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What basic questions must be answered before the amount of the depreciation charge can be computed?

Short Answer

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Answer

The method of depreciation, the useful life of the asset, and the method of cost apportionment must be answered before computing the amount of the depreciation expense

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of Depreciation

Depreciation is an expense incurred on an asset that has become obsolete due to erosion and abrasion.An asset can be depreciated in various ways, which help bring the asset’s exact value at the time of sale.

02

Explaining the basic questions that must be answered before computing the amount of depreciation charge

Three essential questions must be answered before the amount of depreciation charge can be calculated:

  1. How will the asset's depreciation be calculated?
  2. How long will the item be useful?
  3. What is the optimum technique of cost apportionment for this asset?

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Most popular questions from this chapter

(Depreciation—Change in Estimate) Machinery purchased for \(60,000 by Tom Brady Co. in 2013 was originally estimated to have a life of 8 years with a salvage value of \)4,000 at the end of that time. Depreciation has been entered for 5 years on this basis. In 2018, it is determined that the total estimated life should be 10 years with a salvage value of $4,500 at the end of that time. Assume straight-line depreciation.

Instructions

  1. Prepare the entry to correct the prior years’ depreciation, if necessary.
  2. Prepare the entry to record depreciation for 2018.

On January 1, 2016, Locke Company, a small machine-tool manufacturer, acquired for \(1,260,000 a piece of new industrial equipment. The new equipment had a useful life of 5 years, and the salvage value was estimated to be \)60,000. Locke estimates that the new equipment can produce 12,000 machine tools in its first year. It estimates that production will decline by 1,000 units per year over the remaining useful life of the equipment.

The following depreciation methods may be used:

  1. straight-line,
  2. double-declining-balance,
  3. sum-of-the-years’-digits, and
  4. units-of-output. For tax purposes, the class life is 7 years.

Use the MACRS tables for computing depreciation.

Instructions

  1. Which depreciation method would maximize net income for financial statement reporting for the 3-year period ending December 31, 2018? Prepare a schedule showing the amount of accumulated depreciation at December 31, 2018, under the method selected. Ignore present value, income tax, and deferred income tax considerations.
  2. Which depreciation method (MACRS or optional straight-line) would minimize net income for income tax reporting for the 3-year period ending December 31, 2018? Determine the amount of accumulated depreciation at December 31, 2018. Ignore present value considerations.

(Depreciation Concepts) As a cost accountant for San Francisco Cannery, you have been approached by Phil Perriman, canning room supervisor, about the 2017 costs charged to his department. In particular, he is concerned about the line item “depreciation.” Perriman is very proud of the excellent condition of his canning room equipment. He has always been vigilant about keeping all equipment serviced and well oiled. He is sure that the huge charge to depreciation is a mistake; it does not at all reflect the cost of minimal wear and tear that the machines have experienced over the last year. He believes that the charge should be considerably lower.

The machines being depreciated are six automatic canning machines. All were put into use on January 1, 2017. Each cost \(625,000, having a salvage value of \)55,000 and a useful life of 12 years. San Francisco depreciates this and similar assets using double-declining-balance depreciation. Perriman has also pointed out that if you used straight-line depreciation, the charge to his department would not be so great.

Instructions

Write a memo dated January 22, 2017, to Phil Perriman to clear up his misunderstanding of the term “depreciation.” Also, calculate year-1 depreciation on all machines using both methods. Explain the theoretical justification for double-declining-balance and why, in the long run, the aggregate charge to depreciation will be the same under both methods.

(Depreciation for Partial Periods—SL, Act., SYD, and DDB) On January 1, 2015, a machine was purchased for \(90,000. The machine has an estimated salvage value of \)6,000 and an estimated useful life of 5 years. The machine can operate for 100,000 hours before it needs to be replaced. The company closed its books on December 31 and operates the machine as follows: 2015, 20,000 hours; 2016, 25,000 hours; 2017, 15,000 hours; 2018, 30,000 hours; and 2019, 10,000 hours.

Instructions

(a) Compute the annual depreciation charges over the machine’s life assuming a December 31 year-end for each of the following depreciation methods.

  1. Straight-line method.
  2. Activity method.
  3. Sum-of-the-years’-digits method.
  4. Double-declining-balance method.

(b) Assume a fiscal year-end of September 30. Compute the annual depreciation charges over the asset’s life applying each of the following methods.

  1. Straight-line method.
  2. Sum-of-the-years’-digits method.
  3. Double-declining-balance method


(Impairment) Assume the same information as E11-16, except that Suarez intends to dispose of the equipment in the coming year. It is expected that the cost of disposal will be \(20,000.

Cost

\)9,000,000

Accumulated depreciation to date

1,000,000

Expected future net cash flows

7,000,000

Fair value

4,800,000

Instructions

  1. Prepare the journal entry (if any) to record the impairment of the asset at December 31, 2017.
  2. Prepare the journal entry (if any) to record depreciation expense for 2018.
  3. The asset was not sold by December 31, 2018. The fair value of the equipment on that date is \(5,300,000. Prepare the journal entry (if any) necessary to record this increase in fair value. It is expected that the cost of disposal is still \)20,000.
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