Depreciation Calculator

Formula

Straight: (Cost - Salvage) / Life

Straight-line spreads cost evenly. Double declining accelerates deductions early. Both reach the same total depreciation.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Straight-Line Depreciation

Problem:$50,000 equipment, $5,000 salvage value, 5-year useful life.

Solution:Depreciable basis: $50,000 - $5,000 = $45,000 Annual depreciation: $45,000 ÷ 5 = $9,000/year Depreciation schedule: Year 1: $9,000 (Book value: $41,000) Year 2: $9,000 (Book value: $32,000) Year 3: $9,000 (Book value: $23,000) Year 4: $9,000 (Book value: $14,000) Year 5: $9,000 (Book value: $5,000) At 22% tax rate: $9,000 × 22% = $1,980 tax savings/year

Result:$9,000/year depreciation

Example 2: Double Declining Balance

Problem:Same $50,000 asset, 5-year life. Compare to straight-line.

Solution:DDB rate: 2 ÷ 5 = 40% Year 1: $50,000 × 40% = $20,000 Year 2: $30,000 × 40% = $12,000 Year 3: $18,000 × 40% = $7,200 Year 4: $10,800 × 40% = $4,320 Year 5: $6,480 - $5,000 = $1,480 (to salvage) Total: $45,000 (same as straight-line) But $20,000 in Year 1 vs $9,000 straight-line. Defers more taxes to later years.

Result:$20,000 Year 1 (vs $9,000 straight-line)

Example 3: Section 179 vs Depreciation

Problem:$100,000 equipment purchase. Compare Section 179 immediate deduction vs 5-year MACRS.

Solution:Section 179 (Year 1): Deduction: $100,000 Tax savings (22%): $22,000 immediately 5-Year MACRS: Year 1: 20% = $20,000 Year 2: 32% = $32,000 Year 3: 19.2% = $19,200 Year 4: 11.52% = $11,520 Year 5: 11.52% = $11,520 Year 6: 5.76% = $5,760 Section 179 advantage: Immediate $22,000 tax savings vs spread over 6 years. Time value of money favors immediate deduction.

Result:Section 179 provides immediate tax benefit

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between straight-line and accelerated depreciation?

Straight-line: equal amounts each year (cost - salvage ÷ life). Accelerated (double declining): higher depreciation early, lower later. Accelerated defers more taxes to future years - valuable due to time value of money.

What is salvage value?

The estimated value of an asset at the end of its useful life. Also called residual value. A $50,000 truck with $10,000 salvage has $40,000 depreciable basis. Salvage value is what you could sell it for when fully depreciated.

How do I choose a depreciation method?

Straight-line: simple, stable expense, good for assets used evenly over time. Double declining: higher early deductions, good for assets that lose value quickly (computers, vehicles). MACRS: required for tax purposes in the US.

What is MACRS depreciation?

Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System - the IRS-required method for tax depreciation. Uses specific recovery periods: 5-year (computers), 7-year (furniture), 27.5-year (residential rental), 39-year (commercial). Provides faster write-offs than straight-line.

What is Section 179 expensing?

Allows immediate deduction of asset cost in year purchased (up to $1,160,000 in 2024) instead of depreciating over years. Great for small businesses buying equipment. Subject to income limitations and phase-outs.

What is bonus depreciation?

Allows 60% (2024) immediate deduction of new asset cost, with remainder depreciated normally. Phases down: 40% (2025), 20% (2026), 0% (2027). Different from Section 179 - no income limitation.

How does depreciation affect taxes?

Depreciation reduces taxable income, lowering tax liability. $10,000 depreciation at 22% bracket saves $2,200 in taxes. It's a non-cash expense - you keep the cash but reduce taxes. Very valuable for asset-heavy businesses.

What happens when I sell a depreciated asset?

You may owe depreciation recapture tax. If you sell for more than book value (cost - accumulated depreciation), the gain up to original cost is taxed as ordinary income (up to 25% for real estate). Plan for this when selling.

How does real estate depreciation work for taxes?

Residential rental property is depreciated over 27.5 years. A $275,000 building (excluding land) provides $10,000 annual depreciation deduction. This paper loss offsets rental income, reducing your tax bill without actual cash outflow.

Background & Theory

Depreciation allocates the cost of tangible assets over their useful lives, matching expense to the periods benefiting from the asset.

Common Methods:

Method	Formula	Best For
Straight-Line	(Cost - Salvage) ÷ Life	Consistent use assets
Double Declining	2 × Book Value ÷ Life	Fast-depreciating assets
Sum-of-Years	Declining fraction × Basis	Moderate acceleration
Units of Production	(Cost ÷ Total Units) × Units Used	Variable-use assets

MACRS Recovery Periods:

Asset Type	Years
Computers, vehicles	5
Office furniture, equipment	7
Residential rental property	27.5
Commercial property	39

Tax Strategies:

Section 179:

Immediate expensing up to $1,220,000 (2024)
Must have taxable income
Phase-out above $3,050,000 purchases

Bonus Depreciation:

60% in 2024 (phasing down)
No income limitation
New and used property eligible

Key Formulas:

Straight-Line:
Annual Depreciation = (Cost - Salvage) ÷ Useful Life

Double Declining:
Annual Depreciation = 2 × (Book Value ÷ Life)
Switch to straight-line when it gives higher deduction

Book Value:
Book Value = Cost - Accumulated Depreciation

Depreciation Recapture:
When selling: Gain up to depreciation taken is taxed as ordinary income (max 25% for real estate)

History

Depreciation concepts date to the Industrial Revolution when businesses needed to account for machinery wear. Early methods were informal estimates. The first formal depreciation standards emerged in the late 19th century as railroad companies needed to account for track and rolling stock deterioration. The Interstate Commerce Commission required consistent depreciation reporting. The Revenue Act of 1913 (creating income tax) allowed depreciation deductions. This made depreciation a tax planning tool, not just accounting practice. Methods evolved to maximize tax benefits. Accelerated depreciation gained favor in the 1950s-60s. The Accelerated Cost Recovery System (ACRS) was introduced in 1981, replaced by MACRS in 1986. These systems encouraged business investment through faster write-offs. Section 179 expensing and bonus depreciation expanded dramatically in 2000s-2010s, especially after the 2008 recession and COVID-19, as economic stimulus. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 allowed 100% bonus depreciation (now phasing out). Today, depreciation remains central to business tax planning. The combination of MACRS, Section 179, and bonus depreciation offers significant flexibility in timing tax deductions.