provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful fives of the assets. The following table shows estimated useful lives of property and equipment.

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.

Discuss the concept of Relevant cost and benefits, and the type of accounting and non-accounting information they would need for such decisions.

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

* Harnischfeger changed its estimated depreciation lives on certain U.S. plants, machinery, and equipment and residual values on certain machinery and equipment. This change increased

The fair value of an asset is defined as ‘the price that would be received to sell an asset paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date” (Kieso, Weygandt, & Warfield, 2012). It is a market based measure (Averkamp, 2014). Over the past few years, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles has called for the use of fair value measurement in a company’s financial statements. This is what is referred to as the fair value principle (Kieso, Weygandt, & Warfield, 2012). The fair value of an asset or liability is based on an estimate of what the asset should be worth at the time of sale. This gives rise to some conflict among accounting professionals. It is believed that fair value may not be as accurate

I will use Paladin Energy Ltd. to explain how this is done. Paladin Energy Ltd. is a company that produces uranium, and is based in Western Australia. It is also listed on ASX, and they are currently operating in Malawi, Africa. Previously, Paladin Energy Ltd. represented the exploration and evaluation expenditure against profit and loss. Now, they capitalize this expenditure as an asset. They adopted this new accounting policy on 31st March 2011. The previous policy has accounted

In accounting there are many perspectives on how fair value accounting is relevant and beneficial for financial users. In the eye of standard setters assessing the quality usefulness of fair value information is somewhat a common question for potential and current